March 3, 2001
MIAMI (AP) – John Salmons scored 23 points, including a critical three-pointplay in the final two minutes, to lead Miami to a 65-53 victory over Villanovaon Sunday.
Miami (16-11, 8-8) led 46-45 with 6:59 remaining, then pulled away from theWildcats (17-11, 8-8) with a 19-8 run.
Salmons, coming off a career-high 30-points, also had nine rebounds. DariusRice added 10 points and Dwayne Wimbley added a career-high 11 rebounds.
Michael Bradley, playing with a sore right ankle, made 19 points and eightrebounds for Villanova before fouling out with 1:50 remaining.
Jermaine Medley added 15 points for the Wildcats.
Miami has won eight of its last 12 games and six of its last seven againstthe Wildcats.
Miami led 31-29 at the half. The Hurricanes extended their lead in thesecond half to 57-45 with an 11-0 run with 3:23 left.
After nearly four mintues with no points, Villanova scored back-to-backthree-pointers by Medley and Gary Buchanan to make it 57-51 with 2:28 left.
Villanova, averaging 50 percent from the field, shot 36.8 percent for itssecond worse performance of the season. The Wildcats’ 53 points was a seasonlow.