Preview: Cincinnati v Dayton

Cincinnati men’s basketball team will welcome in-state rival Dayton to Fifth Third Arena on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the 2025–26 Twyman-Stokes Classic — a game that carries significance far beyond the hardwood.

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

Details around the matchup:

A Game that Transcends Basketball

More than just an early-season test between two of Ohio’s most storied programs, Tuesday’s matchup honors one of the most powerful stories in sports history — the unbreakable bond between Maurice Stokes and Jack Twyman.

In 1958, while starring for the Cincinnati Royals, Stokes suffered a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. His teammate and University of Cincinnati legend Jack Twyman, only 23 at the time, became Stokes’ legal guardian, dedicating his life to caring for his friend and raising money nationwide to support him.

Their story helped shape the course of professional basketball. Inspired by Stokes’ struggle, NBA players staged a holdout at the 1964 All-Star Game to demand the formation of a players’ union, ensuring medical and financial protection for all.

When Stokes passed away in 1970 and Twyman in 2012, the NBA honored their friendship and selflessness by creating the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, recognizing the league’s most selfless teammate. Tuesday’s game stands as a tribute to that legacy — a testament to loyalty, compassion, and the power of sports to unite.

The story is one that anyone attending the game should be reminded of, as it is truly powerful and a good reflection on the type of impact these two had on the game of basketball.

Cincinnati Outlook

Wes Miller enters a pivotal fifth season as the Bearcats' head coach and Tuesday evening kicks off a stretch of games that will heavily impact the Bearcats tournament resume come March.

Leading the charge early is senior forward Baba Miller, who was named to the Big 12 Starting Five this week after a dominant opening stretch. Miller posted back-to-back double-doubles — 18 points and 10 rebounds in the opener against Western Carolina, followed by 24 points, 11 boards, and three blocks in a 74–64 win over Georgia State. He’s the first Bearcat to start a season with consecutive double-doubles since Bobby Brannen (1997–98).

Cincinnati struggled with offensive rhythm and consistency in their most recent win over Georgia State, and must play better with the competition elevated Tuesday evening. 

"You want to play against the best teams and the best programs, and you want to have the opportunity to really build your team throughout your non-conference schedule. Dayton is one of the best programs," Miller said following the Georgia State game.

"We don't think of it as a non–Power Four game — it's a Power Four game to us. I think anybody that watches basketball thinks that. There are so many good basketball programs within driving distance of Cincinnati; we should all be playing each other. That's more fun for the fans, the environments are better, and I'm excited to get this going with Dayton. But it'll be a real dang challenge here on Tuesday. If we play like that on Tuesday night, it's not going to be a fun night, so we’ve got some work to do."

Dayton Outlook

Across the state, Dayton (2–0) continues its climb under ninth-year head coach Anthony Grant. The Flyers edged UMBC, 77–72, on Saturday to stay unbeaten, following a convincing win over Canisius in the opener.

Senior guard Javon Bennett, an Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference pick, leads Dayton with 18 points and 4.5 assists per game, while sophomore forward Amaël L’Etang adds 14 points and six rebounds per outing.

The Flyers’ starting five — Bennett, De’Shayne Montgomery, Keonte Jones, Jacob Conner, and L’Etang — all scored in double figures in their latest win. Jones, a senior transfer from Cal State-Northridge, turned heads with a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night, including two triples, plus five steals and two blocks.

Grant’s Flyers are shooting 52% from the field, have shown interior efficiency and ball movement, though they’ve struggled from deep at just 27.9% from three. Defensively, they’ve held their first two opponents under 60 points per game and limited them to 40.7% shooting. Opponents have connected at a high clip from long range (40%), something Cincinnati’s perimeter shooters could exploit.

Dayton’s ability to rebound is also an area to monitor against a long and physical Bearcats frontcourt. However, the Flyers’ quick tempo and 82.5-point average indicate a team comfortable running and spreading the floor — a contrast to Cincinnati’s more deliberate, defensive-minded style.

With Miller also recently saying he wants his team to play fast, it will be interesting to see if that actually translates with the competition being elevated from their first two opponents.

Series History:

Few rivalries in Ohio basketball run deeper than Cincinnati–Dayton. The two programs have squared off 92 times, with the Bearcats holding a 61–31 all-time advantage, including a commanding 38–12 mark at home.

After dominating the series with an 11-game win streak from 1989 to 2001, Cincinnati has gone 5–4 over the last nine meetings. The teams split their past two matchups, including a 66–59 Bearcats victory last December in the Simple Truth Hoops Classic at Heritage Bank Center, where both teams entered the matchup ranked. (No. 19 Cincinnati ; No. 22 Dayton)

The Flyers last trip to the Queen City in a home environment for the Bearcats was an 81–66 win in the 2010 NIT’s second round

For Dayton, the Bearcats represent one of their most frequent historical opponents, trailing only Xavier (159 games) and Miami (132) in total meetings.

What to Watch

Baba Miller’s Momentum: Can the senior forward continue his early-season dominance against one of the Atlantic 10’s premier frontcourts?

Dayton’s Efficiency Edge: The Flyers’ 52% field-goal mark makes them one of the nation’s more efficient early-season offenses — can they sustain it against Cincinnati’s defense?

Rebounding Battle: Dayton has been slightly out-rebounded through two games; Cincinnati’s depth and length could tilt the glass in their favor.

The Twyman-Stokes Legacy: Expect emotional tributes throughout the night, honoring one of the most meaningful friendships in sports history.