Dec 27, 2003
Box Score
By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) - James White and Field Williams each scored 14 points and No. 14 Cincinnati extended its best start in four years by beating Miami of Ohio 83-63 on Saturday night.
Cincinnati (8-0) pulled out to a 20-point lead in the first half, but couldn't shake the RedHawks (4-5) until midway through the second half.
The game was played at a downtown arena that's about a 15-minute drive from Cincinnati's campus. Most of the crowd of 14,873 consisted of Cincinnati fans, who found little to cheer in an uneven and uninspired performance by the Bearcats.
Tony Bobbitt added 11 points and Jason Maxiell had 10 for Cincinnati, which has won its last six games against Miami. Danny Horace and Chet Mason led the RedHawks with 10 points apiece.
Miami does a good job of taking care of the ball in its deliberate, Princeton-style offense. The RedHawks' main problem all season has been getting it to go into the basket - twice this season, they've been held under 40 points.
They navigated through Cincinnati's full-court press without much problem, but couldn't find a decent shot. The RedHawks made only six of their first 26 field goal attempts (23 percent), allowing Cincinnati to pull ahead 37-17.
Coach Bob Huggins grew angry as the Bearcats' main weakness came into play once again early in the second half - a propensity to get soft and sloppy with a big lead.
Miami kept the lead between 15 and 21 points until it hit another shooting slump midway through the second half. Bobbitt's fastbreak layup highlighted a nine-point burst that made it 68-40.
The Bearcats have gotten a little haughty while pulling off their best start since 1999-00, when they also won their first eight games. After a 29-point drubbing of No. 23 Dayton on Tuesday night, Cincinnati players belittled the Flyers' coach, saying he looked scared and pale before the game.
In the first half against Miami, White was fouled by Nate VanderSluis while going in for a dunk. White turned with mouth wide open and clapped in Vandersluis' face for several seconds, but didn't draw a technical foul.
The officials repeatedly warned players to tone down the trash talking.
