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Bell's good timing sinks UM

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2002


MIAMI -- Troy Bell made one field goal in the second half, but it was a big one.

MIAMI -- Troy Bell made one field goal in the second half, but it was a big one.

The Big East scoring leader sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:47 left to help Boston College beat No. 15 Miami 70-65 Tuesday night.

Bell had 18 points at halftime, then was scoreless in the second half until he made two free throws with 2:39 left. That cut Miami's lead to 65-63, and his 3-pointer on the Eagles' next possession put them ahead to stay.

"He knows it's his show coming down the stretch, and that makes it difficult to guard him," Boston College coach Al Skinner said.

Boston College beat the Hurricanes for the third consecutive time and snapped their four-game winning streak. The Eagles had lost four of six after a 12-1 start.

"This is a big momentum builder," Bell said. "A win like this on the road really helps our confidence."

The Hurricanes lost at home for the first time after 11 wins. They were outscored 9-0 down the stretch and managed one field goal in the last 9:49.

"If you look at the games we haven't won, it's been the same thing: We hit a streak where we don't score," UM coach Perry Clark said. "It's a virus. We get impatient."

The Hurricanes shot 30 percent and missed 13 of their final 14 shots.

Bell finished with 25. Teammate Ryan Sidney scored 18 but said the Eagles won at the Hurricanes' end of the court.

"Everything was defense," Sidney said. "That was our focus. They're such an evenly balanced team you've got to play them heads-up."

Sidney also had 10 rebounds and seven assists. Kenny Walls added 13 points.

James Jones had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Miami. Darius Rice, who totaled 62 points the past two games, was held to 16 and went 1-for-9 from 3-point range.

"We're hurting now, but we've got to get over it," Rice said.

TAMPA: Senior Jon Brown was named Sunshine State Conference player of the week after averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in two wins.

Top 25

NO. 25 OHIO ST. 78, NO. 12 ILLINOIS 67: Brent Darby scored 22, making 16 of 18 free throws and a pivotal jumper with two minutes left, to lift the host Buckeyes.

The Illini dropped three games behind Big Ten co-leaders Indiana and Ohio State. Their six losses are more than they had last season, when they shared the conference title with Michigan State.

C-USA

NO. 4 CINCINNATI 75, E. CAROLINA 48: Steve Logan and Field Williams scored 18 each, and the nation's toughest defense added a new twist, a pesky fullcourt press, as the host Bearcats won their 20th in a row.

Cincinnati extended the nation's longest winning streak by extending its defense. The Bearcats emerged from their preferred halfcourt, man-to-man setup early in the first half, forced a flurry of turnovers and pulled away.

CHARLOTTE 97, DePAUL 83: Jobey Thomas scored 28 as the visiting 49ers won their sixth in a row. Butter Johnson added 17 points and Cam Stephens 16 for Charlotte, which has won eight of nine. DePaul coach Pat Kennedy missed his third straight game because of a bulging disc in his back. Also, forward Jon Oden left the team permanently for personal reasons.

MARQUETTE 68, TULANE 66: Dwyane Wade scored 24, and Cordell Henry's 17 included a basket that gave the visiting Golden Eagles the lead for good as Marquette won its seventh in a row.

SO. MISS 67, SAINT LOUIS 46: Elvin Mims had 26 points and 14 rebounds as the host Golden Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak.

UAB 77, TCU 71: Will Campbell had 30 points and 19 rebounds, and the visiting Blazers held the Horned Frogs to their fewest points and lowest field-goal percentage (31 percent) this season.

SEC

GEORGIA: Tony Cole, one of three athletes involved in the case of an alleged attack against a female student, has been sued in Rhode Island by two students who claim they were sexually assaulted in December 1999. Coach Jim Harrick and an assistant to school president Michael Adams told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution neither knew of the allegations when Cole was cleared to play in the fall.

Nation

SETON HALL 63, ST. JOHN'S 61 (OT): Darius Lane hit two free throws with 4 seconds left as the host Pirates won despite blowing a 16-point first-half lead. Seton Hall's Marcus Toney-El hit two free throws with 28.9 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 55 and force overtime.

DAYTON 83, UMASS 68: The visiting Flyers took a 13-0 lead, had another 17-0 first-half run and shot 59 percent from the field. PENN 81, LA SALLE 76 (OT): Andy Toole scored 16 and the visiting Quakers made 10 consecutive free throws in the last 45 seconds to escape. TEXAS A&M 52, IOWA ST. 50: Bernard King hit a runner in the lane with 10.8 seconds left as the visiting Aggies handed the Cyclones their sixth consecutive loss.

Women

NO. 1 UCONN 59, NO. 23 VA. TECH 50: Asjha Jones scored 19 and Diana Taurasi hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute as the visiting Huskies withstood a scare.

NO. 4 OKLA. 66, OKLA. ST. 58: Stacey Dales scored a career-high 29, 17 in the second half, as the visiting Sooners rallied.

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