South Carolina Escapes, 74-73

Fifth-ranked South Carolina survived a rare bad performance from BJ McKie and defeated Virginia Tech, 74-73, Friday night at Charlotte, N.C.

McKie missed 10 of his 11 field-goal attempts, but Melvin Watson scored a career-high 24 points, including a free throw with 3.5 seconds left.

“I struggled tonight, and there’s going to be nights like that,” said McKie, who went into the game averaging a team-leading 18 points. “I certainly hope I don’t struggle too often like I did tonight, but it was nice to see other people step up.”

Virginia Tech tied it at 73-73 when Kenny Harrell made a running three-point shot with 3.5 seconds left. But the Hokies’ Rolan Roberts was called for a foul away from the ball after the shot, sending Watson to the line.

He missed the first but made the second, and Harrell raced down and put up a 35-foot shot that bounced off the back of the rim as time expired in the opening game of the Harris Teeter Pepsi Challenge.

Virginia Tech Coach Bobby Hussey wasn’t pleased that his Hokies (3-1) were called for 36 fouls compared to 16 for South Carolina (4-0). Hussey was particularly concerned about the final call on Roberts.

“I’m not even sure he fouled him,” Hussey said.

South Carolina shot only 32% from the field.

No. 3 North Carolina 68, Tennessee Chattanooga 38--Antawn Jamison had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Tar Heels overwhelmed the Moccasins at Charlotte, N.C.

The Tar Heels, who have traveled more than 9,500 miles in the past two weeks, improved to 8-0 under new Coach Bill Guthridge.

Francisco Colon led Chattanooga (4-2) with 13 points in the second game of the Harris Teeter Pepsi Challenge.

The Moccasins, who shot 22%, had the lowest point total against a Tar Heel team since North Carolina defeated the Citadel, 81-36, on Feb. 4, 1983.

No. 10 Iowa 81, Rice 52--Guy Rucker and Ricky Davis each scored 14 points as the Hawkeyes defeated the Owls in the Hawkeyes’ Super Shootout at Iowa City, Iowa.

The Hawkeyes (5-0), which led, 41-18, at halftime, will play Weber State for the championship tonight.

Bobby Crawford scored 12 points and Robert Johnson had 10 for Rice (2-6). Jarvis Kelley Sanni, who was averaging 17 points for the Owls, was held to seven.

No. 14 Mississippi 102, Long Island 99--Ansu Sesay had 28 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals as the Rebels edged the Blackbirds in the first round of the Cardinal Varsity Club Classic at Muncie, Ind.

Ole Miss overcame a 39-point performance by LIU’s Charles Jones, the nation’s top scorer last season.

Keith Carter had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Rebels (4-0), which overcame a season-high 30 turnovers.

OTHER GAMES

Damian Cantrell scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive boards, to lead San Francisco past Monmouth, 85-36, at San Francisco . . . Brian Wardle scored 19 points as Marquette defeated Montana State, 84-60, at Milwaukee. . . . Tyronn Lue scored 27 points as host Nebraska used a 14-3 game-ending run to put away North Carolina Wilmington, 85-68. . . . Sam Jacobsen scored 15 points as host Minnesota beat Western Carolina, 63-46.