Clemson’s Victory a Long Time in Coming

Greg Buckner’s dunk with 0.6 seconds left Friday night at Greensboro, N.C., gave Clemson a 75-73 victory over No. 20 North Carolina--the Tigers’ first over the Tar Heels in 43 years in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Clemson (18-9) broke an ACC tournament losing streak of 11 against North Carolina (20-10) by holding the Tar Heels scoreless over the final 5:55.

There was no reoccurrence of any ill will between the two schools, stemming from last year’s ACC tournament sideline shouting match between coaches Dean Smith of North Carolina and Rick Barnes of Clemson, and feuding between the two through the media this year.

The tension was broken early when a Clemson cheerleader came running over to Smith before tipoff with a camera. She put her arm around Smith as assistant Bill Guthridge snapped the photo.

And after the final buzzer, Smith appeared to tell Barnes, “I’m happy for you,” as the two shook hands.

Clemson, which has a 15-100 record in its series with North Carolina, plays defending tournament champion Wake Forest (21-5) in a semifinal game today.

No. 12 Wake Forest 70, Virginia 60--The Demon Deacons’ 6-11 Tim Duncan dominated the shorter Cavaliers (12-15) with 19 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots. Wake Forest also held an opponent to less than 43% shooting for the 23rd time this season.

No. 18 Georgia Tech 88, North Carolina State 73--Guard Stephon Marbury and forward Matt Harpring both made eight of 12 shots en route to 23 and 21 points respectively as the Yellowjackets (21-10) defeated the Wolfpack (15-6) for the sixth consecutive time. Georgia Tech plays Maryland (17-11) today.

Maryland was an 82-69 winner over Duke (18-12) as the Terrapins’ reserves outscored their Blue Devil counterparts, 44-3. Duke played without second-leading scorer Chris Collins (foot injury) and his replacement Steve Wojciechowski suffered a sprained ankle which had to be taped and limited his mobility.

ATLANTIC 10

No. 2 Massachusetts 74, George Washington 65--The Minutemen (30-1) went on a decisive 17-8 run as the Colonials’ Alexander Koul sat out the final nine minutes of the first half because of foul trouble in a semifinal game at Philadelphia. George Washington (21-7) was never closer than eight points in the second half.

Koul, a 7-foot-1 sophomore from Belarus, outplayed Massachusetts center Marcus Camby in George Washington’s 86-76 victory on Feb. 24 that spoiled the Minutemen’s otherwise perfect season. He continued to do so Friday when he was on the floor--getting 20 points and 11 rebounds. Camby had 19 points and nine rebounds.

George Washington had won its previous four games against Massachusetts, which plays the Temple (19-11) for the tournament championship today.

Center Marc Jackson had 21 points and 10 rebounds as Temple extended its winning streak to seven with a 64-52 victory over Rhode Island (18-13).

BIG EIGHT

No. 5 Kansas 88, Colorado 55--Center Raef LaFrentz had 22 points and eight rebounds for the regular-season champion Jayhawks (25-3) in a first-round game at Kansas City, Mo. Kansas plays Kansas State (17-10) today.

Jacque Vaughn, the Big Eight player of the year, contributed to the victory beyond his 12 points and seven assists by shutting down the conference’s top freshman, Chauncey Billups, who had six points, six turnovers and made only one of 12 shots.

No. 23 Iowa State 62, Nebraska 60--Kelvin Cato blocked two shots and made two free throws after an offensive rebound in the final minute as the Cyclones (21-8) held on against the Cornhuskers (16-14). Iowa State plays Missouri (17-13) today.

Kansas State used a 22-6 free-throw advantage for a 58-55 victory over Oklahoma State that virtually eliminates the Cowboys (17-10) from an NCAA tournament berth. Oklahoma State was a Final Four team last year. . . . Derek Grimm’s three-point basket with 10.2 seconds left in overtime gave Missouri a 92-88 victory over Oklahoma (17-12). Jason Sutherland led Missouri with 26 points, including seven three-point baskets.

CONFERENCE USA

No. 8 Cincinnati 92, No. 22 Louisville 81--Darnell Burton had 21 points, including five three-point baskets, and the Bearcats (24-4) had their best shooting game of the season (60%) to reach the championship game at Memphis. Cincinnati plays Marquette (22-6) today.

DeJuan Wheat had 21 points for Louisville (20-11).

No. 21 Marquette 72, No. 14 Memphis 60--Anthony Pieper had 23 points and made four of five three-point shots as the Golden Eagles ended the Tigers’ home-court winning streak 34--the second longest in the nation. Memphis (22-7) never led and missed its first nine shots.

SOUTHEASTERN

No. 1 Kentucky 100, Florida 76--Antoine Walker scored eight of his 21 points in the final 4:26 to allow the Wildcats (27-1) pull away to their 26th consecutive victory and seventh 100-point game in the second round at New Orleans. Kentucky, which has won four consecutive SEC tournament titles, plays Arkansas (18-11) today.

No. 25 Mississippi State 69, Auburn 58--The Bulldogs (20-7) won their second conference tournament game in 10 years. Mississippi State plays Georgia (19-8) today. Auburn (19-12 after a 12-1 start) appears headed for the National Invitation Tournament.

Pat Bradley made seven three-point baskets in Arkansas’ 80-58 victory over South Carolina (17-11). . . . Georgia had four players score in double figures in a 74-63 victory over Tennessee (14-14).

SOUTHWEST

No. 7 Texas Tech 68, Rice 53--Guards Koy Smith and Cory Carr each had four three-point baskets against a tight zone defense as the Red Raiders (27-1) won their 20th game in a row in the semifinals at Dallas. Texas Tech plays Texas (20-8) for the championship today.

Reggie Freeman scored 28 of his 34 points in the second half to lead Texas to an 89-67 victory over Southern Methodist (8-20).

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Mid-American--Regular-season champion Eastern Michigan (23-5) had five players score in double figures in an 87-71 semifinal victory over Ball State (16-12) at Toledo. Eastern Michigan plays Toledo (18-13) for the championship today. Toledo shot 63% in its 75-55 victory over Miami of Ohio (21-7).

Northeast--Quincy Lee’s two free throws with four seconds left gave Monmouth (20-9) a 60-59 victory over Rider (19-11) in conference championship game on its home court at West Long Branch, N.J. Monmouth earned its first NCAA tournament berth.

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They’re In

Schools that have received automatic bids to the NCAA basketball tournament. All bids are by virtue of conference tournament championships with the exception of Big Ten, Ivy League and Pacific 10 conferences, which do not conduct postseason tournaments. The American West and Conference USA do not receive automatic bids. *--*

Automatic Qualifier Conference Austin Peay Ohio Valley Canisius Metro Atlantic Athletic Central Florida Trans America Athletic Colgate Patriot Drexel North Atlantic Monmouth Northeast New Orleans Sun Belt N.C. Greensboro Big South Northern Illinois Midwestern Collegiate Portland West Coast Purdue Big Ten South Carolina State Mid-Eastern Athletic Tulsa Missouri Valley UCLA Pacific 10 Valparaiso Mid-Continent Va. Commonwealth Colonial Athletic Western Carolina Southern

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