College basketball

C-USA men: Cincy beats Houston once again

By wire services
Published January 30, 2005

CINCINNATI - James White scored a career-high 25 and had 10 rebounds Saturday night to lead No.21 Cincinnati to an 87-68 victory over Houston that showed what he can do in the right setting.

"It was their style of play," said White, who has scored 20 one other time in his three-year career. "With the way I play and them pressuring and double teaming other guys, I was finding open shots."

Jason Maxiell had 10 rebounds, 14 points and eight blocks (just missing the 15th triple double in school history) in helping the Bearcats win their 10th straight over the Cougars. Houston is 1-22 all-time against Cincinnati, which leaves next season for the Big East.

Houston opened by making two open jumpers. But the Bearcats held the Cougars to 1-for-13 shooting during the next seven minutes, including four blocked shots.

Meanwhile, Nick Williams made two 3-pointers and converted a three-point play during that span, leading a 19-5 run that put the Bearcats, who led by 17 at halftime, in control.

White had the best all-around game of his career. The 6-foot-7 forward tied his career high for 3-pointers by going 3-of-3 and repeatedly drove past defenders for pull-up jumpers or layups.

NO.12 LOUISVILLE 105, TULANE 69: Francisco Garcia scored 21 to lead six Cardinals players in double figures. Taquan Dean scored 19, including four 3-pointers, Lorrenzo Wade had 14, Larry O'Bannon 12 and Ellis Myles and Juan Palacios 11 each. Visiting Louisville never trailed, leading by as many as 44, in winning its seventh straight and 12th of the past 13.

MARQUETTE 55, SAINT LOUIS 51 (2OT): Steve Novak scored a season-high 23 and Joe Chapman hit a 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds left in the second overtime for the visiting Billikens. Marcus Jackson tied his career best with 16 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, who ended a three-game losing streak and played without guard Travis Diener (ankle). Marquette beat Saint Louis for the eighth time in nine tries despite a season-worst 29.7 percent shooting, while the losers shot 32 percent. Marquette had a chance to win in regulation and overtime but got air balls from Dameon Mason and Chapman.

E. CAROLINA 54, CHARLOTTE 51: Mitchell Baldwin missed a potential tying 3-pointer as time expired as the host Pirates held on. East Carolina held Charlotte scoreless over the final 6:41 to earn consecutive wins. The Pirates' Moussa Badiane scored 16 and had nine rebounds and three blocks, which made him the conference's all-time leader in blocks with 294. He broke the record of 292 set by former Cincinnati All-American Kenyon Martin (1997-2000).

DEPAUL 70, SOUTHERN MISS. 48: Drake Diener got all 18 of his points in the second half to lead the Blue Demons, who shot 53 percent from the field and won their eighth in 10 games. Quemont Greer had 13 points and Sammy Mejia added 10 for DePaul, which has won four of five and two straight against the Golden Eagles. Larry Eustachy was ejected for the first time as Southern Miss coach. He was called for two technicals with 11:59 remaining.

MEMPHIS 72, TCU 57: Darius Washington scored 17 to lead four players in double figures for the visiting Tigers. Jeremy Hunt scored 13, Rodney Carney 12 and Duane Erwin 11. Down 51-35, the Horned Frogs scored 12 straight, capped by Aaron Curtis' two free throws with 9:54 left. But they scored only 10 from there, and Washington's layup with 2:59 left made it 67-53.

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 00:55:13]