By Bill Koch and John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Eric Hicks was back in a University of Cincinnati basketball uniform for the Bearcats' 66-54 victory over Miami on Saturday night, determined to make it through his freshman season.

Hicks, a 6-foot-6 forward, was two days late returning from the Bearcats' two-day Christmas break, arriving back in Cincinnati on Friday night.

He said he never intended to leave the program.

"I was going to come back regardless and finish it out," Hicks said. "I'm not a quitter. I just needed some time to think."

Hicks, from Greensboro, N.C., did not play against Miami. He has played an average of 7.3 minutes in six games.

"It's tough," Hicks said. "That's all I can say. I've just got to deal with it."

WELCOME HOME: Josh Hausfeld played as though he were right at home. And he was.

Hausfeld, the Miami freshman from Roger Bacon High, played his best all-around game as a RedHawk in Saturday's 66-54 loss to UC.

"I wanted to play good," Hausfeld said. "I had a lot of friends and family here. It's good to play in front of friends and family."

Hausfeld, a 6-3 guard, came off the bench to score 10 points and set career highs for rebounds (three), assists (three) and minutes (25).

Tim Schenke, a sophomore from Elder, had a game similar to Hausfeld. Schenke scored only six points but set career highs for rebounds (seven) and assists (five).

Miami's other Cincinnati player - Danny Horace from Western Hills High - managed only five points - half his average. Horace was limited to 18 minutes by foul trouble and eventually fouled out.

AT THE LINE: UC attempted 27 free throws against Miami and made 18, both season highs.

"We attacked the basket better," said UC coach Bob Huggins. "(Leonard Stokes) did a good job coming off screens and we threw the ball in the block more."

Entering the game, the Bearcats had 23 fewer free throws than their opponents and made 16 fewer.

BARKER SCARE: Point guard Taron Barker, already battling a sore back, gave UC fans and coaches a scare when he tumbled over the Miami bench attempting to save a ball from going out of bounds.

Barker landed hard on the U.S Bank Arena floor and lay there momentarily, then got up and sprinted back into the game. He finished with six points, seven rebounds and five assists.