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Gates leads way as UC takes care of rival Xavier

Bearcats forward scores 24 points in 66-46 beating by undefeated squad.

Photos: Cincinnati vs. Xavier

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By Joe Kay, Associated Press Updated 12:48 AM Friday, January 7, 2011

CINCINNATI — Growing up in Cincinnati, power forward Yancy Gates watched the city’s crosstown basketball rivalry produce memorable finishes. With one of his best games, he became part of the lore and a lopsided win.

Gates scored a season-high 22 points, and 24th-ranked Cincinnati extended the second-best start in school history, beating Xavier 66-46 on Thursday night to win back the city’s backyard bragging rights.

“It was quite obvious that Yancy Gates decided it was time to win the Crosstown Shootout,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said.

Cincinnati’s 15-0 start matches the 1998-99 team for second-best in school history. The latest win was the sweetest yet.

No matter the circumstance, Xavier (8-5) had managed to get the better of its crosstown rival for years. The Musketeers had won three in a row and eight of 11 in the series, which often gets overheated. Xavier’s Terrell “Tu” Holloway got a technical for throwing an elbow Thursday.

None of the Musketeers could stop Gates, a 6-foot-9, 265-pound power forward who scored most of his points on outside jumpers. He went 10-of-16 from the field and had 14 rebounds, hitting shots from everywhere.

“Definitely one of my best games since I’ve been in college,” Gates said. “In practice, we play around and I hit shots like that. It was like that. I just wasn’t playing around.”

Xavier’s only consistent scorer was forward Jamel McLean, who had 18 points. Xavier scored its fewest points in seven years.

Holloway, the Musketeers’ leading scorer at 21.3 points per game, managed only five on 2-of-13 shooting.

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