CINCINNATI, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Yancy Gates helped unbeaten Cincinnati overcome a sluggish start Thursday and the No. 25 Bearcats pulled away for a 66-46 victory over Xavier.
Cincinnati advanced to 15-0, equaling the second-best start in school history. It was the last non-conference game of the season for the Bearcats, who will face a significant test Sunday in their bid to remain unbeaten when they resume Big East action at seventh-ranked Villanova.
Gates scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Dion Dixon added 16 points.
Cincinnati trailed for much of the first half, but went on a 10-2 run midway late in the period to take a 28-20 lead at intermission. The Bearcats dominated the second half and held Xavier to just five points over the last 7 minutes.
The Musketeers (8-5) were led by Jamel McLean with 18 points.
Cincinnati shot only 41 percent from the field but held Xavier to 39 percent and limited the Musketeers to a single 3-pointer in 10 attempts.
