ECU Advances To BCA Title Game With Two-Point Win
November 19, 2004 | Men's Basketball
AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) --- Mike Cook scored 22 points and Japhet McNeil made two clutch free throws down the stretch, helping East Carolina hold off Oregon State 64-62 Thursday night in the semifinals of the BCA Invitational.
Sasa Cuic missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer that would have won it for the Beavers (1-1).
Moussa Badiane, who was suspended from the opener because he played in a non-certified summer league, added 13 points and five blocks for the Pirates (2-0). They play No. 19 North Carolina State in the final Friday night.
East Carolina led throughout most of the second half, and the margin was nine after Badiane made a jumper with about 6 1/2 minutes left.
Oregon State fought back and eventually got within two on a 3-pointer by Chris Stephens with 31 seconds remaining. McNeil was fouled and converted both free throws before Cuic hit a fadeaway from the baseline to make it 64-62.
Cook went to the line with 10.8 seconds left and missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the Beavers a final chance. They called a timeout to set up a play, and Stephens was momentarily open for a 3.
He lost the ball, and it went to Cuic, who heaved an off-balanced shot that missed everything. Still, the freshman finished with 23 points, a night after his three-point play gave Oregon State a two-point victory over Siena in the first round.
Stephens had 12 for the Beavers.
The Pirates missed their first seven shots and fell behind 11-0. The margin eventually grew to 23-11 before they rallied, using a 14-2 run to tie it. A 3-pointer by Tom Hammonds gave East Carolina its first lead, and Jonathan Hart added a free throw to increase the margin to 30-28 at the break.
To purchase tickets to tonight's game in Raleigh against NC State please call 800-310-PACK or 919-865-1510 and press 9 when you hear the recording. THERE WILL BE A $8 PROCESSING FEE ON ALL PHONE ORDERS. Only upper level seats are available over the phone. If you purchase tickets at the RBC Center they have lower level seats available and there is NO processing fee.
