January 12, 2002

Despite playing as hard as its played all season, Tech couldn't quite overcome Miami's clutch shooting, falling to the 20th-ranked Hurricanes 77-68 in front of 4,270 fans at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday evening.

Tech is now 6-10 overall and 0-4 in the BIG EAST. The loss marked Tech's fifth straight and eighth in its past nine games. Miami (15-2, 2-2 in the BIG EAST) snapped a two-game losing streak and avenged a loss to Tech at Cassell last season.

Miami led the entire second half, but never could pull away. Each time the 'Canes opened a four- or five-point lead, Tech rallied.

Yet the 'Canes made the clutch baskets when they need to do so. The biggest came after Tech cut the lead to 61-60 on a basket by Carlton Carter with under four minutes left.

Miami's John Salmons made a tough lay-up with 3:42 left, and then after Carter and Brian Chase missed shots on Tech's next possession, Darius Rice canned a 3-pointer with 2:47 left that gave the 'Canes a 66-60 lead.

Tech eventually cut the lead to 66-63 on a lay-up by Terry Taylor with 2:07 left. But Rice hit another 3-pointer on Miami's next possession and the Hokies got no closer than four the rest of the game.

Rice, one of the best players in the BIG EAST, finished with 16 points and made five 3-pointers.

"That's what great players do," said Carter, who scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 12 boards for Tech. "They make tough shots when it counts. He made tough shots when it counted."

Taylor led Tech with 17 points and added eight boards. Carlos Dixon and Brian Chase finished with 11 and 10, respectively.

"I give credit to our kids," Tech head coach Ricky Stokes said. "They played with tremendous effort and laid it on the line.

"I thought they made some big shots. I was hoping for another 3-for-30 like they did in the second half against St. John's, but we weren't as fortunate.

"But I can live with our effort. Good things will happen if we continue to play that hard."

Elton Tyler led Miami with 20 points and Marcus Barnes added 18, hitting five 3-pointers himself. Miami made 13 treys for the game and shot 45 percent from the floor.

Tech now gets ready for Villanova. The Wildcats travel to Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday night for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.