Cincinnati advances by beating ‘noles
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Cincinnati Bearcats are making it an Ohio party in the NCAA Tournament, giving the Buckeye State four teams in the final 16.
Dion Dixon stole the ball and dunked to put Cincinnati ahead for good with 1:32 left, and the Bearcats edged out Florida State 62-56 on Sunday night to reach their first regional semifinal in the tournament since 2001.
Cincinnati (26-10) will play No. 2 seed Ohio State in Boston on Thursday night in the East, joining Xavier and Ohio in the second weekend.
Sean Kilpatrick scored 18 points, Dixon finished with 15 for Cincinnati. Yancy Gates finished with 10, and JaQuon Parker grabbed 11 rebounds.
Florida State (25-10) saw its six-game winning streak snapped, a stretch that included the Seminoles’ first ACC Tournament title.
Luke Loucks led the Seminoles with 14, Bernard James had 11 and Michael Snaer 11.
This game featured 19 lead changes and 11 ties, and neither team led by more than three in the second half until the Bearcats scored seven straight points. Kilpatrick hit a free throw tying it up at 50, then Dixon stole the ball from Loucks in front of the Cincinnati bench as Florida State tried to bring the ball up against the Bearcats’ press. Dixon took off and slammed it home.
