UConn Falls In Final Minute At Miami, 68-66

(box score)

Miami (February 2, 2002) – A game that was expected to be close proved to be as the lead changed hands on 19 occasions and the score was tied 11 times before Miami’s Elton Tyler dunked the ball with 11 seconds remaining to lift the Hurricanes over the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team, 68-66, on Saturday night in Miami Arena.

The battle of two of the BIG EAST’s top twenty team sent UConn (#17 AP/ #22 ESPN) to  a 14-5 record and 6-2 in the conference, while Miami (#15 AP/#16 ESPN) improved to 19-3 overall and 6-3 in league play.

UConn led for most of the first half opening up eight point leads on two occasions. Miami, which missed 15 of their first 19 shots, inched its way back and went on a 14-3 run over the final four minutes to take a 32-27 lead into the half.

Emeka Okafor (Fr., Houston, TX) and Johnnie Selvie (Sr., Flint, MI) wasted no time in helping the Huskies reclaim the lead as Okafor scored the first four points of the second half before Selvie had a put back just over a minute in to make it 33-32.

The finish included four lead changes in the last 2:18 and four baskets in the final minute. After exchanging three pointers, Taliek Brown (So., Queens, NY) laid the ball in with 22 seconds left to tie it before Tyler put Miami on top for good. On its final possession, UConn went to Ben Gordon (Fr., Mount Vernon, NY), but his three-pointer was blocked by Michael Simmons. Selvie grabbed the rebound in the lane but James Jones stripped the ball and time ran out.   

Selvie hit 8 of 12 field goal attempts to lead UConn in scoring with 17, while Okafor finished with a dozen points and a game high nine rebounds to go along with four blocks.Miami’s John Salmons led all scorers with 20 points.

UConn returns home for a Tuesday, Feb. 5 contest against Providence College at 9 p.m. at the Hartford Civic Center. The Huskies beat the Friars in the first meeting between the schools this season, 69-62, on Jan. 16 at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The game will be televised on espn2.