Big East Conference Tournament: Senior guard Gerry McNamara saved No. 9 Syracuse’s season with a game-winning three-pointer with less than a second remaining. McNamara sprinted across the entire court and drained a running three-point attempt to give the Orange a 74-73 victory against No. 8 Cincinnati. The Orange move on to play No. 1 Connecticut in the quarterfinals Thursday and probably need to win that game to earn an at-large bid. McNamara finished with 17 points to lead Syracuse, including five three-pointers, none more important than the last one. The loss spoiled a great performance by senior swingman James White, who scored a career-high 32 points.
No. 5 Georgetown won an almost cliché close game against No. 12 Notre Dame 67-63 to advance to the quarterfinals, where No. 4 Marquette awaits. Senior forward Brandon Bowman had a season-high 25 points to lead the Hoyas, who overcame an early double-digit deficit and ice cold shooting. Georgetown missed its first 12 field goal attempts. Bowman hit a driving left-handed layup in the final 30 seconds to give the Hoyas a three-point lead that Notre Dame couldn’t overcome. The Fighting Irish have lost more than a handful of one possession games this season.
No. 10 Rutgers planted No. 7 Seton Hall squarely on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament after upsetting the Pirates 61-48. The Scarlet Knights will play No. 2 Villanova Thursday in the Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Junior guard Quincy Douby led Rutgers with 18 points, and he helped fuel a 13-2 run to start the second half, breaking open a four-point game. The Scarlet Knights blanketed Seton Hall’s best player, Kelly Whitney, holding him to three points.
No. 6 Pittsburgh won an ugly game of runs against No. 11 Louisville 61-56. The Panthers looked dominant in starting the game 16-0 and holding the Cardinals without a field goal until senior guard Taquan Dean hit a three-pointer with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Pittsburgh led 39-16 at halftime and put it in cruise control, which nearly cost them the game. Louisville stormed back to cut the lead to three with less than a minute remaining, but the Panthers made enough free throws to hold off the Cardinals. Pittsburgh did not make a field goal attempt in the final 13-plus minutes. Senior point guard Carl Krauser led Pittsburgh with 19 points. [3/08/06]
