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Show DAILY a HERALD NBA ROUNDUP Celtics snap Rockets' 1 22-ga- shots out of the break and stopped getting the bounces that had always gone their way throughout the streak.' fV7-"2- V - HOUSTON The shots stopped falling. Boston's shirs took over and just like that, the Houston Rockets' winning streak was history Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Paul fterce added 20 as the Celt its beat the Rockets 4 on Tuesday night, stopping Houston's remarkable victory run. The Rockets hadn't lost since a 97- 89 defeat to Utah on Jan. 27 and put e 94-7- , j Z1sV RtlS wj 64-5- - winning 94 HOUSTON 74 streak' 2 Press J. PHILLIPAssociated DAVID 11 ended 11 victories Los Angeles shy of the 1971-7Lakers, who won 33 in a row. It was only Houston's seer ond loss in 28 games and its loss in fourth since a Boston on Jan. 2, a game Tracy McGrady sat out with a knee injury. The Rockets also lost for the first time in 11 games since Yao Ming went out with foot injury on a season-endinFeb.26. Luis Scola scored 15 for Houston, which had a home streak snapped. Only the 1985-8Rockets, who won 20 straight at The Summit, had a longer home-coustreak in franchise history. McGrady had eight assists and seven the start of the Celtics busketball game against the Houston Rockets. Right: Boston Celtics' Tony Allen (42) shoots as Houston Rockets' Dikumhe Mutombo defends during the first quarter on Left: Boston Celtics fan Taly Alsaid waits for Tuesday. 32-1- 6 72-5- 6 97-9- 3 g rt 168-11- 6 final-perio- d . - BOSTON and Drew GtxKlon had 19 points and 11 rebounds as ChiRasheed Wallace added 21. cago built a big halftime lead,. Even when Houston got agand the IX'troit pistons beat the survived a sluggish third quarter and pulled away to beat Denver Nuggets. gressive, it backfired. New Jersey. With 3:18 left in the third The Nuggets were coming -New Jersey Whittled a 24- quarter, Tony Allen drove the off a record-settinbaseline and McGrady and victory over Seattle, but it was .point halftime deficit to nine Scola both jumped to block Detroit's offense that took over early in the fourth quarter, but him. McGrady blocked the ball, Tuesday night. The Pistons the Bulls didn't falter. In its but Scola whacked hit Allen hadn't scored 130 points in reg- previous two games. Chicago leads and sent him hard to the court. ulation since beating Denver squandered on March 8. 2000. and tost to the 76ers and HorReferee Scott Foster called a The Pistons scored a season-hig- h nets.; flagrant foul on Scola as AlBen Gordon scored 10 of 73 points in the first half, len lay on the floor for several his 17 points in the fourth minutes. He finally got up and getting at least four points from 10 different players. hit two free throws to put Bosquarter and Larry Hughes added 16 in Chicago's balton up 100: At missed Lakers Mavericks a I anced attack. 102, McGrady jumper New Jersey played the in the final seconds of the third Dallas, Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Vladimir second half without starting quarter and Battier was there scored 10 of his 21 in for the rebound, but tipped point guard Devin Harris, who it right to James Posey, who the final quarter, giving Los sprained his right ankle and started a fast break the other Angeles just enough to hold off limped off the court with 1:56 Dallas. to go in the second quarter. way. Vince Carter led the Nets with The Lakers led by 25 points The Celtics out scored Housin the third quarter 22 points and Richard Jefferton midway through the third son finished with 21. and built a lead, the largquarter, but were up only 0 with 4.8 seconds'left. est deficit the Rockets had Derek Fisher made one of two I Heat 112, Bucks 106: At faced since Boston had them down 20 in their first meeting. foul shots after that, then Dirk Milwaukee, Jason Williams Nowitzki had a chance to win from and Ricky Davis had Houston went it for Dallas but missed a Cliris Qiiinn hit three the field with six turnovers in in the fourth as time expired. crucial the decisive quarter. Nowitzki had 35 point 1 1 Boston pushed the lead over quarter, and Miami snapped an streak by beating 20 early in the fourth quarter. rebounds and a season-higMilwaukee. five blocks, but the MavDuring a timeout, the crowd e Miami had lost eight in a stood and applauded as a video ericks' winning row. Quinn scored 17 points, on t he scoreboard finished streak was snapped. Dallas fell to with a shot of the arena and including 11 in the fourth quaragainst teams with the line: "Where 22 in a row ter, and the Heat rallied from winning records since adding second-hal- f deficit a Jason