UC basketball will return to Miami's Millett Hall

OXFORD — The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team, at long last, is coming back to Millett Hall.

Miami University and UC have signed a three-year men’s basketball contract which has the Bearcats coming to Oxford for the 2010-11 season.

The Bearcats last played on Miami’s home court in 1993, when they beat the RedHawks 74-68 in overtime.

UC coach Bob Huggins then ended the series between the two schools. The rivalry was resumed four years later on a limited basis. Games weren’t played every year and none were held outside Cincinnati.

Miami and UC did not face each other last season. Their most recent match-up was Dec. 29, 2007 at U.S. Bank Arena, where the Bearcats prevailed 56-50.

“The Bearcats are a high-profile team,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “For us to play them for three straight years with them coming to our court in 2010-11 is good. We’ve had some exciting games with Cincinnati, and some have come down to the last three or four minutes. I think this will prove to be a very exciting, challenging and fun series.”

ESPN2 will televise this year’s game, scheduled for Dec. 10 at U.S. Bank Arena.

Cincinnati’s game at Miami during the 2010-11 season will mark the 66th time the Bearcats have visited Oxford. Miami holds a 34-31 edge when playing UC in Oxford.

Miami will go to Cincinnati for a game during the 2011-12 campaign.

“Now we are playing all the area teams, and that’s very good,” added Coles. “I believe in trying to play the teams in your area as there is a lot of local interest in the match-ups.”

Dating back to Miami’s first season of basketball in 1905-06, Miami and Cincinnati have faced 144 times with the Bearcats owning a 92-52 lead in the series.