Crosstown Shootout

2008 Shootout logo

The Crosstown Shootout is an annual men's college basketball game played between the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier University Musketeers. The two schools are separated by 3 miles (4.8 km) in Cincinnati, making the archrivalry one of the closest major rivalries in the country. The game was first played in 1927, and has been played every year since 1946. In recent years, the game has been sponsored by Skyline Chili. UC currently leads the series with a record of 50–34.

Throughout its history, the game has been played at six different venues including the Armory Fieldhouse and Fifth Third Arena on the UC campus; and the Schmidt Field House and Cintas Center on the Xavier campus. However, the majority of the games have been played at two other sites—Cincinnati Gardens and U.S. Bank Arena. The Gardens has served as the regular home court for both schools at different times, and was even shared by both teams from 1987 to 1989. U.S. Bank Arena was UC's home court from 1976–87 when it was known as Riverfront Coliseum.

From 1989 to 2011, the game alternated between the schools' on-campus arenas. However, the 2011 game was marred at the end by a bench-clearing brawl. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on May 22, 2012 that due to the brawl, the game would be held at U.S. Bank Arena for the next two seasons. The continuation of the series beyond the 2013-14 season would depend on the behavior of the players and fans.^[1] On June 14, 2012, both schools held a joint press conference at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announcing that the annual rivalry will now be called "Skyline Chili Crosstown Classic.".^[2]

On May 13, 2014, after a two year series at U.S. Bank Arena, the two rivals announced at a joint press conference that they would return to playing their annual men's basketball game on-campus, ditching the moniker of Classic in the process and returning the series to its previous name of the Skyline Crosstown Shootout.^[3] The agreement for the alternating home-and-home series was for ten years. The first game of the series was held on February 18, 2015 during ESPN's Rivalry Week. Xavier hosted Cincinnati on December 12, 2015 at the Cintas Center. The dates for the first two games were set, ensuring that students are on campus when the game is played.

Notable Games

1963–64: A series-high 45 points was scored by Xavier's Steve Thomas, but Cincinnati's Ron Bonham scored 35 en route to a 94–92 Bearcats victory.^[4] The 186 combined points is still the most in series history.

1996–97: The Cincinnati Bearcats were ranked #1 in the country and were largely considered frontrunners for the national championship by several media outlets, including Sports Illustrated. Xavier's Lenny Brown made a running one-hander at the buzzer to propel Xavier to a 71–69 win. Both teams made it to the NCAA Second Round.^[4]

1999–2000: Again the Bearcats were ranked #1 in the country. And again Xavier defeated Cincinnati 66–64 in the final moments of the game on two free throws and a breakaway dunk by Kevin Frey.^[4] Both teams made the NCAA tournament.

2009–10: Xavier beat Cincinnati in double-overtime thriller at the Cintas Center 83–79. The game was remembered because of future NBA players, Xavier's Jordan Crawford and Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson, going head to head. However, Xavier's Tu Holloway stole the show scoring a then career high 26.^[5]

2011–12: Xavier, ranked #8 in the country, handily beat the Bearcats 76–53. But the focus of the game was the bench-clearing brawl which resulted in the game ending with 9.4 seconds left and the subsequent suspensions of four Bearcat players and four Musketeer players. Despite speculation that the rivalry would cease to exist following the brawl, UC President Greg Williams stated to the Sporting News, "Every indication is that we are going to play next year." ^[6] Both teams made it to the championship game of their respective conference tournaments and the Sweet Sixteen of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

2014–15: The Shootout was played at Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena on February 18, 2015, marking the first game back on campus since the 2011 brawl. Xavier led by 12 points at halftime, and was dominating Cincinnati until the Bearcats took a 57–56 lead in the final minute of the game. With the student section going crazy, it looked like Cincinnati might be able to get a win against Xavier. However, freshman Trevon Bluiett was fouled and made two free throws with 11.5 seconds left (his only points of the game) to give Xavier a 58–57 lead. Farad Cobb missed a three point jumper to seal the win for the Musketeers. ^[7]

2015–16: For the first time since 1994, both teams came into the game being nationally ranked in the top 25. #12 Xavier dominated from tip-off, defeating #23 Cincinnati 65–55 to improve to 10–0 in front of a Cintas Center record crowd of 10,617. ^[8]

2016–17: Almost 2 years after making the game winning free throws in the Feb. 2015 shootout, Xavier's Trevon Bluiett scored a career-high 40 points, including 26 points in the first half, and tying a school record by making 9 three-pointers. Despite his performance, the #19 Bearcats overcame an 8-point deficit at halftime to defeat the #24 Musketeers 86–78 in front a record crowd of 13,477 at Fifth Third Arena, ending Xavier's 3 game winning streak in the Crosstown Shootout. ^[9]

Legacy

The rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier is regarded as one of the best in the game. The two schools' short distance apart has distinguished it as a proximity rivalry. From 1990 through 2011 and again since 2015, the game alternates between Xavier's and Cincinnati's campus arenas on a yearly basis.^[10] ESPN's Jay Bilas was quoted as saying, "Cincinnati and Xavier have created a rivalry that is unparalleled when it comes to outright passion and civic division." ^[11]

In 1990 a local TV station refused to interrupt their coverage of the Cincinnati–Xavier game for the 1990 State of the Union address .^[12]

The game is widely regarded as one of the hottest tickets in Cincinnati every year. The game is also regularly attended by local legends and sports icons Pete Rose and basketball great and former Bearcat Oscar Robertson.

