Ball knocked in, so Orange win

Cincinnati forward Titus Rubles (center) watches the ball go in for what proved to be the game-winner with 19.4 seconds left in Monday’s game in Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (lower right wearing a headband) was credited with the tip-in, even though he’s not entirely sure he did it.

Cincinnati forward Titus Rubles (center) watches the ball go in for what proved to be the game-winner with 19.4 seconds left in Monday’s game in Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (lower right wearing a headband) was credited with the tip-in, even though he’s not entirely sure he did it.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

— Syracuse C.J. Fair isn’t sure who tipped in the ball, but he’ll take the credit and the victory over No. 21 Cincinnati.

With the score tied, the No. 3 Orange’s Jerami Grant drove the lane but missed his shot. Arms flailed all around the rim trying to corral the ball, which went through the basket with 19.4 seconds left to give Syracuse a 57--55 victory Monday.

“There were bodies down there and the ball just went in the hoop,” Fair said. “I just raised my hand. I thought I did it, but maybe I got help. I don’t know.”

Cincinnati Coach Mick Cronin wasn’t willing to concede that it was Fair who made the shot.

“It was a batted ball in the air by three guys - two of their guys and one of our guys - that just happened to go in the basket,” Cronin said. “I’m not giving him a tip-in, not when our guys were trying to hit it the other way. Stuff happens. We didn’t get the stops defensively down the stretch. We got out executed.”

Cincinnati’s Cashmere Wright missed a three from with 2.9 seconds left, allowing the Orange to escape with their 35th consecutive victory at home, the longest active streak in Division I.

Michael Carter-Williams set up the Orange’s shot at victory by hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game 55-55 with 1:20 seconds left.

“We didn’t want to lose,” Carter-Williams said. “None of us like losing. We wanted to do anything to win that game.”

Syracuse (18-1, 6-0 Big East) had trailed by seven points with just over five minutes left, rallying for the victory in the final minute just as it had at then-No. 1 Louisville on Saturday in a 70-68 victory.

The Bearcats (16-4, 4-3) lost on the road for the first time in eight games.

Carter-Williams had 16 points and seven assists and Brandon Triche had 13 points for the Orange.

Sean Kilpatrick led Cincinnati with 21 points and JaQuon Parker had 11.

GEORGETOWN 63, NO. 24 NOTRE DAME 47

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Otto Porter scored 19 points to lead Georgetown over Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish’s third loss in four games.

Notre Dame recorded season lows in points, field goal percentage (35 percent) and assists (11).

The Irish (15-4, 3-3 Big East) went on long stretches without scoring in both halves, while Georgetown (13-4, 3-3) shot 53 percent from the field.

It was Notre Dame’s third Big East home loss over their past 24 conference home games.

Jerian Grant led Notre Dame with 13 points.

SWAC MEN UAPB 55, PRAIRIE A&M 51

PINE BLUFF - Arkansas-Pine Bluff twice led by nine points in the first half, but still had to rally from a six-point second-half deficit to beat Prairie View A&M on Monday night at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

With the game tied at 47-47, Davon Haynes scored five of his 13 points in the final 3:42 and UAPB held on for its third consecutive victory.

The Golden Lions (7-12, 6-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) were held to 35.3 percent shooting (18 of 51), but held Prairie View A&M (7-12, 2-4) to 31.5 percent (17 of 54) and forced 22 turnovers to stay in second place in the SWAC.

UAPB led 18-9 midway through the first half but just 26-24 at halftime.

It then led 33-24 with 18:14 left before Prairie View A&M scored eight consecutive to get within 33-32. The Panthers then took as much as a 43-37 lead before the Golden Lions scored seven consecutive points to take a 44-43 lead and never trailed again.

Haynes also had 15 rebounds, while Lazabian Jackson added 11 points and Terrell Kennedy had 10 points for UAPB.

SWAC WOMEN ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 57, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 50

PINE BLUFF - Chi Chi Okwumbua scored 13 points and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-10, 3-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) beat Prairie View A&M (6-11, 3-4) at the H.O. Clemmons Arena.

Christina Lasane had 11 points for the Lady Lions, who shot 38.1 percent (16 of 42) from the floor.

The game was tied at 50-50 with 2:04 left, but the Lady Lions finished 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to seal the victory.

Sports, Pages 18 on 01/22/2013