 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
BOSTON (Ticker) -- Boston University crushed Maine and wants Duke. The Terriers won the America East Conference tournament and claimed an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with a 66-40 rout of underdog Maine. Chaz Carr and reserve Paul Seymour had 15 points apiece for Boston University (22-9), which earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1997 and sixth overall. The Terriers dominated throughout at their raucous home gym, where fans chanted "We Want Duke" late in the game, then stormed the court. They might get their wish as one of the least regarded teams in the Tournament. "We probably played our best game of the year," said coach Dennis Wolff, whose team hit 11 3-pointers en route to its ninth straight win -- the school's longest streak in four seasons. Maine's dream at its first NCAA Tournament berth came to an end. The Black Bears (12-18) stunned top seed Vermont in the tournament semifinals last Saturday. Boston University looked like the top seed Saturday, building a 22-8 lead with 7:22 left in the first half after making six of its eight 3-point attempts during a 19-2 run. Billy Collins ended the first half with two 3-pointers in the final minute, helping the Terriers to a 36-17 cushion at the break. Collins finished with 14 points. Maine didn't get any closer in the second half. The Terriers extended their lead to 42-19 on a 3-pointer by Ryan Butt and 60-27 on a fastbreak layup by Seymour midway through the half. The Black Bears trailed by at least 25 points the rest of the way. "My experience with games like this is that you have to play pretty well in the beginning of the game, and you have to finish the half well, both of which we did," Wolff said. "We also came out pretty strong in the second half. We never gave them breathing room in which they could get back into the game." Shortly before Seymour's layup, Collins threw down a driving dunk, bringing an eruption from the crowd at Case Gymnasium, otherwise known as "The Roof," where the Terriers went 10-2 this season. They hosted the title game as the lower seed. They were second and Maine was fifth. Butt scored 12 points for Boston University, which hit 11-of-18 3-point attempts and only 14-of-39 conventional shots, finishing at 44 percent. The Terriers matched America East championship records with eight 3-pointers in a half and 11 for the game. They also set America East title game marks for points allowed in a half and game. Boston University handed out 17 assists and committed only nine turnovers. Errick Greene scored 11 points and reserve Clayton Browne added 10 for the Black Bears, who shot just 32 percent (13-of-41). They have never made it to the NCAA Tournament in 66 seasons. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