Kidd. happens." to hand the Bucks their sixth The rest of the game was a cold dose of reality. I Bulls 112, Nets 96: At Chicago, straight loss. 130-11- 6 together the NBA'ssec- I uol Deng scored 20 points, I Pistons 136, Nuggets 120: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Richard Hamilton scored 24 points, g .fV iffM B winning streak me 101-10- rebounds, but only eight points on shooting:. Reserve Leon Powe added 21 points for the Celtics, who've won 13 of their last 14 games, the last three without guard Ray Allen, who's out with a sore left ankle. The Rockets still have one more streak to protect they'll go for their 13th straight road win in New Orleans on Wednesday night. louston beat the Lakers on Sunday to take over sole '. All-St- 1 possession of first place in the Western Conference and set up Tuesday's showdown between conference leaders. They were tied at 40 at but Boston took control in the third quarter, led by its duo. Garnett swished a jumper from the top of the key 15 seconds out of the break and Pierce sank a on Boston's next trip down, the start of an spurt. The Rockets missed eight of their first 10 half-tim- double-double- e, All-St- 18-- 5 s, h five-gam- 0-- 6 . COLLEGE BASKETBALL Syracuse survives scare in first round of MT ' THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - FreshSYRACUSE, N Y. man forward Donte Greene 27 points, scored a season-higand undermanned Syracuse survived 16 by Robert Morris in an victory on Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT. Paul Harris had 19 points e and 10 rebounds, Scoop had 15 points, Krist of Ongenaet 13, and Arinze Onu-ak- u added seven points and 10 rebounds for Syracuse The Orange, who gave coach Jim Boeheim his 30th season in 32 years, will play either Minnesota or Maryland in the second round. Robert Morris (26-8- ) ended its first NIT appearance with a second straight loss after 14 wins in a row. A.J. Jackson led the Colo-nials with 19 points, Jimmy Langhurst and Jeremy Chap- h 87-8- 1 Jar-din- (20-13- ). 20-wi-n NCAA Continued from Cl way with 21 points. "To play against them means a lot." It means a season that seemed to be a lost cause only a few weeks ago can go on for at least a few more days. The Mountaineers won their last five games to shed their losing record and make the tournament, then got the one victory that's always been well out of reach. In its two other NCAA games, Mount St. Mary's lost to Kentucky by 46 points in 1995 and to Michigan State by 23 in 1999. "It's a relief," said Kelly Beidler, who had 15 rebounds. Roese land io for the Bulldogs said. "Growing professionally, doing different and more things." He still keeps in touch with head coach Dave Rose and assistants, along with fellow countryman Jonathan Taver-narTrent Plaisted and other Cougars in Provo. As the third assistant last year, Roese was a recruiter who sought more i, interaction. He had opportunities, but said he would always be asking Rose for advice. Roese says he holds no hard feelings for a bigger role not being presented for him in Provo. He's been called this season by coaches seeking information about the Cougars, but said he hasn't divulged secrets. Roese remembers a specific conversation with Rose, by which to gauge the opportunity at USD. "1 feel like I'm going to be (23-10- ). CBI Tournament I Virginia 66, Richmond 64: At Charlottesville, Va., Sean Milligan had a career-higSingletary scored 18 points, Ohio St. 84, 24 points to go with nine reincluding a jumper 66: At Columbus, Ohio, Jamar with 1:16 to play, and Virginia bounds and seven blocked Butler scored 21 points and held on to beat Richmond in shots to lead Massachusetts. added 10 assists to lead Ohio Gary Forbes scored 19 points, an opening-roungame of the while Ricky Harris added 16 State. inaugural College Basketball who Invitational tournament. for the Minutemen During one span in the secMamadi Diane had 15 points ond half, the senior point guard advanced to face either Florida and Jamil Tucker added 10 to State or Akron in the second scored or assisted on 15 con' round. secutive points for the Buckadvance help Virginia (16-121 who were passed to a quarterfinals matchup Josh Alexander had eyes over by the NCAA tournament points and seven rebounds against Old Dominion. Dan Geriot scored 22 points, a year after reaching the title for the Lumberjacks (26-6and Matt Kingsley and Edincluding 10 during a 16-- 5 run game. Ot hello Hunter had 16 die Williams each scored 10 that gave Richmond a ) 6149 lead with 8:41 remaining. points, Kosta Koufos 15 and points. David Lighty 13 for Ohio State, Virginia answered with a 16-- 3 Stephen F. Austin opened which shot 