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American Stories: Proving Ground In NCAAs For SMU, Cincinnati

SMU and Cincinnati enter the NCAA Championship as two of the hottest teams in the nation. But the Mustangs and Bearcats are still out to prove the doubters wrong

by Dick Weiss

HARTFORD, Conn.-- The two best teams in The American played for the tournament championship here Sunday.

SMU defeated Cincinnati, 71-56, to win its second tournament championship in three years at the XL Center.

Since both the Mustangs (30-4), who have won 14 straight games and 24 of their last 25, and the Bearcats (29-5) were nationally ranked and assured of spots in the NCAA tournament, there was nothing really to play for except pride and cutting down the nets.