Men's Basketball Travels To Boston College

Jan. 11, 2001

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Boston College enters today’s game with a record of 11-1, 2-1 in the BIG EAST following a 73-71 loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on January 10. The loss snapped the Eagles’ school-record 11-game winning streak to open the season.

Sophomore guard Troy Bell, who ranks 18th in the nation in scoring, recorded 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead the Eagles. Xavier Singletary scored 13 points while Uka Agbai added 10 points for the Eagles

Bell (21.3 ppg) and Singletary (14.89 ppg) are the top two scorers for the Eagles high powered offense which is averaging 82.0 points per game. The Eagles rank 13th in the nation in scoring margin defeating opponents by an average of 17.9 points per game.

MIAMI HURRICANES (8-6, 0-3 BIG EAST)at#24 BOSTON COLLEGE (11-1, 2-1 BIG EAST)
Saturday, January 13, 2001 — Noon (EST)
Silvio O. Conte Forum (8,606)
WPLG-TV, WQAM (560 AM)

THE SERIES:
Miami and Boston College meet for the 19th time and for the second time in seven days. The Eagles lead the all-time series 10-8 including a 73-72 win on January 7 at the Miami Arena.

The Hurricanes are 4-4 against the Eagles in Chestnut Hill. Miami has won two straight at Conte Forum including a 75-67 win over BC on January 24, 1999.

The UM-BC rivalry has been a closely contested one with seven of the last nine meetings being decided by eight points or less. Boston College has not recorded a sweep of the Hurricanes since the 1996-97 season.

LAST GAME AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE
January 7, 2001 – Miami Arena, Miami, FL
Troy Bell scored a game-high 19 points, 18 in the first half, as Boston College opened a 19-point second half lead and held off a furious Miami comeback to defeat the Hurricanes, 73-72, at the Miami Arena.

John Salmons led Miami with 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Marcus Barnes added a career-high 15 points off the bench for the Hurricanes.

Boston College dominated the first half. The Eagles hit 10-14 three-point baskets in the opening half, including 6-7 shooting from Bell, in taking a 42-31 lead into the lockerroom.

The Eagles looked as if they put the game away early in the second half using an 11-3 run, capped by a fastbreak dunk by Ryan Sidney, to take a 53-34 lead with 15:30 to play.

Miami answered with an 18-0 run, led by seven points from Salmons, to pull within one, 53-52, with 8:48 to play. The run, which was a season-high for the Hurricanes, held the Eagles scoreless for 6:42.

Two minutes later Miami would take the lead when Darius Rice, 12 points, connected on a three-pointer from the right corner to give UM a 57-56 advantage. Miami would push the lead to seven, 67-60, with 3:37 left. But Boston College battled back and regained the lead 68-67 when Kenny Walls hit two free throws with 2:09 on the clock.

Miami and Boston College exchanged the lead four times in the final two minutes before Jonathan Beerbohm’s tip-in with 27 seconds left gave BC the lead for good. Miami had one last chance but Salmons’ 12 foot jumper at the buzzer hit off the rim.

UP NEXT:
Following today’s game Miami concludes its three game road trip against Providence (Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m.). The will be broadcast live in Miami on Fox Sports Net. Miami then returns home to face 13th-ranked Connecticut on January 20 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Miami Arena.

TV/RADIO COVERAGE:
Tonight’s game is being produced by ESPN Regional Television and is airing live in Miami on WPLG-Channel 10 as part on the BIG EAST Game of the Week package. Bob Picozzi is handling the play-by-play with Ron Perry adding analysis. The game can be heard on the Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM – 560 AM). Marc Vandermeer is calling the play-by-play with Joe Zagacki providing analysis. The game can be heard live over the internet at the official website for HurricaneAthletics – www.hurricanesports.com.

A HURRICANE WIN WOULD:

• Improve Miami’s record to 9-6, 1-3 BIG EAST.
• Mark Miami’s first conference win this season.
• Prevent the Hurricanes’ first 0-4 start in BIG EAST play since the 1994-95 season.
• Prevent BC’ first season sweep of UM since 1996-97.

ON THE COACHES:
Miami head coach Perry Clark was named the Hurricanes’ head basketball coach on on July 6, 2000. Clark comes to Coral Gables having spent 11 seasons at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. With the Green Wave, Clark compiled a 185-145 (.561) record, had six 20-win seasons, seven postseason appearances (3 NCAA, 4 NIT) and won the Metro Conference championship in 1992. He was the 1992 National Coach of the Year and a two-time Metro Conference Coach of the Year (1991, 1992). Last season Clark finished 20-11 and captured the Conference USA National Division crown. Additionally, Tulane received a bid to the NIT. Clark’s career record stands at 193-151 (.561) including a 8-6 record this season.

