<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">THE MATCH-UP</span></p> <p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">The Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) play the third game of a nine-day, five-game homestand on Thursday, Dec. 18 vs. Mississippi St. (7-3, 0-0 SEC) in the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational at 6:30 p.m. in U.S. Bank Arena. The match-up between the Bulldogs and Bearcats kicks off a doubleheader that includes Louisville and Ole Miss. It is the first meeting between UC and Mississippi State since the 2001-02 season, when UC defeated MSU 90-56 as part of the Las Vegas Classic . UC is looking to build upon its 74-55 win over Charleston Southern on Monday and pick up its fourth win in five games. After dissapointing performances against Xavier, freshman Yancy Gates, sophomore Alvin Mitchell, and senior Mike Williams rebounded with great performances against the Buccaneers and look to help Cincinnati earn its sixth consecutive regular-season win over a SEC team. Mississippi State comes into the match-up with UC looking to build off a 79-60 win last Saturday over South Alabama. Jarvis Varnado led the Bulldogs with 21 points, eight rebounds and six blocks against South Alabama. Varnado is averaging a double-double, scoring 12.4 ppg and grabbing 10.5 rpg, and Varnado is also the leading shot blocker in the country. Varnado is averaging 6.2 blocks per game, and Mississippi State averages 10.6 blocks per contests, which is also tops in the country.</span></p> <p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></p> <p class="NoParagraphStyle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">UC AT U.S. BANK ARENA:</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;"><span style=""> </span> Thursday's game brings Cincinnati back to one of its former home courts.<span style=""> </span> The Bearcats played at U.S. Bank Arena, then known as Riverfront Coliseum, from 1976-87.<span style=""> </span> UC has compiled a record of 116-50 (.699) in games played in the building, which includes championships of the Conference USA Tournaments played there in 2002 and 2004.<span style=""> </span> The Bearcats have won 12 consecutive games at U.S. Bank Arena.</span></p> <p class="NoParagraphStyle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></p> <p class="NoParagraphStyle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">Mississippi State enters the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational with a 7-3 mark after defeating South Alabama, 79-60, on Dec. 13.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">The Bulldogs rank in the Top 50 in the country in blocked shots (10.6, 1st), field-goal percentage defense (35.4, 11th), and scoring margin (+13.0, 46th).</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">Mississippi State averages a nation leading 10.6 blocks per game with 106 blocks through 10 games. Jarvis Varnado ranks first in the country in blocks, swatting away 6.2 shots per contest.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">Varnado also leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game, and rebounding, grabbing 10.5 rebounds per game.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">Sophomore Ravern Johnson is the other Bulldog player averaging 10-plus points per game with 11.8. Johnson is also a threat from behind the 3-point line, hitting 52.2 percent of his attempts from behind the arc (24-of-46).</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">MSU, much like Cincinnati, has a deep bench that has 11 players seeing more than 10 minutes a game, including six over 17 minutes per contest.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">In his first year with the program, freshman guard Dee Bost has been the catalyst for the Bulldogs. Bost<span style=""> </span> has started all 10 games and leads the team in assists (46), steals (13), and is averaging 9.5 points per game.</span></p> <p class="NoParagraphStyle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></p> <p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">CINCINNATI VS. THE SEC</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">In 108 seasons of basketball, Cincinnati owns a 35-47 record against teams from the Southeastern Conference. This will be Cincinnati's first meeting against a SEC opponent under head coach Mick Cronin.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">In its first season of basketball in the 1901-1902 season, Cincinnati defeated current SEC member Kentucky, 31-21.</span></p> <p class="ArrowBullet" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style=""> </span></span></span> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 120%;">Cincinnati has won five consecutive regular-season games over SEC teams, including a 90-56 win over Mississippi State on Dec. 21, 2001.</span></p>