College comparison

Category	Xavier	Cincinnati
Type	Private	Public
Affiliation	Catholic (Jesuit)	State of Ohio
Location	Norwood	Cincinnati
Students	6,700	44,338
School Colors	Navy Blue & White	Black & Red
Nickname	Musketeers	Bearcats
Arena	Cintas Center	Fifth Third Arena
Wins	34	50

Results

Season	Result ^[13]				Site
2016–17	Cincinnati	86	Xavier	78	Fifth Third Arena
2015–16	Xavier	65	Cincinnati	55	Cintas Center
2014–15	Xavier	59	Cincinnati	57	Fifth Third Arena
2013–14	Xavier	64	Cincinnati	47	U.S. Bank Arena
2012–13	Cincinnati	60	Xavier	45	U.S. Bank Arena
2011–12	Xavier	76	Cincinnati	53	Cintas Center
2010–11	Cincinnati	66	Xavier	46	Fifth Third Arena
2009–10	Xavier	83	Cincinnati	79	Cintas Center	(2OT)
2008–09	Xavier	76	Cincinnati	66	Fifth Third Arena
2007–08	Xavier	64	Cincinnati	59	Cintas Center
2006–07	Cincinnati	67	Xavier	55	Fifth Third Arena
2005–06	Xavier	73	Cincinnati	71	Cintas Center	(OT)
2004–05	Cincinnati	65	Xavier	54	Fifth Third Arena
2003–04	Xavier	71	Cincinnati	69	Cintas Center
2002–03	Xavier	50	Cincinnati	44	Fifth Third Arena
2001–02	Cincinnati	75	Xavier	55	Cintas Center
2000–01	Xavier	69	Cincinnati	67	Fifth Third Arena
1999–2000	Xavier	66	Cincinnati	64	Cincinnati Gardens
1998–99	Cincinnati	87	Xavier	77	Fifth Third Arena
1997–98	Xavier	88	Cincinnati	68	Cincinnati Gardens
1996–97	Xavier	71	Cincinnati	69	Fifth Third Arena
1995–96	Cincinnati	99	Xavier	90	Cincinnati Gardens
1994–95	Cincinnati	87	Xavier	80	Fifth Third Arena
1993–94	Xavier	82	Cincinnati	76	Cincinnati Gardens	(OT)
1992–93	Cincinnati	78	Xavier	67	Fifth Third Arena
1991–92	Cincinnati	93	Xavier	75	Cincinnati Gardens
1990–91	Cincinnati	69	Xavier	56	Fifth Third Arena
1989–90	Xavier	90	Cincinnati	88	Cincinnati Gardens	(OT)
1988–89	Cincinnati	86	Xavier	76	Cincinnati Gardens
1987–88	Xavier	98	Cincinnati	80	Cincinnati Gardens
1986–87	Cincinnati	75	Xavier	73	Riverfront Coliseum
1985–86	Xavier	80	Cincinnati	76	Cincinnati Gardens
1984–85	Xavier	55	Cincinnati	52	Riverfront Coliseum
1983–84	Xavier	72	Cincinnati	63	Cincinnati Gardens
1982–83	Cincinnati	73	Xavier	58	Riverfront Coliseum
1981–82	Xavier	53	Cincinnati	51	Riverfront Coliseum
1980–81	Cincinnati	79	Xavier	72	Riverfront Coliseum
1979–80	Xavier	77	Cincinnati	69	Riverfront Coliseum
1978–79	Cincinnati	60	Xavier	58	Riverfront Coliseum
1977–78	Cincinnati	59	Xavier	54	Riverfront Coliseum
1976–77	Cincinnati	77	Xavier	68	Riverfront Coliseum
1975–76	Cincinnati	81	Xavier	74	Riverfront Coliseum
1974–75	Cincinnati	66	Xavier	57	Cincinnati Gardens
1973–74	Cincinnati	68	Xavier	56	Cincinnati Gardens
1972–73	Cincinnati	78	Xavier	68	Cincinnati Gardens
1971–72	Cincinnati	76	Xavier	71	Cincinnati Gardens

