College Basketball Roundup : Hoyas’ Williams Hits One That Counts

Even when he’s playing poorly, Reggie Williams is the man 10th-ranked Georgetown turns to with the game on the line.

Williams hit a three-point field goal with three seconds remaining Wednesday night at Landover, Md., to give the Hoyas a 62-59 victory over American University. Before his game-winning 22-foot jumper, Williams had missed 10 of 15 shots.

“Reggie didn’t play the greatest game in the world, but he made the shot when he needed to,” Georgetown Coach John Thompson said. “Reggie’s a money ballplayer.”

The Hoyas (6-0) trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half before rallying to beat their crosstown rivals. Williams finished with 16 points, 13 below his average, and Jaren Jackson scored 15.

The Eagles (4-3) missed a final chance to tie the game when Pat Witting’s long shot at the buzzer floated over the backboard. Frank Ross scored 21 points for American, which has not beaten Georgetown since 1982.

Nevada Las Vegas 115, Nevada Reno 83--Gary Graham scored 23 points, and Gerald Paddio got 22 for the top-ranked Rebels, who defeated their intrastate rivals for the second time in five days, at Las Vegas.

UNLV (7-0) opened the second half with a 26-5 run that put the game out of reach, 75-48. The Rebels, who beat the Wolf Pack, 99-88, at Reno Saturday, enjoyed their first blowout of the season. It was also the first time that UNLV has topped the 100-point mark this season.

California 53, St. Mary’s 51--Forward Dave Butler picked up a loose ball and scored with 12 seconds left to lift the Golden Bears to victory at Berkeley.

California (4-2) trailed, 51-50, when freshman guard Bryant Walton’s three-point field goal attempt was partially blocked by St. Mary’s Keith Martin with 15 seconds remaining. Butler scooped up the ball on the left baseline and scored on a layup to put California ahead, 52-51. Butler then made a free throw with one second left for the final score.

St. Mary’s (4-4) was led by guard Paul Robertson’s 19 points.

North Carolina State 81, North Carolina Asheville 65--Sophomore center Charles Shackleford and junior guard Kenny Drummond scored 13 points each as the 12th-ranked Wolfpack won at Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina State (7-1), trailing 16-14, went on a 17-3 spurt to take a 31-19 lead with 4:30 left in the first half. Drummond, getting six points off three steals, ignited a surge that moved the Wolfpack’s lead to 48-31 with 14:46 left in the game.

The Bulldogs fell to 4-2.

Louisville 68, Tampa 60--Herbert Crook and Pervis Ellison scored 20 points each and had key baskets in the final minutes as the Cardinals held off a second-half rally to win at home.

Tampa (7-1) came from eight points down to take a 58-57 lead with four minutes left on a field goal by Nate Johnston. But Louisville, behind Crook’s four points and Ellison’s five, outscored their Division II opponent, 11-2, in the final minutes for the win. Louisville is 4-4.

DePaul 74, Creighton 64--Guard Rod Strickland, scratched from the starting lineup because of the flu, came off the bench to score 19 points to help the 19th-ranked Blue Demons shake off the Blue Jays at Rosemont, Ill.

DePaul (6-0) led by only six points at halftime but increased its lead to as many as 18 points in the second half. Strickland, who missed practice Tuesday because of a 100-degree fever and flu symptoms, scored 10 points in the second half.

Forward Dallas Comegys scored 16 points for the Blue Demons, and guard Kevin Edwards added 13.

Creighton is 4-2.