College basketball

Arkansas struggles in win

By wire services
Published December 17, 2004

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Darian Townes scored 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting Thursday as Arkansas overcame occasional sloppy play to earn a 96-68 victory over Tennessee State.

The Razorbacks shot 55 percent but at times lacked the zip it showed in a road victory against Missouri and a close loss to then-No. 5 Illinois. In all, Arkansas committed 13 turnovers.

But against Tennessee State, it often didn't matter. The Tigers made only 12 of 33 shots during the second half and couldn't keep up with the Razorbacks once they found their range.

Rod Flowers, with 17 points and 11 rebounds, led Tennessee State, who had 17 offensive rebounds. But cold shooting, 36 percent, kept the Tigers, who trailed 47-39 at halftime, from getting closer than 10 during the second half.

HOUSTON 78, NEW ORLEANS 65: Lanny Smith scored 30 for the host Cougars. Smith made 9 of 10 free throws and was 8-of-13 from the field. Houston never trailed and led 45-32 at halftime.

LOUISVILLE: Coach Rick Pitino might consider reinstating freshman center Terrance Farley but said Farley's high school coach overreacted to the dismissal.

Wednesday, Pitino announced Farley, who had played only six minutes this season, had been dismissed. Pitino did not disclose the offense but said it happened on "multiple occasions."

"It has nothing to do with alcohol, drugs or anything like that," Pitino said.

Farley's high school coach, Dale Mabrey of Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park, sent a letter to the media blasting the coach and the university.

"I am embarrassed to call myself an alumni of the University of Louisville when it takes what should be a simple freshman mistake and twists it to fit the needs of the moment," Mabrey's letter read. "Coach, you may need to take a look at yourself in the mirror. ... You may not like the person that you have become."

Mabrey apologized Thursday.

SOUTHERN MISS: Guard Solomon Brown will take an indefinite leave of absence. The junior from Los Angeles, who is averaging nine points, is not in trouble with academics but requested time off for personal reasons, coach Larry Eustachy said.

OHIO ST. 77, TEXAS TECH 71: Tony Stockman scored 23 for the Buckeyes in Dallas. Ohio State made four consecutive 3-pointers, three by Stockton and one by Matt Sylvester, to lead 69-64 with just more than five minutes left. The Red Raiders tied it at 71 with 3:00 left on five consecutive points by Martin Zeno. But Texas Tech didn't score again, and Stockman made four free throws during the final 28 seconds.

SMU 77, BAYLOR 43: Bryan Hopkins had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the host Mustangs. Hopkins was 10-of-15 from the field and made five 3-pointers. SMU outrebounded Baylor 34-22 and scored 26 off of 20 Baylor turnovers.

FAIRFIELD: The NCAA will not sanction the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference school after an independent investigation found no major violations. Last year, several former players accused the coaching staff of giving cash to players, falsifying drug tests, and doing schoolwork for members of the team.

UCF 90, CAMPBELL 73: Kingsley Edwards scored a career-high 19 to lead four players in double figures for the host Knights. UCF, 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun, shot 61 percent and got 18 points from Anthony Williams, 15 from Josh Peppers and 13 from Gary Johnson. UCF made 11 of 18 3-pointers in the first half, including seven in a row and Gary Johnson's at the buzzer, for a 48-38 lead. The Camels got no closer than eight from there.

PORTLAND ST. 80, B-CC 60: Seamus Boxley scored a career-high 28 for the host Vikings. Portland State led by as many as 27 during the second half, but Antonio Webb scored 10 straight midway through. B-CC got as close as 64-55 before the Vikings pulled away.

NO. 4 TEXAS 79, NORTH TEXAS 54: Jamie Carey scored a career-high 30 for the visiting Longhorns. Texas trailed 34-31 at halftime but opened the second half with a 14-4 run to take a 45-38 lead with 10:50 left.

[Last modified December 17, 2004, 00:55:05]