College Basketball Roundup : Cincinnati Tops Louisville for First Time in 10 Years

Twenty-five years ago, Cincinnati was a major-college basketball power, winning national championships in 1961 and 1962--after Oscar Robertson’s departure.

Tony Yates was a defensive specialist and ballhandling guard on those championship teams, but nowadays his task is returning the Bearcats to their old prowess after some lean years.

It seems he’s succeeding.

The Bearcats (11-6 overall, 5-1 in the Metro Conference) bounced back from 17 straight losses to Louisville over a 10-year period Thursday night with a 56-54 victory at Cincinnati. The Bearcats had not beaten Denny Crum’s Cardinals since 1975.

“It was about what I expected,” said Cincinnati guard Derrick McMillan, who scored 23 points. “It was 40 minutes of war.”

Louisville (9-8, 2-4) cut Cincinnati’s lead to 53-52 with 27 seconds left when Jeff Hall hit a 10-footer from the side. McMillan sank two free throws, but Hall hit another shot to make it 55-54 with 10 seconds remaining. Hall then fouled Roger McClendon on the inbound pass and McClendon made one of two free throws.

Manuel Forrest missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.

“These close games are becoming old hat,” said Yates, whose team has four tight victories in conference play. “The things that are important in the game don’t show on the stat sheet.”

Michigan 86, Michigan State 75--Roy Tarpley scored 17 points as the Wolverines (13-3, 5-2) moved into a first-place tie with Illinois in the Big Ten by turning back the Spartans (12-5, 3-4) at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Purdue 62, Indiana 52--Freshman Troy Lewis scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half as the Boilermakers (13-4, 4-3) tripped the Hoosiers (11-5, 3-3) in a Big Ten game at West Lafayette, Ind.

Iowa 66, Northwestern 47--Greg Stokes scored 24 points and passed Don Nelson to become the second-leading scorer in Iowa history as the Hawkeyes (15-4, 4-2) trounced the Wildcats (4-12, 0-6) in a Big Ten game at Iowa City.

Minnesota 72, Wisconsin 62--Tommy Davis scored 21 points and John Shasky grabbed 15 rebounds as the Gophers (11-5, 4-2) beat the Badgers (10-6, 1-5) in a Big Ten game at Minneapolis.

Auburn 93, Mississippi 73--Chris Morris scored 31 points and Chuck Person added 24 as the Tigers (11-5, 3-4) routed the Rebels (7-9, 1-7) in an Southeastern Conference game at Auburn, Ala.

Houston 81, Baylor 71--Eric Dickens scored 26 points and the Cougars (13-4, 5-1) handed the Bears (7-10, 0-6) their ninth consecutive defeat in a Southwest Conference game at Houston.

Alabama Birmingham 56, Old Dominion 55--Steve Mitchell tossed in 18 points, including the clinching basket for the Blazers (16-4, 6-0) with 2:15 left. The Monarchs (10-5, 4-1) missed their last five shots in the Sun Belt Conference game at Norfolk, Va.