GAME NOTES: The Cincinnati Bearcats and the surging Seton Hall Pirates are set to do battle in a Big East Conference contest. Cincinnati has lost two of its last three games to fall to 9-10 overall, but the club's 4-3 league mark is still solid. On Wednesday, the Bearcats played host to Connecticut, and despite a solid effort in that clash, the result was an 84-83 defeat. Cincinnati has played seven true road games this season, and six of those have ended in losses. As for Seton Hall, it has won its last three games to improve to 13-6 overall and 3-3 in league play, a major turnaround for a club that started 0-3 against Big East competition. On Thursday, the Pirates overcame a 15-point deficit to knock off Providence on the road by an 88-75 final. They are 9-2 at home this season and figure to play with a wealth of confidence this afternoon. Cincinnati holds a 5-3 edge over Seton Hall in the all-time series between the teams, including a 70-67 victory over the Pirates in the most recent meeting between the two teams.

Cincinnati is not a great offensive team by any means, as it is netting 66.6 ppg on 42.4 percent shooting from the field. Deonta Vaughn remains the only double-digit scorer in the lineup, as he is posting 17.6 ppg. Vaughn is a 41.7 percent shooter from three-point range, and his 81 assists lead the team as well. Vaughn was nothing short of sensational against UConn on Wednesday, as he finished with 34 of his team's 83 points. The standout guard connected on 10- of-14 field goal attempts, including 8-of-11 from three-point range, and he even hit all six of his free throws. Unfortunately, none of his teammates managed more than seven points. The Bearcats were outscored 32-13 from the charity stripe, the most obvious contributing factor to the setback.

In the game against Providence on Thursday, Seton Hall senior captain Jamar Nutter became the 35th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points, as he netted 19 against the Friars. Brian Laing led Seton Hall with 22 points and 13 rebounds in that clash, as he played all 40 minutes. Larry Davis tallied 13 points, and Eugene Harvey rounded out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 10 points. The Pirates shot an even 50 percent from the floor, including 8-of-16 from three-point range, and they connected on 24-of-27 free throws as well. Defensively, they found a way to limit Providence to 38.3 percent shooting from the field. Laing is averaging 18.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg through 19 outings and figures to get some All-Big East Conference consideration. Harvey checks in with 16.0 ppg and 4.5 apg, and Jeremy Hazell is posting 12.1 ppg. As for Nutter, he adds further balance to the lineup with 10.2 ppg.

Expect a fairly close game tonight in the early stages, and while Vaughn will put up big numbers once again, the edge has to go to the Pirates. Seton Hall is a balanced team that is playing with a great deal of confidence.