Boston College head coach Al Skinner is in his fourth season with the Eagles and 13th season overall. Skinner’s record at Boston College is 43-57 (.430), including a 11-1 record this season, while his overall record stands at 181-183 (.497).

ONLINE ALL THE TIME:
Check out the official University of Miami Athletic Department website at www.hurricanesports.com.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Since the 1998-99 season, Miami is 15-4 in BIG EAST road games. The 15-4 mark ties the Hurricanes with Syracuse for the best record among BIG EAST schools over that period. Miami, which was 8-1 in BIG EAST road games in 1998-99, was 7-1 in conference road games last season. Miami is 0-2 this season on the road. The Hurricanes have won 16 of their last 20 BIG EAST road games dating back to the 1997-98 season.

WINNING WAYS:
With its 63-57 win over Connecticut on February 19, the University of Miami clinched its six consecutive winning season. The last time Miami recorded at least six straight winning seasons was the 1968-69 campaign when the `Canes registered their 10th straight winning season.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH:
Miami’s win over No. 18 St. John’s in last season’s regular season finale marked the sixth consecutive season that the Hurricanes have defeated a ranked opponent in the Miami Arena.

RECORD SETTING NIGHTS:
Freshman forward Darius Rice recorded 35 points in the Hurricanes’ win over Central Florida (12-9-00) setting a Miami freshman single-game scoring record. Rice broke the old mark of 30 set by Tito Horford on February 25, 1987.

On January 10, 2001 vs. Virginia Tech, Rice hit seven three-point field goals establishing a new UM freshman record. Rice totalled 31 points vs. the Hokies becoming the first player in UM history to record two 30-point scoring games as a frosh.

In his debut against Florida Atlantic on November 18, Rice poured in a game-high 26 points marking the most by a freshman in a season-opener.Rice has now recorded three of the top eight freshman scoring totals in UM history.

IN THEIR FIRST SEASON:
New Hurricane head coach Perry Clark opened his first season at Miami with a 3-0 record. The three straight wins to open the season tied the UM record for consecutive wins to open a season by a coach in his first season at Miami. Bill Foster (1985-86), Hart Morris (1938-39) and Art Webb (1926-27) all opened their inaugural season at Miami 3-0.

WORKING OVERTIME:
Miami has played at least one overtime contest in each of the last two seasons. Last season the Hurricanes defeated St. John’s in the regular-season finale while in 1998-99 the Hurricanes’ lost a heartbreaking overtime game against No. 1 ranked. UM has amassed a 6-2 record (including tournament games) in BIG EAST overtime contests (4-2 at home). The ‘Canes, who have never had more than three overtime games in any season (3-0 in 1986-87 and 0-3 in 1990-91), own a 22-19 overall record in overtime contests during their history (4-3 in double-overtime games and a 18-16 mark in single-overtime contests). Miami is 6-2 in overtime games since 1995. Below is a list of UM’s overtime games since 1990:

MIAMI DOMINATES IN THE ARENA:
In 11 seasons at the Miami Arena the Hurricanes have compiled a 122-63 (.659) overall record, including a 7-1 mark this season. One of Miami’s home losses this season was at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, FL. UM has posted a 75-23 (.765) home record since 1994. UM is 39-15 (.722) in its last 54 BIG EAST home games dating back to the 1994-95 season.

A NEW HOME COURT:
The University of Miami will play on new floor at the Miami Arena this season. The floor was donated by Dr. Eddie Dauer and Sam Burstyn and is adorned in the Hurricanes’ colors of orange, green and white.

MIAMI REACHES SWEET 16:
With its 75-62 win over Ohio State in the second round of last season’s NCAA tournament, the University of Miami advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history.

Miami has advanced to post-season play in five of the last six seasons including three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

UM TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS:
Miami won 23 games last season tying the school single season record for victories. Miami’s single season record of 23 victories was set during the 1959-60 season and later tied during 1962-63 and 1998-99 seasons.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS:
UM is 0-1 against ranked teams this season. Miami was 3-5 versus ranked teams last season . The Hurricanes are 12-15 versus ranked opponents since 1996-97 and have defeated at least one ranked team in each of the last six seasons. Miami is 21-80 (.208) all-time against ranked teams including an 18-66 (.214) record since the rebirth of the program in 1985.

MIAMI vs. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS:
Since becoming the 10th member of The BIG EAST Conference beginning with the 1991-92 season, the Hurricanes have compiled a 63-34 (.649) record against non-conference opponents, including a 45-13 mark (.776) at the Miami Arena.