In the biggest non-conference game of the year, Xavier battered UC physically and outplayed them as well. It was a comprehensive rivalry win...again.
There was a time in this rivalry when it was UC who were the bullies on the block. Teams built around the likes of Bobby Brannen, Danny Fortson, Ruben Patterson, and Kenyon Martin battered arguably more skilled Xavier teams who tried to play basketball amidst what resembled either a swirling street fight or a YMCA game. Bob Huggins' teams of probationary all-stars seemed to relish their roles as the meaner team, ready to drag a game into the mud rather than just play.