NIT Roundup : Arkansas Little Rock Beats Clock, Baylor

James Dawn made two free throws after time expired to give Arkansas Little Rock a 42-41 victory over Baylor Thursday night in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at Little Rock, Ark.

Baylor Coach Gene Iba accused the timekeeper of deliberately delaying the buzzer.

“If you have to come down here and deal with classless people who will look you in the eye and tell you something like that, there’s no use going to the NIT,” Iba said.

He said that timekeeper Ray Rainey said, “I did it and I enjoyed it.” Rainey denied making such a statement.

The clock showed all zeroes when Little Rock (24-9) got the ball out of bounds after Frank Williams of Baylor (18-13) was called for traveling. The Trojans, trailing, 41-40, threw the ball to Dawn, who was fouled as he missed a jump shot.

Arkansas Little Rock will play host to Stephen F. Austin in the second round Monday.

Other first-round results:

Stephen F. Austin 70, James Madison 63--Clarence King scored 19 points to lead Stephen F. Austin (22-7) at Nacogdoches, Tex. James Madison finished at 20-10.

Florida State, 107, Rhode Island 92--Randy Allen, a 6-8 forward, scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Pee Wee Barber added 22 points as the the Seminoles (19-10) won at Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State will play at Vanderbilt Monday.

Kenny Green scored 26 points and had 13 rebounds for Rhode Island (20-10).

Vanderbilt 74, Jacksonville 72--Barry Booker keyed an 18-4 run at the start of the second half with three three-point baskets, and the Commodores held on to win at Nashville, Tenn.

Ronnie Murphy scored 28 points for Vanderbilt (17-15). Jacksonville ended its season at 19-11.

Cleveland St. 92, Tenn. Chattanooga 73--Ken McFadden scored 21 points, and Clinton Ransey added 20 to lead Cleveland State (25-7) at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Illinois St. 79, Akron 72--Tony Holifield scored 23 points, 15 in the second half, to lead Illinois State (18-12) at Normal, Ill.

LaSalle 86, Villanova 84--Freshman Lionel Simmons hit a driving jump shot at the buzzer to give LaSalle (17-12) a victory at Philadelphia.