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News Nuggets, 01.26.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

High-flying Cards too much for Volunteers

KNOXVILLE — Louisville needed a spark, and got it from the full-court press. Francisco Garcia scored 24 points Sunday night and the fifth-ranked Cardinals rallied in the second half for their 15th straight victory, 65-62 over Tennessee.

Louisville (15-1) regained the lead for the first time since the opening minutes and took control with a 12-0 run midway through the second half.

"They outplayed us most of the game, but the flurry we had with our press was the key to the game. It allowed us to maintain the lead down the stretch," coach Rick Pitino said.

For the third straight meeting with Louisville, the Volunteers (10-5) kept the game close only to eventually fall short. Tennessee blew an 11-point lead last year and lost on a last-second shot the year before.

"We've danced to this song before," Pitino said. Trailing by seven points, the Cardinals went on their deciding run and led 48-43 with 8:28 left.

Tennessee, which could only get as close as two points after Louisville's big run, had one last gasp in the final seconds.

The Vols cut an eight-point lead to 62-59 on Justin Albrecht's 3-pointer with 13 seconds left. Louisville's Taquan Dean, who didn't play in the second half until the final minute because of a groin injury, made two free throws. But Tennessee's Scooter McFadgon hit a 3 to make it 64-62 with 4.1 seconds to go.

Tennessee appeared to get a break when Garcia looked as if he slipped out of bounds, but the Vols were called for a foul and he made the last of two free throws to seal it and hand Tennessee its third straight loss.

NCAA nixes FSU allegations against Gators

TALLAHASSEE — The NCAA and the Southeastern Conference have cleared Florida of any wrongdoing following Florida State's inquiry about possible recruiting violations, school officials said Saturday.

FSU compliance coordinator Brian Battle had asked the NCAA last week to render an opinion on whether certain recruiting activities conducted at Florida were permitted under NCAA rules.

Battle said the Seminoles based their request on a story in Gator Bait magazine, which reported that Florida recently put on an extravagant pregame simulation for a group of football recruits.

The magazine reported that the recruits received personalized Gator jerseys and rode a team bus with a police escort to the Gator Bowl. The recruits ran onto the field, where they were greeted by band members and fans and had their names displayed on the replay board.

The allegations came just weeks before national signing day, and in the midst of the instate rivals' battle for several top recruits.

Florida officials confirmed they had been contacted by the NCAA and the SEC, but compliance director Jamie McCloskey said neither organization found that the Gators broke any rules.

C-USA basketball standings & scoreboard

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007