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News Nuggets, 03.17.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Nothing heals like an NIT win for Tigers' Washington

MEMPHIS — Memphis fans let Darius Washington know they are still behind him.

Playing for the first time since missing two free throws that would have given the Tigers an NCAA tournament bid, Washington received an extended standing ovation before Memphis defeated Northeastern 90-65 Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT.

The win was a refreshing comeback after Saturday's heartbreaking 75-74 loss to Louisville in the Conference USA championship game. Washington, a freshman, missed two of three free throws after time expired, relegating the Tigers to the NIT.

``It was important to get back and get that sour taste out of our mouth from the loss to Louisville,'' said Washington, who scored 13 points.

``That was the most important thing we focused on the last couple of days was coming out with high intensity,'' Tiger center Arthur Barclay added. ``This is the NIT and there are a lot of good teams in here if you look at the bracket.

``I'm trying to play until we can't play anymore. We're not mad that we are playing in the NIT. We're looking at it as a good thing.''

Jeremy Hunt scored a career-high 24 points and shot 10-for-15 from the field for Memphis (20-15), which will face Virginia Tech in the second round.

Northeastern (21-10) played without star guard Jose Juan Barea, who was suspended for ``unnecessarily rough play'' while scrambling for a loose ball in the team's loss to Vermont in the America East championship game. Barea ranks ninth in the nation in scoring average at 22.2 points, and ranks seventh nationally in assists with 7.3.

``It's tough to play without your leading scorer,'' Northeastern coach Ron Everhart said.

Rodney Carney finished with 14 for the Tigers, and Duane Erwin and Barclay each added 10 points.

Marcus Barnes led Northeastern with 19 points, and Adrian Martinez, starting in place of Barea, scored 15. Shawn James, the America East conference rookie and defensive player of the year, finished with 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked seven shots.

Horned Frogs halt RedHawks' home streak

OXFORD, OH — Nile Murry hit an 18-foot jumper with 4 seconds left to lift Texas Christian to a 60-58 win over Miami of Ohio in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday night.

RedHawks senior Chet Mason was called for an offensive foul with the scored tied at 58 and 35.5 seconds remaining, leading to Murry's game-winner.

TCU (20-13) advances to play Western Michigan in the second round. The Broncos defeated Marquette on Monday.

Miami (19-11) suffered its first loss in 14 home games this season.

Mason finished with a game-high 22 points. Corey Santee led the Horned Frogs with 18 points.

Miami and TCU both were playing their first postseason game since 1999. TCU has advanced to the second round in each of its six NIT appearances.

Santee was 4-for-6 from 3-point range and scored 16 points before intermission. His 3-pointer with 58 seconds left in the first half gave TCU a 37-30 at the break. It was the largest of the game for the Horned Frogs.

The RedHawks scored the first six points of the second half, and neither team led by more than four points after that.

The teams combined for 14 ties and eight lead changes.

Davidson rips VCU for first-ever NIT victory

RICHMOND — Brendan Winters scored 14 points and Davidson used a 26-5 run spanning the halves to take command and beat Virginia Commonwealth 77-62 in the NIT on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (22-8), given a chance to write a new ending to their season after a surprising loss in the Southern Conference tournament, won for the first time in four NIT appearances.

The Rams (19-13), beaten in the Colonial Athletic Association championship by Old Dominion, scored 10 straight to get within 46-44 following Davidson's long run, then gave up seven points in a row.

Winters hit four of the Wildcats' nine 3-pointers. Jason Morton also had 14 for Davidson, all after halftime, while Logan Kosmalski had 11 points and eight rebounds and Kenny Grant and Conor Grace scored 11 apiece.

Nick George and Michael Doles, who played his final game at VCU, led the Rams with 20 points each.

Davidson outscored the Rams 7-2 at the end of the first half to get within 31-28, then came out strongly after halftime. The Wildcats hit three 3-pointers, two by Matt McKillop and one by Winters, in the first 5:45 as their run grew to 26-5, giving them a 46-34 lead with 14:15 to play.

The Rams then scored 10 straight points to get back within a field goal, but Ian Johnson scored on a putback, Kosmalski hit a 12-footer and Morton's 3-pointer rebuilt the Wildcats' lead to 53-44, essentially ending it.

Davidson had won 24 regular-season games in a row in the Southern Conference but lost to UNC-Greensboro in the tournament semifinals.

Timeline on ECU hoops coach Ricky Stokes

RICKY STOKES QUICK FACTS AND BASKETBALL TIMELINE

Full name: Roderick Leonard Stokes
DOB: March 29, 1962
Hometown: Richmond, VA
High School: Highland Springs (Richmond, VA)
Undergraduate School: University of Virginia, 1984
Graduate School: Virginia Commonwealth, 1988
Wife: Karen
Children: Sydney, age 8

NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
1980-81 Player, Virginia, Final Four
1981-82 Player, Virginia, Sweet 16
1982-83 Player, Virginia, Elite Eight
1983-84 Player, Virginia, Final Four

NCAA TOURNAMENT COACHING EXPERIENCE:
1990-91 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, 2nd Round
1991-92 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, 1st Round
1992-93 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, Sweet 16
1993-94 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, 2nd Round
1994-95 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, Sweet 16
1995-96 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, Elite Eight
1996-97 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest, 2nd Round
1998-99 Assistant Coach, Texas 1st Round
2003-04 Assistant Coach, South Carolina, 1st Round

COLLEGE COACHING RESUME:
1984-85 Graduate Assistant, Virginia
1988-89 Assistant Coach, Bowling Green
1989-97 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest
1997-98 Assistant Coach, Virginia
1998-99 Associate Head, Coach Texas
1999-2003 Head Coach, Virginia Tech
2003-2005 Assistant Coach, South Carolina
2005- Head Coach, East Carolina

Compiled from information published by South Carolina Athletics.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:22 PM