COLLEGE BASKETBALL : Durham’s Milestone Must Wait

Travis Best, James Forrest and his own Georgia team kept Hugh Durham from his 500th coaching victory Wednesday night.

Best scored 24 points and Forrest added 21 as 14th-ranked Georgia Tech overcame a 13-point first-half deficit and beat Durham’s Bulldogs, 72-69, at Atlanta.

Georgia, which made only 35% of its shots, allowed Georgia Tech (5-1) to run off most of the final 25.6 seconds before finally fouling Best, who made two free throws with 2.8 seconds to play.

Said Durham: “You can’t foul with 2.8 seconds because even if the shooter misses, you have to throw up a prayer.”

Georgia (3-2) threw up a prayer, anyway, and Cleveland Jackson’s 30-footer was way off the mark.

No. 15 Minnesota 73, Clemson 54--Veshon Lenard scored 19 points as the Gophers (5-2) won at Minneapolis despite 40% shooting.

No. 16 Connecticut 96, Texas 86--Donyell Marshall scored 23 points to lead the Huskies (6-0) at Storrs, Conn. Albert Burditt led Texas (2-3) with 18 points.