Miami Rallies Over No. 18 UConn
Feb. 19, 2000
By DONNA TOMMELLEO
Associated Press Writer
STORRS, Conn. – Elton Tyler scored 22 points including the go-aheadbasket late in the second half as Miami rallied from 13 points down to beat No.18 Connecticut 63-57 on Saturday.
For the second year in a row, the defending national champs were unable tocash in on their home court against the Hurricanes. Miami (16-9, 9-3 Big East)beat the Huskies (18-7, 7-5) by a bucket in their last meeting at GampelPavilion.
The Canes erased a 28-23 halftime deficit in a hurry. Johnny Hemsley andTyler combined for five points with less than a minute gone. Mario Bland scoredhis first six points of the game over the next five minutes in a 17-9 Miami runfor a 40-37 Hurricane lead.
The teams traded baskets over the next five minutes and UConn worked its wayback into the lead at 46-45 on Jake Voskuhl’s dunk. After Hemsley’s free throwevened the score at 9:04, Tyler took a backdoor feed for an easy bucket to putMiami up for good 48-46 with 7:40 left. The Huskies got within a point, 53-52on a pair of free throws by Khalid El-Amin with 5:06 left.
It was all UConn in the opening minutes. The Huskies struck quickly with a14-2 run in the first four minutes by dominating the offensive boards. EdmundSaunders, Kevin Freeman and El-Amin scored UConn’s first six points offoffensive rebounds.
The Huskies built their largest lead in the half at 17-4 with 14:34 left asSouleymane Wane converted a three-point play. As fast as the Huskies started,they went stone cold over the next six minutes, fumbling away chances as Miamicrept back in with a 8-0 run.
Tyler had four points in the spurt and as Miami got within five at 17-12.The Hurricanes would get as close as four points with just under three minutesin the half, using the foul line to get there. The leading free throw team inthe Big East, Miami converted five of six from the line to cut UConn’s lead to27-23.
El-Amin gave the Huskies a 28-23 lead at the break, hitting one of two freethrows. He finished with a team-high 16 points.
The Hurricanes outrebounded UConn 36-26, led by John Salmons‘ eight.
Miami’s 73-71 win over UConn on Feb. 20, 1999 was final loss of the 1998-99season for the Huskies, who then ran off 11 straight wins culminating with thenational title victory.
The win was Miami’s third in its last four over UConn and assured theHurricanes of a winning conference record for the third straight year.
