BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Point guard Michael Horton was back in the black jersey that designates the Cincinnati Bearcats' first team in practice and will rejoin the lineup for their quarterfinal game Thursday in the Conference USA tournament.

Horton, a 6-1 junior from Alexandria, Va., was suspended for the final three regular-season games for violating team policy and had to watch as UC needed to hit shots in the final 10 seconds to beat both UNC Charlotte and Saint Louis and claim the C-USA title.

''We'll throw him out there,'' Huggins said. ''If he plays well, he stays.''

Horton said he learned by watching the game from the bench, picking up when players were out of position defensively or not committing to executing the offense. ''Now I know why coach Huggins hollers a lot,'' Horton said.

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