Season	Result				Site
1970–71	Xavier	66	Cincinnati	65	Cincinnati Gardens
1969–70	Cincinnati	85	Xavier	72	Cincinnati Gardens
1968–69	Cincinnati	52	Xavier	50	Cincinnati Gardens
1967–68	Xavier	72	Cincinnati	71	Cincinnati Gardens
1966–67	Cincinnati	79	Xavier	69	Cincinnati Gardens	(OT)
1965–66	Cincinnati	67	Xavier	62	Cincinnati Gardens
1964–65	Cincinnati	102	Xavier	72	Cincinnati Gardens
1963–64	Cincinnati	94	Xavier	92	Cincinnati Gardens
1962–63	Cincinnati	72	Xavier	61	Cincinnati Gardens
1961–62	Cincinnati	61	Xavier	58	Cincinnati Gardens
1960–61	Cincinnati	89	Xavier	53	Cincinnati Gardens
1959–60	Cincinnati	85	Xavier	68	Cincinnati Gardens
1958–59	Cincinnati	92	Xavier	66	Cincinnati Gardens
1957–58	Cincinnati	80	Xavier	68	Cincinnati Gardens
1957–58	Cincinnati	79	Xavier	68	Armory Fieldhouse
1956–57	Cincinnati	69	Xavier	57	Armory Fieldhouse
1956–57	Xavier	88	Cincinnati	62	Cincinnati Gardens
1955–56	Xavier	79	Cincinnati	72	Armory Fieldhouse	(OT)
1955–56	Cincinnati	71	Xavier	66	Cincinnati Gardens
1954–55	Cincinnati	70	Xavier	69	Armory Fieldhouse
1954–55	Xavier	67	Cincinnati	64	Cincinnati Gardens
1953–54	Cincinnati	81	Xavier	76	Cincinnati Gardens
1953–54	Cincinnati	77	Xavier	58	Cincinnati Gardens
1952–53	Xavier	70	Cincinnati	68	Cincinnati Gardens
1952–53	Xavier	81	Cincinnati	78	Cincinnati Gardens
1951–52	Cincinnati	68	Xavier	63	Cincinnati Gardens
1951–52	Xavier	77	Cincinnati	70	Cincinnati Gardens
1950–51	Cincinnati	81	Xavier	66	Cincinnati Gardens
1950–51	Cincinnati	83	Xavier	70	Cincinnati Gardens
1949–50	Cincinnati	59	Xavier	48	Cincinnati Gardens
1949–50	Xavier	54	Cincinnati	53	Cincinnati Gardens
1948–49	Cincinnati	57	Xavier	46	Cincinnati Gardens
1948–49	Xavier	71	Cincinnati	64	Schmidt Field House
1947–48	Cincinnati	52	Xavier	45	Schmidt Field House
1946–47	Cincinnati	76	Xavier	51	Schmidt Field House
1945–46	Cincinnati	53	Xavier	39	Schmidt Field House

1942–43	Xavier	51	Cincinnati	37	Schmidt Field House

1927–28	Xavier	29	Cincinnati	25	Schmidt Field House

References

↑ Koch, Bill (May 22, 2012). "Exclusive: Crosstown Shootout set for U.S. Bank Arena". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
↑ "Crosstown Shootout Gets New Name, Venue". WLWT. 14 June 2012.
↑ Goheen, Kevin. "Crosstown Shootout will return home". Retrieved 13 May 2014.
1 2 3 "Best rivalries: Cincinnati-Xavier".
↑ "Men's Hoops Defeats Crosstown Rival Cincinnati, 83-79, in Double-Overtime Thriller". Xavier University. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
↑ "Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry game likely to continue".
↑ http://espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=400586834
↑ Russell, Shannon (December 12, 2015). "Xavier tops UC, moves to 10–0 with Crosstown Shootout win". cincinnati.com. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
↑ http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400916602
↑ "Crosstown Shootout: A Cincinnati Tradition". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
↑ "Crosstown Shootout: A Cincinnati Tradition".
↑ O'Neil, Dana. "Great rivalries are made of this...".
↑ "Unofficial Crosstown Shootout Website".

Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball
Venues	Schmidlapp Gymnasium (19??–1954) Cincinnati Gardens (1949–1954; 1987–1989) Armory Fieldhouse (1954–1976) Riverfront Coliseum (1976–1987) Fifth Third Arena (1989–2017; 2018–future) BB&T Arena (2017–2018)
Rivalries	Louisville Xavier
Culture & lore	Bearcat "Cheer Cincinnati" 2011 Crosstown Shootout brawl Longest game in Division I history UC Pep Band
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18
NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
Venues	Fenwick Club (1919–1928) Schmidt Field House (1928–1983) Cincinnati Gardens (1949–1979; 1983–2000) Cintas Center (2000–present)
Rivalries	Cincinnati Dayton
Culture & lore	History 2011 Crosstown Shootout brawl
People	Head coaches Retired jerseys
Seasons	1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18

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