56 percent from the the second half on a run to pull to take the lead on run field while making their eighth to pull to However, Singletary 's jumper. NIT appearance. The Buckeyes Etienne Brower and Chris will face either New Mexico or Lowe each had five points in I Old Dominion 68, Rider 65: At California in the second round. UMass' 12-- 0 run that and the Norfolk, Va., Frank Hassell Reid Augst had 20 points, Minutemen dominated from scored 14 points and Old Dominion held off Rider. Bryan Smithson 17 and K.J. Gar there. I UMass 80, Stephen F. Austin 60: At Amherst, Mass., Dante h d d (22-10- ), (20-13- ), ), (16-15- 9-- 2 35-3- "It just felt good to say we've actually won an NCAA game." No time to savor it. Tournament reality hits on Friday, when the Mount plays the Tar Heels in Raleigh. Fans in the crowd of 8,464 at University of Dayton Arena held up signs calling on the winner to "Bury N. play-iCarolina." Tough chance for that. A Kith seed has never taken down a No. 1. But, that's something for later. For a few sweet minutes on Tuesday night, Mount St. Mary's got to savor its breakthrough over another Maryland school, located about 60 miles away. Coppin State ( 2 1) became n 16-- the first team to reach the tourMount St. Mary's nament with 20 losses, and the offense. He did it all, driving Eagles played as if they were in to the basket and hitting fadeover their heads during the clos- away jumpers over much taller ing minutes. With the pressure players. He also supplied the final on, they went five minutes without scoring, allowing Mount St. touches, hitting four free throws in the last 27 seconds. Mary's to break it opea Sensing the enormity of the Perhaps no other opening-gam- e winner enjoyed it so moment, they missed eight much and complained so little. straight shots and a pair of free throws. Several times, the Unlike previous years, there ball started to roll in, then agowas no grousing about havnizingly spun out. ing to start the tournament in "We had a lot of opportuniDayton. Not from Mount St. Mary's, ties," said Tywain McKee, who 15 points. "We had a team-hig- h the Northeast Conference champ that had a losing record just couldn't put then in." 9 sophomore before it got on that late run. Goode, a who knows a little about Caro- The only complaint was from lina blue because he grew up some folks who didn't even in Charlotte, was the spark for think the Mountaineers de -- turning 40, and want to speed up the process," Roese said. "I'm thankful for everything Continued from Cl day-to-da- y pell each had 15, Bateko Francisco and Mezie Nwigwe each had eight, and Tony Lee had 10 points and seven assists. In the West Region, like BYU, there's a chance of his past and present meeting in the Sweet 16. All it takes is two (Rose has) done....but need wins each. more opportunity." Grier signed for a raise and USD won by nine points at Kentucky on Dec. 29 but lost to contract extension Tuesday. Roese declined to speculate on teams at home like San Diego his future, or get an grandiose State, UNLV while also falling ideas of the long shots running at New Mexico. into each other. The Toreros were ) "We'll see," he said. "If that third place during the regular season and used a home-couhappens, I will believe in Santa Claus." spark to capture the West Coast Conference tournament. I Insensitive? Texas A&M They beat Saint Mary's in after trailing coach Mark Turgeon told reby 17 points, then Grier got porters he called the NCAA the best of the school where he before Selection Sunday, spent the previous 15 years as requesting not to play a Thursan assistant Gonzaga. day first round game. He ''If you ask me if it was wanted an extra day because his team was set to go to Dalworth it, yes," Roese said. "If if it was hard, yes." las on Tuesday for the funeral me ask you Roese said a Brazilian televiof sophomore guard Donald sion station will show the USD Sloan's mother. "I'm disappointed in the tournament game live. He conNCAA that they didn't give us tinues to gain a profile back home coaching international a Friday game," Turgeon said. "It's making it very difficult teams, and the exposure will be good, he says. for us. It would have made (21-13- rt double-overtim- -- things a lot easier on us. But Sloan is very important to us. We're going to try and make it work." I Back to being quoted: The Cougars haven't been available to the media since Selection Sunday. That changes today, when the team goes through a practice at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., at 4:25 p.m. FT. Rose will meet the fourth estate at 3:45 while players are made available 15 minutes later. The media conferences