NIT Roundup : Free Throw With No Time Left Beats Stanford, 60-59

Rhon Johnson hit a free throw with no time remaining to give Arkansas State a 60-59 victory over Stanford in a second-round game of the National Invitation Tournament Tuesday night at Stanford.

Arkansas State, which trailed by as many as seven points in the second half, held the ball for the final 42 seconds with the score tied, 59-59. Johnson took a pass on the right baseline and was fouled by Stanford’s Howard Wright with the clock at :00 but before the buzzer sounded.

After Stanford called two timeouts in an effort to rattle the reserve guard, he sank the first of two shots with a standing-room-only crowd screaming.

Stanford, appearing in its first postseason tournament in 46 years, led for most of the second half after taking a 32-30 halftime lead.

New Mexico 78, Oregon 59--Freshman Rob Robbins scored a season-high 23 points to lead the Lobos over the foul-plagued Ducks at Albuquerque, N.M.

New Mexico steadily pulled away from a 29-26 halftime lead and outscored Oregon, 12-3, over the final four minutes.

Oregon, which got 30 points from senior guard Anthony Taylor, was whistled for 33 fouls. Starters Randy Grant, Brett Coffey and Keith Balderson fouled out, and the other two starters, Taylor and guard Frank Johnson, finished with four fouls each.

Ohio State 86, Cleveland State 8O--For years, Cleveland State has wanted to play a home-and-home series with intrastate rival Ohio State.

After this, the Buckeyes may never schedule the Vikings.

It took two free throws by substitute center Grady Mateen with 19 seconds left--Mateen added a basket at the buzzer--as Ohio State held off the Vikings for an 86-80 victory at Columbus.

Virginia Commonwealth 93, Southern Mississippi 89-- The Rams, behind a career-high 34 points by Phil Stinnie, made sure the Golden Eagles would not become the first team in 44 years to repeat as NIT champions.

Vince Wilson scored 8 of his 10 points at the free-throw line in the final 4:09 at Richmond, Va, to help seal the victory.

Boston College 86, Evansville 81--Dana Barros scored 32 points to lift the Eagles to victory at Evansville, Ind.

Steve Benton scored 18 points and Jamie Benton 12 for the Eagles (17-13). Dan Godfread scored 28 points, and Marty Simmons 27 for the Purple Aces (21-8).

Middle Tennessee 69, Georgia 59--Ty Baynhan scored 24 points, and Randy Henry added 18 as the Blue Raiders defeated the Bulldogs at Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The victory was the second straight for the Ohio Valley Conference-member Blue Raiders over a Southeastern Conference foe. Middle Tennessee beat Tennessee, 85-80, in the opening round.

Colorado State 71, Houston 61--Pat Durham scored 25 points, and David Turcotte added 21 to spark the Rams at Fort Collins, Colo.