Five thoughts from No. 8 Xavier’s 76-53 win over crosstown rival Cincinnati:
1. The game didn’t end, literally. Nor have the repercussions.
An ugly brawl erupted with 9.4 seconds left in the game. Benches cleared, fists flew. Xavier’s senior All-America guard Tu Holloway readily admitted afterward that he was taunting Cincinnati players and coaches in front of Cincinnati’s bench, as the clock wound down. What ensued was a basketball brawl as ugly as any in memory. At one point, Xavier center Kenny Frease emerged from the pile on all fours, blood dripping from a gash below his left cheek, courtesy of a punch thrown by Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates.
The referees stopped the game at that point. There will be suspensions, though nothing had been announced as of 6 p.m. Saturday. Expect Holloway, Gates, Cincinnati center Cheikh Mbodj and possibly Xavier freshman forward Dez Wells to be suspended, possibly for multiple games.
Full Story: Game-ending brawl between rivals Xavier, Cincinnati as ugly as it gets