JOE KAY
Dayton head coach Anthony Grant gives instructions during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida, Monday Dec. 30, 2019, in Dayton. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Toppin's 31 lead No. 20 Dayton over North Florida 77-59

By Joe Kay Dec. 30, 2019 09:11 PM EST
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Obi Toppin scored a career-high 31 points, most of them off

Grambling State guard Trevell Cunningham, left, is pressured by Dayton guards Trey Landers, right, and Jhery Matos, rear, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday Dec. 23, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Ibi Watson leads No. 18 Dayton over Grambling State 81-53

By Joe Kay Dec. 23, 2019 09:13 PM EST
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Ibi Watson's first collegiate start ended with a pair of

The Cincinnati bench reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati does damage inside, upends No. 21 Tennessee 78-66

By Joe Kay Dec. 18, 2019 09:11 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — A defense that had been among the nation's best got shredded,

Dayton's Jalen Crutcher (10) shoots against North Texas' Zachary Simmons (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
No. 13 Dayton pulls away late for 71-58 win over North Texas

By Joe Kay Dec. 17, 2019 09:39 PM EST
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Jalen Crutcher banged knees with a North Texas player and

Dayton head coach Anthony Grant, left, speaks with Obi Toppin (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Watson scores 20, No. 14 Dayton pulls away from Drake 78-47

By Joe Kay Dec. 14, 2019 09:07 PM EST
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Ibi Watson felt it was his turn to take the lead in Dayton

Xavier's Naji Marshall reacts after scoring during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Marshall scores 31, Xavier beats rival Cincinnati 73-66

By Joe Kay Dec. 07, 2019 07:39 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Naji Marshall opened Xavier's scoring with a no-hesitation 3.

Dayton's Rodney Chatman (0) shoots against Houston Baptist's Myles Pierre (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Return to ranks: No. 19 Dayton beats Houston Baptist 99-68

By Joe Kay Dec. 03, 2019 09:09 PM EST
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Obi Toppin soared to corral a rebound with his left hand

Xavier head coach Travis Steele, center left, speaks to KyKy Tandy (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Lipscomb, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Tyrique Jones leads No. 25 Xavier over Lipscomb 87-62

By Joe Kay Nov. 30, 2019 01:57 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — For the first time this season, No. 25 Xavier got to use its

Xavier guard Paul Scruggs (1) puts in two points over Missouri State forward Paul Scruggs (44) in the final seconds of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday Nov. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
No. 21 Xavier holds on for 59-56 win over Missouri State

By Joe Kay Nov. 15, 2019 09:09 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Scruggs saw an opening and went to the basket for the

Missouri's Kobe Brown (24) blocks a shot by Xavier's Zach Freemantle (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
No. 21 Xavier rallies past Missouri 63-58 in overtime

By Joe Kay Nov. 12, 2019 09:47 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Xavier had made only two 3-pointers all game, none in the

Cincinnati gets 1st win under John Brannen, 81-59 over Drake

By Joe Kay Nov. 11, 2019 09:14 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — John Brannen's first win at Cincinnati was no big deal.

FILE - This March 22, 2019, file photo shows Cincinnati's Jarron Cumberland (34) driving past Iowa's Nicholas Baer (51) in the first half during a first round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Mick Cronin left for UCLA, and Cincinnati turned to a familiar local coach, John Brannen, as his replacement. The Bearcats are undergoing significant changes in his first season. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Bearcats start over with new coach, new style

By Joe Kay Oct. 25, 2019 01:44 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — Mick Cronin took his defensive-oriented style to UCLA ,

File- This Feb. 24, 2019, file photo shows Xavier head coach Travis Steele, center right, directing his players during a time out in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova in Cincinnati. Steele made it through a rough first year as Xavier's coach, losing key players to graduation and injury. The Musketeers return their core players and are ranked No. 19 to start his second season. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
A whole different starting point for No. 19 Xavier

By Joe Kay Oct. 25, 2019 01:37 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — Senior point guard Quentin Goodin dashed to the free throw

John Brannen speaks during a news conference to formally announce his hiring as Cincinnati's men's basketball coach after leading Northern Kentucky to two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three years, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. Brannen replaces Mick Cronin, who left Cincinnati for the UCLA job. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati stays in its backyard for next basketball coach

By Joe Kay Apr. 15, 2019 04:46 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — John Brannen played pick-up games at Cincinnati's on-campus arena

Iowa's Tyler Cook (25) reacts in overtime during a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament against Tennessee, Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Tennessee blows 25-point lead, beats Iowa 83-77 in OT

By Joe Kay Mar. 24, 2019 02:56 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Admiral Schofield ran around the court in sheer joy, waving a

Iowa forward Luka Garza (55) and teammates celebrates after a first-round game against Cincinnati in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, Friday, March 22, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Iowa won 79-72. (Kareem Elgazzar/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
Looking for Cinderella? Check out Anteaters and the South

By Joe Kay Mar. 23, 2019 05:32 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Can anyone carry the Loyola-Chicago mantle deep into this NCAA

Utah State's Sam Merrill, right, passes against Washington's Matisse Thybulle in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Washington makes successful return, beats Utah State 78-61

By Joe Kay Mar. 22, 2019 09:11 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Eight years had gone by since Washington made an NCAA

Cincinnati's head coach Mick Cronin yells instructions to players in the second half against Iowa during a first round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 22, 2019. Iowa won 79-72. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Iowa rallies past Cincinnati 79-72

By Joe Kay Mar. 22, 2019 02:47 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Iowa kept up the Big Ten's blitz through its first six games in

Colgate forward Rapolas Ivanauskas, right, hugs forward Will Rayman in the closing seconds of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Bucknell for the championship of the Patriot League men's tournament in Hamilton, N.Y., Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Colgate won 94-80. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Players go from filling out NCAA brackets to filling them

By Joe Kay Mar. 21, 2019 06:28 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Rapolas Ivanauskas looked forward to filling out his NCAA

Arizona State's Romello White, right, shoots over St. John's Marvin Clark II (13) during the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Arizona State beats St. John's 74-65 in First Four

By Joe Kay Mar. 20, 2019 11:53 PM EDT
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A freshman guard overcame a frightful fall and helped Bobby