Bearcats Take On Fighting Illini in Exhibition Game

On Oct. 24, 2013, the men’s basketball team traveled to Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. to take on the Fighting Illini in the exhibition opener for both teams. Over 300 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and parents donned their purple and white and cheered on the Bearcats as they broke out to an 11-point lead in the first half, but the University of Illinois bounced back to post a 101-66 victory.

“I thought in the first half we did a very, very good job,” said Coach Statham, who is in his 48th season at the helm of the Bearcats’ program. “Especially in that first 15 minutes. We came out and attacked and tried to be aggressive. We expected a lot (of Illinois) and they gave it to us. It’s a big gym and they’ve been practicing for a while.”