of BYU and Texas A&M will be carried live on The mtn. The No. Cougars will play No. 9 Texas at 5:25 p.m. MT A&M (24-1e conferon CBS. ences will also be carried on The mtn. (27-7- ) Post-gam- I In case you wondered: The Big 12 Conference issued a factoid that five current head coaches have reached the Final Four in some way. Brandon Johnson had 10 points and Peter Sullivan had 10 for Brown. points and was the only other for in double figures player ). Houston 80, Nevada 79: At Rider the Monarchs on a (23-- 1 1) pulled to Reno, Nev., Robert McKiver by Harris Mansell with scored 22 points and Marcus 43 seconds to play, but could Cousin made the winning free throw with 26.5 seconds left to; get no closer. (18-15- 66-6- 3 lead Houston. Dion Dowell added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Cougars (23-9who advance to a second-rounI Ohio 80, Brown 74: At Athens, matchup against either Ohio, Jerome Tillman scored - Washington or Valparaiso. 21 points and grabbed 11 reArmon Johnson missed a bounds as Ohio overcame a attempt at the buzzer for Nevada which had performance from trailed by as much as 10 points Brown's Damon Huffman. Leon Williams had 20 points the second half. Marcelus and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats Kemp led the Wolf Pack with and Bubba Wahher fin24 points, Johnson had 16 and ished with 10 points and 12 assists. Brandon Fields 15. Huffman had nine of JaVale McGee Trailing field goals. scored inside with 1:33 left for Brown's 16 Nevada but missed the free He scored the first 14 points and had for the Bears throw. After McKiver missed a 22 points by halftime. Kemp scored inside to Mark McAndrew scored 15 tie the score with 58 seconds left. Ryan Thompson led Rider with 24 points, and his brother Jason had 15 points and 17 rebounds. d ), (21-12- ), (20-12- ), 79-7- . (19-10- ), served to be in the tournament at all, given their RP1 of 159. "Me and Chris (Vann) were in the hotel watching ESPN and a guy says this game shouldn't even be played," Goode said. "He said neither team deserved to be in the tournament. That kind of got us ready to play." Coppin State complain? No way. Marooned at 9 in early February, the Eagles sneaked into the tournament for the first time since 1997 by winAthletic ning the ' title. "This was a great opportunity," said Antwan Harrison, who scored 14 points. "What we came through to get to the n That's actually tied with the Mountain West. Turgeon was an assistant coach at Kansas when the won the national title in 1988. In the MWC, Rose (player at Houston) is joined by UNLV's Lon Kruger (head coach, Florida); San Diego State's Steve Fisher (head coach, Michigan); New Mexico's Steve Alford (player, Indiana) and now fired TCU coach Neil Dougherty (assistant coach, Kansas). The Big 12 received six NCAA bids this year, tied for most in school history with five other seasons in 12 years. It's the first since 2005 half the league is in. Jay-haw- -- I Back to the brawlin': The Las had a Vegas Review-Journstory in Tuesday's edition (lvrj. com) in which UNLV's Kruger, who's not regarded as a great quote by any stretch of the imagination, gave biting e commentary of the Saturday fighting in the stands post-gam- NCAA tournament, you can't take that away. So we appreciate the opportunity to be here." No one could grouse about the game, either. For the most part, they didn't play like teams with a combined 35 losses. Coppin State used its quickness, going inside for dunks and layups. Mount St. Mary's trio of dangerous guards did most of the damage. Coppin State was ahead the entire first half, leading by as many as nine. The Mountaineers' guards changed the tone after halftime, when Vann's three-poiplay put Mount St. Mary's up until It went Coppin State went cold at the end. 39-3- between some fans of the Rebels and Cougars. Kruger told the reporter he saw none of the fighting, but heard plenty about it. He was as were several other upset school officials that there was such an attempt to keep fans off the floor in the first place. "Obviously, the ushers were instructed to keep people off the floor. That doesn't make any sense at all," Kruger said to the newspaper. "It's one of the craziest decisions I've ever heard, given how other conferences allow their fans to celebrate. It's just a normal thing to do. "I don't know why we thought we could do something different. I think it was the reason there were injuries and the reason there were problems. There's a better way to do it. Fans will follow an organized opportunity to be out there. "If BYU would have won, I would have wanted for their fans to be able to get on the court and celebrate." |