ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Chad Austin scored 22 points, including four on free throws in the final 41 seconds, and No.5 Purdue clinched at least a share of its third consecutive Big Ten Conference title Thursday night with a 67-61 victory over Minnesota in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Boilermakers (24-4 overall, 14-2 conference) won their 10th consecutive game and have won 20 of their past 22.
Minnesota (15-12, 7-8) has lost 14 consecutive games at Mackey Arena and 22 of its last 23 at Purdue.
Todd Foster, who scored 10 points, made three 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of the second half to give Purdue a 44-34 lead.
Bobby Jackson added 16 points for Minnesota.
In other games:
No.7 Cincinnati 71, No.14 Memphis 66: In Cincinnati, Darnell Burton hit another crucial 3-pointer and a pair of free throws in the closing minutes, leading the Bearcats past the Tigers and to at least a share of the Conference USA championship.
Cincinnati (22-3, 11-2) blew a 13-point lead midway through the second half, but rallied behind Burton's clutch touch. Burton's 3-pointer broke a 67-all tie with 2:18 to play, and his two free throws with 15 seconds left clinched it.
Memphis (20-6, 10-3) had two chances to take the lead in the final 62 seconds, but Mingo Johnson had one shot blocked and his 3-pointer fell short.
No.24 George Washington 76, Rhode Island 72: Alexander Koul scored 20 of his season-high 28 points in the second half and made three big defensive plays in the final minute as the Colonials downed the Rams in an Atlantic 10 Conference game in Washington, D.C.
GW (20-5, 13-2) trailed 72-71 with 1:22 remaining, but Koul made two free throws to put the Colonials ahead. Koul added another free throw with 22 seconds left and Kwame Evans sealed the victory with two more free throws in the final seconds.
Rhode Island (15-2, 7-8) had three opportunities in the final minute to go ahead or tie, but Koul stopped each possession with a defensive play.
Tyson Wheeler, questionable before the game because of an ankle injury, scored 18 points for Rhode Island, but missed three crucial free throws down the stretch.
Temple 57, St.Bonaventure 54: In Olean, N.Y., Derrick Battie scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Owls (17-11, 12-4) endured a scoring drought in the game's last five minutes to hold on for a victory over the Bonnies in an Atlantic 10 game.
Rashaan Palmer finished with 19 points for the Bonnies (9-16, 4-11).
Southern Conference
Appalachian State 75, The Citadel 73: Junior Braswell scored a career-high 36 points, including a baseline jumper with 5.4 seconds left, as the Mountaineers defeated the Bulldogs in the first round in Greensboro, N.C.
Appalachian State (8-19), which came into the game having lost 11 of their past 13 and was 0-13 away from Boone, N.C., advanced to a quarterfinal against rival Western Carolina, the top seed in the South Division.
The Citadel (10-16) closed the season losing 11 of 12 and has dropped its past 12 in the postseason tournament.
Women
UNC Greensboro 71, Radford 64: Julie Moore scored 14 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Spartans (16-9, 12-2) past the Highlanders to clinch the Big South Conference regular-season title in Radford.
Lisa Howard sank a 3-pointer to cut the Spartans' lead to 34-33 at the half, but the Highlanders would get no closer.
Howard scored 22 points and Kim Hairston (Bassett) added 11 for Radford (14-11, 10-4).
Florida St. 64, Georgia Tech 51: Carla Williams, the Lady Seminoles' only senior, scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Florida State won the ACC Tournament play-in game in Rock Hill, S.C.
The victory sends the Seminoles (8-19), who finished last in the ACC, against league-champion Virginia in a quarterfinal game today.
Carla Munnion led the Yellow Jackets (14-13) with 18 points.
Notes
TWO ARKANSAS PLAYERS INELIGIBLE: The leading scorer and leading rebounder for Arkansas no longer are eligible to play for the Razorbacks because of problems with their junior college transcripts.
Sunday Adebayo and Jesse Pate can transfer to another school and play basketball next year.
Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles said Thursday the university failed in its appeal to the NCAA.
The two can stay at Arkansas and finish their degrees, but they cannot play on the basketball team or receive financial aid. Neither player has disclosed his plans, and Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson declined comment.
MARTELLI GETS SLAP ON WRIST: The Atlantic 10 reprimanded St.Joseph's coach Phil Martelli for yelling at a referee after Wednesday's game with UMass.
Martelli charged onto the court and had to be restrained by official Bryan Kersey from going after official Thom Corbin after UMass won 68-66 in overtime.
SOUTH FLORIDA'S COACH RESIGNS: Bobby Paschal, the all-time winningest coach at South Florida, resigned effective March 11 as his most difficult season in 10 years was drawing to a close.
Paschal, the Bulls' coach since 1986, has directed the team to a 10-15 mark this season, its first in Conference USA. The team is 1-12 in the league. Overall, Paschal is 278-243 in 18 years of coaching.
LONGWOOD'S HALL HONORED: Longwood's Nikki Hall, a former Glenvar High School standout, has been named first-team All-Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference. Hall, a junior forward, averaged 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 steals during the regular season for the Lancers (21-5).
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