Miami Downs Rutgers, 58-52
Feb. 5, 2000
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Johnny Hemsley scored 21 points and Miami heldRutgers to two field goals in the final 9:20 and grabbed 25 offensive reboundsin posting a 58-52 victory on Saturday.
Mario Bland added 13 points and Elton Tyler had 12 as Miami (14-8, 7-2) wonits fifth straight Big East Conference game and sent Rutgers (12-9, 4-5) to itsthird loss in four games.
Jeff Greer had 15 points to lead Rutgers. Todd Billet added 13 but he alsoturned the ball over twice in the final 21 seconds, the first time with theScarlet Knights trailing 52-49.
John Salmons, who stepped up and picked off Billet’s pass near the foulline, then hit two free throws to boost the lead to 54-49 with 19.1 seconds togo.
A 3-pointer by Billet with 12.8 seconds to go cut the lead to 54-52, butHemsley was fouled by Billet in the backcourt and he made both his free throws.
Hemsley also scored on a fastbreak layup in the closing seconds afterBillet, a freshman point guard, coughed up the ball again.
Miami held a 25-7 advantage on the offensive boards and it got two bigbaskets in the final five minutes off offensive rebounds.
With Miami leading 47-46, Salmons was blocked inside. Tyler got the ball andHemsley hit a 30-foot 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired for a 50-46lead.
After Dahntay Jones hit 1 of 2 free throws to close the gap to three, Tylerscored on the second of two offensive rebounds to push the lead to 52-47 with3:49 to go.
Eugene Dabney scored inside with 1:57 to play to close the gap to 52-49 andthe score stayed that way until Salmons hit his two free throws.
Miami used an 11-2 spurt at the start of the second half to take a 36-27lead on a follow by Bland with 14:43 to go.
Rutgers backup center Joel Salvi scored five points in a 10-2 counter spurt,with his 3-pointer closing the deficit to 38-37 with 10:42 to go.
Jones, who added 11 points, eventually gave Rutgers a 44-43 lead with twofree throws with 8:35 to go. There were two lead changes before Bland gaveMiami the lead for good at 47-46 on two free throws with 5:44 to play.
