Athletics

Complete Crosstown Shootout Guide

A photo from the crowds at Xavier University Cintas Center Arena during a Crosstown Shootout Game. Crosstown Shootout logo, Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers with University of Cincinnati logo and Xavier logo and Skyline Chili logo.

The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout is a yearly game between the Xavier Musketeers and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. The annual game is one of the biggest and most intense college rivalries in college basketball, combining more than 50 years of history with Cincinnati’s two D1 college basketball teams.

This Year's Game

When is the Next Crosstown Shootout?

The women's basketball Crosstown Shootout takes place on Sunday, Dec. 10, at Fifth Third Arena. 

Dates for the 2024 Crosstown Shootouts have not been announced. Check back for more details. 

When Are Tickets Available for the 2024 game?
For information about tickets, contact the Xavier Athletics Ticket Office.

Where to Watch in 2024?
Find the men's and women's basketball team schedules on GoXavier.com.

Will there be any official game watch parties for Xavier alumni?
Yes, game watch parties will be happening across the United States. Check the Alumni Center Crosstown Shootout Event page for more details as dates are announced. 

History and Highlights

How long have Xavier and UC been playing in the Crosstown Shootout?
The  history of the  Crosstown Shootout dates back to 1928, when the University of  Cincinnati helped St. Xavier College dedicate its brand new, $350,000 Schmidt Fieldhouse, which had a capacity of 4,500. Xavier won the game, 29-25, and the two teams didn't meet again until the 1942-43 season, which many feel is the official start of the annualized rivalry.

Who won the last Crosstown Shootout?
The 2023-24 men's basketball Crosstown Shootout was won by Xavier, 84-79, at the the Cintas Center.

Who has won more games overall?
Cincinnati leads the overall series 51-39.

Which team has the largest margin of victory?
Xavier, which won by 26 points (88-62) in the 1957 game at Cincinnati Gardens.

What are some other memorable games from the Crosstown Shootout?

February 3, 2004 – Xavier guard Lionel Chalmers hit the go-ahead shot with 27 seconds left as Xavier upset No. 10 Cincinnati 71-69 at Cintas Center. The Musketeers came into the game as heavy underdogs with a 10-9 overall record, but the win would galvanize the team as XU went on to make its first-ever NCAA Tournament Elite Eight run in March.

November 26, 1996 – Lenny Brown sank a running jumper in the lane to stun No. 1 Cincinnati at the buzzer, 71-69. The play prompted longtime broadcaster Andy MacWilliams to exclaim one of the most well-known calls in Xavier basketball history, “The UC Bearcats are No. 1 in the country, No. 2 in their own city!”

December 18, 1999 – Three years after Lenny Brown shocked UC, Kevin Frey scored on a breakaway layup with 12 seconds left and Xavier hung on for another upset win over Kenyon Martin and the No. 1 ranked Bearcats, 66-64.

March 4, 1964 – Xavier’s star guard, Steve Thomas, had one of the great games in shootout history, scoring a rivalry record 45 points in an eventual 94-92 loss.

January 31, 1990 – Xavier spoiled the Crosstown Shootout debut of UC head coach Bob Huggins as Jamal Walker buried a 3-pointer with seven seconds to go, giving the Musketeers a 90-88 win in overtime.

January 19, 1994 – In a nationally-ranked matchup, No. 22 Xavier got the best of No. 19 Cincinnati 82-76 in overtime. Following the game, television cameras caught UC head coach Bob Huggins refusing to shake hands afterward with XU coach Pete Gillen – another memorable and heated moment in a rivalry full of them.  

March 5, 1968 – Xavier backup guard John Zeides made a jump shot from the foul line with six seconds left, leading XU to a 72-71 win over UC and snapping a 12-game losing streak in the series.  

December 13, 2009 – The only double overtime game in Crosstown Shootout history saw Xavier defeat No. 19 Cincinnati, 83-79. Jason Love hit the game-winning free throws with 9.8 seconds left on the clock.

December 14, 2000 – With 35 seconds left in the game and Xavier trailing, Lloyd Price stole the ball from UC star Steve Logan and drove for a lay-in to help XU to a 69-67 win over No. 17 Cincinnati.

February 18, 2015 – Xavier led by 12 at halftime, but Cincinnati roared back to take a late lead. Senior guard Dee Davis hit a clutch 3-pointer with 52 seconds left and Trevon Bluiett knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to give XU a 59-57 victory.

January 26, 2017 – Junior Trevon Bluiett had one of the all-time great games in the rivalry, sinking his first 10 shots en route to a career-high 40 points. Despite the outburst, No. 22 Xavier fell to No. 19 Cincinnati in an 86-78 road game.

Past Scores (Men's Basketball)

