Bing plays part in win over Louisville, Pitino

Erroyl Bing (Largo) is enjoying an all-time high with his East Carolina University basketball teammates.

The reason for the Pirates' excitement is the result of last week's 87-77 win over Louisville.

Not only was the victory the Pirates' first in Conference USA, it was against renowned coach Rick Pitino.

"What more could you ask for," said Bing, 19. "Our first-ever win in Conference USA and against Rick Pitino's team. We're all on a high."

Bing, a two-time Pinellas County player of the year, was off his team-leading average of 19.7 points against Louisville with seven but contributed to ECU's 40 rebounds.

"This win shows us -- and others -- that we can compete in this league," the sophomore said.

Basketball wasn't Bing's first sport, and he didn't begin playing until he was in seventh grade. After that, it was his only game.

"I played baseball until I started to grow in the seventh grade," Bing said. "I knew the basics of the game, but really worked hard to learn."

MORE BASKETBALL: Tia Miller (Boca Ciega) sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Auburn's game with Tennessee last week. She was the Tigers' leading scorer (12.6 ppg). Kansas State junior forward Pervis Pasco (Clearwater/Pensacola JC) has scored in double figures in eight games and leads the Wildcats in rebounding.

Central Florida's Josh Bodden (Dunedin) is second on the team in rebounding and blocked shots. He's averaging 7.9 points. Sophomore guard Jimmy Baxter (Boca Ciega) has played in 14 of South Florida's games, starting three. He scored 11 points in a 117-108 victory over TCU.

Seth Fischer (Dunedin) leads Oxford College in three-point shooting percentage.

SWIMMING: Kristen Nardozzi (St. Petersburg) extended her win streak to six. The University of New Hampshire sophomore won the 400-yard medley (4:30.47) in the Northeastern Invitational for her 12th event victory. South Carolina freshman Heather Skaggs (Northeast) won the 50-yard freestyle (23.94 seconds) in the Davidson Invitational.

Georgia's Robert Margalis (Clearwater) won three events in his first collegiate meet.

DIVING: Sarah Close (Dunedin) won the 3-meter springboard with 262.27 points and earned 259.20 on the one-meter for a fourth-place finish in No. 8 Florida's victory over No. 18 Penn State.

GYMNASTICS: Sophomore Ashley Shible (East Lake) won the vault and floor exercise, helping 14th-ranked University of Denver upset No. 10 Oregon State.

Jana Gallagher (Clearwater) won the vault and tied for first in floor exercise as Illinois finished second in the Auburn Quadrangular. Illini freshman Margaret Dann (St. Petersburg) was fourth on the balance beam. Junior Karen Kuplicki (Seminole) finished in a three-way tie for second on vault in Iowa State's season-opening meet.

TRACK & FIELD: Laura Magee (Seminole) was the second North Florida runner to finish in the one-mile race at the Florida Intercollegiate Meet in Gainesville. With a time of 5:19.9, Magee was ninth overall.

North Florida's Mike Craig (St. Petersburg Catholic) was 22nd in the 3,000 meter run, 9:22.17.

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