College Basketball Roundup : New Orleans Upsets Slumping Florida St.

The New Orleans men’s basketball team hadn’t defeated a ranked team in 14 years of National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I competition.

That changed Tuesday night, however, with an 83-77 victory over struggling 12th-ranked Florida State at New Orleans.

Robert Hokett made three three-point shots in the final eight minutes and Tony Harris made four free throws in the final 40 seconds as New Orleans handed Florida State (19-5) its third consecutive defeat.

New Orleans (16-9) took a 60-55 lead on Hokett’s first three-pointer, but Florida State tied the score, 62-62, on Aubry Boyd’s two free throws with 5:41 left.

Hokett made his second three-point basket with 5:30 left. Florida State tied the score, 67-67, on Derrick Mitchell’s free throws with 3:43 left. Hokett then made his third three-pointer, giving New Orleans the lead for good, 70-67, with 3:27 remaining.

North Carolina 109, Nevada-Reno 86--Kevin Madden scored 21 points and J.R. Reid and Rick Fox added 19 each as the No. 5 Tar Heels (23-5) got their fifth consecutive victory in the nonconference game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Nevada Reno (14-10) took a 12-3 lead three minutes into the game, but North Carolina tied the score, 17-17, and took the lead for good when Fox, who scored 15 points in the first half, made two free throws with 13:04 remaining.

Seton Hall 63, St. John’s 60--John Morton scored all 22 of his points in the second half and Andrew Gaze’s two free throws with 2:17 left broke the final tie as No. 15 Seton Hall won the Big East Conference game at East Rutherford, N.J.

Jayson Williams scored 25 points for St. John’s (14-10, 5-8).

Neither team led by more than five points in the second half. There were five lead changes and six ties, the last at 58 when Williams scored on a drive with 2:26 remaining.

Notre Dame 83, Dayton 66--Keith Robinson scored 25 points--his fifth consecutive game of scoring more than 20--and had 16 rebounds to lead the Irish at Dayton, Ohio.

Joe Fredrick added 20 for the Irish (17-5) and Keith Tower had 13 and Jamere Jackson 12.

Montana St. 82, Creighton 80--Senior center Mike Fellows scored 14 points, including the decisive three late in the game, to help lift Bobcats to a nonconference victory at Bozeman, Mont.

Fellows scored and was fouled with 2:32 remaining. When he made the free throw, he put Montana State ahead, 82-76.

Alabama-Birmingham 87, South Florida 59--Larry Rembert scored 25 points to lead Alabama-Birmingham to a Sun Belt Conference victory at Birmingham.