In the wake of last season's ugly brawl, officials from Xavier and Cincinnati have agreed to move the annual basketball game between the two to a neutral location next season.
The Crosstown Shootout, the annual rivalry game between Cincinnati and Xavier, will be played at a neutral site for the first time in 25 years next season.
Because of the brawl that erupted with 9.4 seconds left in last season's game, officials from both schools agreed to move the game to a neutral court in an attempt to limit hostility. The next meeting between the Bearcats and Musketeers will be played at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati on Dec. 18, 19 or 20. The game will be carried on one of the ESPN channels.
This new deal between the schools will last for two seasons, after which point the behavior of the fans and players will be re-evaluated. Neither school would guarantee that the series will continue after this trial period.
Xavier and Cincinnati, which first met on the hardwood in 1927, have played each other at least once in every season since 1946. The Bearcats lead the all-time series 48-31, but Xavier has prevailed in 11 of the past 15 meetings.
The last time the two played inside U.S. Bank Arena was Jan. 29, 1987, when Joe Stiffend's 15-foot jump shot at the buzzer gave Cincinnati a 75-73 victory.
For more on this story, be sure to visit Down the Drive and Banners on the Parkway
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