For the first time since 2004, the Cincinnati Bearcats will play a basketball game on the Dayton Flyers’ home floor, visiting UD Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14, in the latest renewal of one of Ohio’s oldest college rivalries, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
The Bearcats have not played in Dayton since Dec. 4, 2004, when Bob Huggins’ Cincinnati team beat the Flyers 65-55, according to the Enquirer. The schools did not play for 13 years, then rekindled the series at a neutral site before bringing it back to campus: last Nov. 11, Cincinnati beat Dayton 74-62 at Fifth Third Arena as the Flyers returned to UC’s campus for the first time in 15 years, the Enquirer reported. Saturday’s game is the return visit under a two-game home-and-home agreement the schools announced last summer.
Both teams arrive off losses. Cincinnati (2-1) led Minnesota by seven points late on Monday night and did not score again, falling 63-61 at Fifth Third Arena in head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s first loss with the Bearcats, the Enquirer reported. Dayton (1-2) outshot Siena at UD Arena on Tuesday but went 6-for-12 at the free-throw line while Siena went 28-for-33, and the Flyers lost 99-89, according to the University of Dayton’s official recap.
The bright spot for Dayton has been freshman Aiden Derkack, who posted his third straight double-double to open his career against Siena — 25 points and 10 rebounds — the first Flyer to start that way since DaRon Holmes II in March 2024, Dayton Athletics reported. Sophomore Tristian Ford added 21 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night in that game.
Cincinnati leads the all-time series 62-32, and the series began in 1907, according to the Enquirer. The Flyer News, the University of Dayton’s student newspaper, noted the Flyers will have revenge on their minds after last season’s 74-62 loss, and that a home win over a power-conference opponent would be a crucial resume builder in November.
Saturday also lands on a busy day for Bearcats fans: the Cincinnati football team plays at Iowa State the same day, the Enquirer noted.
What happens next: tip-off is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at UD Arena, and the game will stream on ESPN+, the Enquirer reported. It is Cincinnati’s first road game of the season and the centerpiece of Dayton’s season-opening homestand.