No. 22 Cincinnati beats Xavier 68-65 and snaps a 5-game losing streak against its crosstown rival

By JEFF WALLNER The Associated Press

Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell rebounds the ball during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Xavier, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Joshua A. Bickel]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Simas Lukosius scored 14 points and Aziz Bandaogo added 12 as No. 22 Cincinnati held off crosstown rival Xavier 68-65. Cincinnati (8-1) rallied late to snap a five-game losing streak against the Musketeers (8-3). Ryan Conwell completed a four-point play to cut Xavier’s deficit to 66-65 with 13.8 seconds left. The Bearcats’ Jizzle James hit two free throws to make it 68-65 with 13 seconds. Xavier’s Zach Freemantle missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Freemantle scored 18 points and Conwell had 17 for the Musketeers.