Tuesday, November 25, 2008
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI — Deonta Vaughn scored 17 points against a team that’s had big problems trying to guard him, and Cincinnati added to its best start since Bob Huggins was coach by beating Coastal Carolina 82-56 on Monday night.
The Bearcats are 4-0 for the first time since 2004-05, Huggins’ final season before he was ousted.
Coastal Carolina (0-4) lost its 31st straight road game against a non-league opponent, a streak that spans five years. The Chanticleers couldn’t handle Cincinnati’s size advantage or its outside shooting — the Bearcats went 11-of-23 from behind the 3-point arc.
Vaughn scored a career-high 36 points against the Chanticleers during a 15-point win last November. His 3-pointer from several steps beyond the arc started a 17-0 run that opened the second half. Coastal Carolina managed only two free throws in the first 10 minutes, 29 seconds of the half, going 0-for-11 from the field with eight turnovers.
Miami (Ohio) 55, Wright St. 37
DAYTON — Kenny Hayes scored 20 points and Michael Bramos added 19 to lead Miami (Ohio) past Wright State, which remains winless through three games.
The RedHawks (2-2) jumped out to an early 12-2 lead before John David Gardner’s 3-pointer and Vaughn Duggins’ jumper capped an 11-0 run for Wright State (0-3) and gave the Raiders a brief 13-12 advantage.
But a layup by Antonio Ballard put Miami (Ohio) ahead, and the RedHawks moved to a 25-16 halftime lead.
The RedHawks opened the second half with a surge that put them 18 points ahead with 13:17 left. The Raiders got as close as 10 — 47-37 — with 5:37 remaining, but couldn’t score again.
Gardner paced the Raiders with 12 points and Duggins scored 11 as Wright State shot just 26.5 percent.
Fla. International 50, Toledo 46
MIAMI — Russell Hicks scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds to lead Florida International.
Nikola Gacesa added 14 points, including four in the final 17 seconds to help the Golden Panthers (3-1) hold onto the lead in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic.
Florida International and Toledo were tied at 31 at halftime, but the Golden Panthers held the Rockets (0-3) without a field goal until 6:07 remaining in the game in building a 44-36 lead.
Toledo had a chance to tie the score at 49, but Anthony Byrd, who led the Rockets with 14 points, missed a 3-point attempt with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Florida International held Toledo leading scorer Tyrone Kent, who entered the game averaging 25 points, to just eight points. He had reached double figures 28 of his past 29 games.
Jonathan Amos added 11 points for Toledo.