Colleges

Guards play well in USF intrasquad scrimmage

Guards play well in USF intrasquad scrimmage

By GREG AUMAN, Times wires
Published November 3, 2005

TAMPA - If Wednesday's first look at USF's men's basketball team is any indication, the Bulls will be led into the Big East by their backcourt.

Senior guard James Holmes scored 29 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead all scorers in the Bulls' season debut in the "Green and Gold" intrasquad scrimmage at the Sun Dome.

"James has probably been our most consistent player," coach Robert McCullum said. "He's much improved from last year, more confident. He's really improved his ballhandling."

McCullum was "most pleased" with the play of freshman point guard Chris Howard, who had eight assists against one turnover and scored 10 points. Sophomore Collin Dennis, who will see more time at the point after Tuesday's dismissal of junior David Sills, had seven assists against one turnover while scoring 15 points. Center Solomon Jones scored 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and forward Melvin Buckley scored 22 after missing his first six shots.

The Bulls will take a bus to West Palm Beach on Friday to attend funeral services for teammate Bradley Mosley, who died Saturday after a yearlong battle with kidney cancer. After a closed scrimmage with Florida State on Sunday, the Bulls open their season at home Nov. 10 with an exhibition against Saint Leo.

KENTUCKY: Sophomore center Randolph Morris didn't dress but sat on the team bench during an 80-51 exhibition victory over NCAA Division II Northern State. Morris' eligibility is under review by the NCAA because of his relationship with sports agency SFX after he declared for the NBA draft. Morris also has a toe injury. Reserve Jared Carter, a 7-foot-2 freshman center, had eight points and seven rebounds. The Wildcats were just 8-for-16 from the line, but forced 25 turnovers.

LOUISVILLE: The Cardinals, missing injured post players Juan Palacios and David Padgett, were outrebounded 32-26 but won an exhibition against Division II Bellarmine 70-63.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Pat White ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in his first start, leading No. 18 West Virginia to a 45-13 win over Connecticut.

First-place West Virginia (7-1, 4-0 Big East) showed no sluggishness from an 18-day layoff.

The Mountaineers built a 35-3 halftime lead, getting a pair of touchdowns after turnovers. The defense limited UConn (4-4, 1-3) to 12 rushing yards and 129 overall, the fewest allowed by West Virginia in three seasons.

White, a redshirt freshman starting for the injured Adam Bednarik, ran for 63 yards on 12 carries.

HELP FOR TULANE: Navy will cover the cost of Tulane's trip to Annapolis this weekend, a gift that should save the financially strapped program up to $200,000.

Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk, who was Tulane's AD from 1987-90, made the offer to help Tulane cope with the destruction its campus sustained from Hurricane Katrina.

Gladchuk increased the guaranteed amount a visiting school receives by $50,000, and at the academy's urging, the Wyndham Hotel in Baltimore is providing complimentary rooms for the entire traveling party.

HARBAUGH ARRESTED: University of San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh was arrested early Sunday on a charge of drunken driving after being stopped for running a stop sign. Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback, was released after 71/2 hours. He is to appear in court in December.

TUNNEL TROUBLE: After pushing and shoving heading into halftime of Washington State's game at USC, Pac-10 officials modified the rule for stadiums where both teams use the same tunnel to enter and leave the field. The previous policy was that the team with its bench closest to the tunnel should go before the other team at the end the first half. The modified policy allows teams to change that by mutual consent.

SOUTHERN CAL: Second-string linebacker Rey Maualuga was arrested after a man was punched at an off-campus party, police said. Maualuga, an 18-year-old freshman coming off the best game of his career, was arrested around 4 a.m. Tuesday after the altercation three hours earlier, said Los Angeles police spokesman Kevin Maiberger. Maualuga later turned himself in and was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor battery.

TENNESSEE: Tailback Arian Foster (knee) and guard Rob Smith (shoulder) should be healthy for Notre Dame on Saturday after being listed as questionable.

FSU WOMEN ADVANCE: The Seminoles (17-2) opened ACC tournament play with a 4-0 victory over Clemson (9-8-2) in Cary, N.C. to advance to the semifinals against Virginia on Friday. Florida State led 1-0 at halftime and scored three in a span of 4:11 starting at 72:10.

GATORS HONORED: Three University of Florida players were named to the All-SEC team. Junior Melanie Booth made the first team, and sophomore defender Ashley Harris and freshman forward Megan Kerns made the second team. Kerns also made the All-Freshman team. Florida (13-4-1, 8-2-1 SEC) opens the SEC tournament against Auburn (6-11-1, 5-6) at 3:30 today.

TAMPA CLOSES WITH WIN: The host Spartan men defeated Florida Southern 3-1 to finish the season 7-7-3, 2-5-2 Sunshine State Conference.

UCF WOMEN EDGE HOUSTON: Roberta Pelarigo scored two goals, one on an assist from Kate McCain of Lakewood, as the Golden Knights defeated host Houston 3-2 in the opener of the Conference USA championship. The Golden Knights (12-9) face UTEP in a quarterfinal Friday.

Florida Southern beat Tampa 30-28, 22-30, 30-25, 24-30, 18-16, the Moccasins' first win over the Spartans since Nov. 18, 1994. Tampa had won 23 straight against Florida Southern. The Spartans dropped to 21-3, 9-1 SSC. ... Visiting Eckerd lost at Florida Tech, taking the first set 30-26 then losing the next three 32-30, 30-26 and 30-26. The Tritons are 12-11, 3-6 SSC.

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:07:13]