Patterson Steps Up In Bearcats’ Victory
Top 25 men
Ruben Patterson scored 27 points, including two clinching free throws, and No. 21 Cincinnati held on to beat No. 22 Rhode Island 88-82 Sunday in Cincinnati.
The Rams (13-4) couldn’t stop Patterson’s drives to the basket, which set up a 16-9 run at the start of the second half that put the Bearcats (15-3) ahead to stay.
Rhode Island cut a 10-point deficit to 84-82 on Tyson Wheeler’s two free throws with 1:18 left and got the ball back by blocking Bobby Brannen’s shot with 46 seconds to go. But Wheeler missed a 3-point shot from the right wing, Patterson got the rebound and made two free throws with 17 seconds left to clinch it.
Cuttino Mobley scored 26 points to lead Rhode Island.
Illinois 64, (16) Michigan 53
At Champaign, Ill., Kevin Turner scored 17 points and the Illini (13-7, 5-2 Big Ten) held the Wolverines (15-5, 5-2) to their lowest point total of the season.
Illinois took control of the game early in the second half as a 9-0 run gave it a 42-30 lead with 15:30 left.
Maceo Baston had 14 points to lead Michigan.
xxxx MARQUEE MATCHUPS Thursday is one of the biggest days of the season, with giant-killer Maryland at Duke, Purdue at Michigan and Arizona at Stanford.