College Basketball Roundup : Giomi, Alford Lead Indiana, 77-50

Indiana forward Mike Giomi hit all eight of his field-goal attempts and scored 16 points to lead the Hoosiers to a 77-50 Big Ten Conference victory over Northwestern Thursday night at Bloomington, Ind.

Neither Giomi or guard Steve Alford started the game. Alford, averaging more than 20 points per game, had been Indiana’s only player to start every game this season, but he missed the first 12 minutes Thursday night following a poor performance in a 68-61 loss to Michigan State last Saturday. Thursday night, Alford hit six of eight shots from the field and scored 14 points.

Coach Bob Knight has used 10 different starting lineups in the Hoosiers’ 13 games.

Giomi, who has made 22 of 24 shots in conference play, said: “When I was sitting on the bench at the start, I was able to see what openings were available, and I took advantage of the opportunities.”

The Hoosiers, who lead the conference in field-goal percentage, hit 14 of their first 15 attempts in the second half and finished the game with 64% accuracy from the field. The Hoosiers outscored Northwestern 22-2 while hitting 11 straight field goals during an eight-minute spurt in the second half. Giomi hit six straight and Alford three.

Knight was called for two technicals and threw his sports jacket to the floor in the second half after complaining about no foul being called.

The victory lifted Indiana to 2-1 in the conference and 10-3 overall. Northwestern fell to 0-2 and 4-8.

Michigan State 81, Purdue 72 (overtime)--The Spartans, led by the scoring of guard Sam Vincent, took over undisputed first place in the Big 10 with a 3-0 mark (12-1 overall).

Vincent finished with 39 points including his team’s final seven points in regulation as Michigan State overcame a 63-57 deficit with one minute to play in regulation at West Lafayette, Ind. and eight of the Spartans first 11 points in the extra period.

Vincent, who scored 33 of his points after intermission, sent the game into overtime with a basket with 12 seconds left in regulation, 64-64. Michigan State then scored the first 11 points in the extra period as Ken Johnson scored on a three-point play and Vincent, who made 15 of 20 shots, added a basket and six free throws.

Purdue, now 1-2 and 10-3, held a 27-25 halftime edge and moved to a 38-30 lead before Michigan State rallied. Steve Reid (P) 26; Scott Skiles (MS) 15; Johnson 14. Illinois 64, Michigan 58 (overtime)--The Illini had lost three straight games, including two in Big Ten Conference play, but managed an overtime win at Champaign, Ill., to give Coach Lou Henson, celebrating his 53rd birthday, a nice present.

In the overtime, forward Anthony Welch, who had tied the game at 58-58, hit a 15-foot jump shot with 45 seconds left to give Illinois the lead for good. After Welch’s basket, guard Tony Wysinger hit two free throws with 12 seconds to go and then Welch added another basket.

The Illini are now 12-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Michigan is 9-3 and 1-2. Center Roy Tarpley (M) 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Welch had 16 points for the Illini.

North Carolina St. 71, Clemson 68--Lorenzo Charles sank two free throws with 10 seconds left to ensure the Wolfpack of an Atlantic Coast Conference win at Clemson, S.C. Charles, who had 29 points, atoned for missing two foul shots 26 seconds earlier that would have put the Wolfpack up by five points. North Carolina State is now 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference. Clemson fell to 9-3 and 1-1. Nate McMillian (NCS) scored 14 points. Glen McCants (C) 15.

Alabama Birmingham 67, Jacksonville 55--Jerome Mincy scored 23 points and Steve Mitchell 19 as the Blazers won at home. They are now 12-4 overall and 1-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. Jacksonville is 6-6 and 0-3.

Utah State 78, UC Santa Barbara 75--Vince Washington scored 29 points, including five in the last 1:41, as the Aggies held off a late rally by the Gauchos at Santa Barbara and won the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game. Utah State is now 8-4 overall and 1-2 in PCAA play. Santa Barbara is 6-6 and 2-1 .

San Diego State 76, Utah 67--Andre Ross scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Leonard Allen had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the Aztecs at San Diego. The Aztecs are now 11-2 overall and 3-0 in Western Athletic Conference play. The Utes are 6-9 and 1-2. Jerry Stroman (U) 17. Texas El Paso 67, Air Force 56--Juden Smith had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Aggies at El Paso, Tex. Dave Feitl (UTEP) 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jon Jordan (AF) 19 points. UTEP is 10-5 overall and 2-1 in the WAC, Air Force 4-8 and 0-3.