Year Winner Score Location Game #
2023-24 Xavier 84-79 Cintas Center 91
2022-23 Xavier 80-77 Fifth Third Arena 90
2021-22 Xavier 83-63 Cintas Center 89
2020-21 Xavier 77-69 Fifth Third Arena 88
2019-20 Xavier 73-66 Cintas Center 87
2018–19 Cincinnati 62-47 Fifth Third Arena 86
2017-18 Xavier 89-76 Cintas Center 85
2016-17 Cincinnati 86-78 Fifth Third Arena 84
2015-16 Xavier 65-55 Cintas Center 83
2014-15 Xavier 59-57 Fifth Third Arena 82
2013-14 Xavier 64-47 U.S. Bank Arena 81
2012-13 Cincinnati 60-45 U.S. Bank Arena 80
2011-12 Xavier 76-53 Cintas Center 79
2010-11 Cincinnati 66-46 Fifth Third Arena 78
2009-10 Xavier 83-79 Cintas Center 77
2008 - 09 Xavier 76-66 Fifth Third Arena 76
2007- 08 Xavier 64-59 Cintas Center 75
2006- 07 Cincinnati 67-55 Fifth Third Arena 74
2005- 06 Xavier 73-71 Cintas Center 73
2004- 05 Cincinnati 65-54 Fifth Third Arena 72
2003- 04 Xavier 71-69 Cintas Center 71
2002 -03 Xavier 50-44 Fifth Third Arena 70
2001- 02 Cincinnati 75-55 Cintas Center 69
2000- 01 Xavier 69-67 Fifth Third Arena 68
1999-00 Xavier 66-64 Cincinnati Gardens 67
1998-99 Cincinnati 87-77 Fifth Third Arena 66
1997-98 Xavier 88-68 Cincinnati Gardens 65
1996-97 Xavier 71-69 Fifth Third Arena 64
1995-96 Cincinnati 99-90 Cincinnati Gardens 63
1994-95 Cincinnati 87-80 Fifth Third Arena 62
1993-94 Xavier 82-76 Cincinnati Gardens 61
1992-93 Cincinnati 78-67 Fifth Third Arena 60
1991-92 Cincinnati 93-75 Cincinnati Gardens 59
1990-91 Cincinnati 69-56 Fifth Third Arena 58
1989-90 Xavier 90-88 Cincinnati Gardens 57
1988-89 Cincinnati 86-76 Cincinnati Gardens 56
1987-88 Xavier 98-80 Cincinnati Gardens 55
1986-87 Cincinnati 75-73 Riverfront Coliseum 54
1985-86 Xavier 80-76 Cincinnati Gardens 53
1984-85 Xavier 55-52 Riverfront Coliseum 52
1983-84 Xavier 72-63 Cincinnati Gardens 51
1982-83 Cincinnati 73-58 Riverfront Coliseum 50
1981-82 Xavier 51-51 Riverfront Coliseum 49
1980-81 Cincinnati 79-72 Riverfront Coliseum 48
1979-80 Xavier 77-69 Riverfront Coliseum 47
1978-79 Cincinnati 60-58 Riverfront Coliseum 46
1977-78 Cincinnati 59-54 Riverfront Coliseum 45
1976-77 Cincinnati 77-68 Riverfront Coliseum 44
1975-76 Cincinnati 81-74 Riverfront Coliseum 43
1974-75 Cincinnati 66-57 Cincinnati Gardens 42
1973-74 Cincinnati 78-68 Cincinnati Gardens 41
1972-73 Cincinnati 78-68 Cincinnati Gardens 40
1971-72 Cincinnati 76-71 Cincinnati Gardens 39
1970-71 Xavier 66-65 Cincinnati Gardens 38
1969-70 Cincinnati 85-72 Cincinnati Gardens 37
1968-69 Cincinnati 52-50 Cincinnati Gardens 36
1967-68 Xavier 72-71 Cincinnati Gardens 35
1966-67 Cincinnati 79-69 Cincinnati Gardens 34
1965-66 Cincinnati 67-62 Cincinnati Gardens 33
1964-65 Cincinnati 102-72 Cincinnati Gardens 32
1963-64 Cincinnati 94-92 Cincinnati Gardens 31
1962-63 Cincinnati 72-61 Cincinnati Gardens 30
1961-62 Cincinnati 61-58 Cincinnati Gardens 29
1960-61 Cincinnati 89-53 Cincinnati Gardens 28
1959-60 Cincinnati 85-68 Cincinnati Gardens 27
1958-59 Cincinnati 92-66 Cincinnati Gardens 26
1957-58 Cincinnati 80-68 Cincinnati Gardens 25
1957-58 Cincinnati 79-68 Cincinnati Gardens 24
1956-57 Cincinnati 69-57 Armory Fieldhouse 23
1956-57 Xavier 86-62 Cincinnati Gardens 22
1955-56 Xavier 79-72 Armory Fieldhouse 21
1955-56 Cincinnati 71-66 Cincinnati Gardens 20
1954-55 Cincinnati 70-69 Armory Fieldhouse 19
1954-55 Xavier 67-64 Cincinnati Gardens 18
1953-54 Cincinnati 81-76 Cincinnati Gardens 17
1953-54 Cincinnati 77-58 Cincinnati Gardens 16
1952-53 Xavier 70-68 Cincinnati Gardens 15
1952-53 Xavier 81-78 Cincinnati Gardens 14
1951-52 Cincinnati 68-63 Cincinnati Gardens 13
1951-52 Xavier 77-70 Cincinnati Gardens 12
1950-51 Cincinnati 81-66 Cincinnati Gardens 11
1950-51 Cincinnati 83-70 Cincinnati Gardens 10
1949-50 Cincinnati 59-48 Cincinnati Gardens 9
1949-50 Xavier 54-53 Cincinnati Gardens 8
1948-49 Cincinnati 57-46 Cincinnati Gardens 7
1948-49 Xavier 71-64 Schmidt Field House 6
1947-48 Cincinnati 52-45 Schmidt Field House 5
1946-47 Cincinnati 76-51 Schmidt Field House 4
1945-46 Cincinnati 53-39 Schmidt Field House 3
1942-43 Xavier 51-37 Schmidt Field House 2
1927-28 Xavier 29-25 Schmidt Field House 1

back to the top