Jan 2, 2002

Box Score

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - James Jones scored 22 points and No. 21 Miami tied a school record with its 14th straight victory, a 79-71 win over No. 24 Georgetown on Wednesday night.

Jones made three of the Hurricanes' 10 3-pointers as Miami's long distance shooting helped overcome a strong second-half rally by the Hoyas. Georgetown tied the Big East opener for both teams five times after trailing by as many as 14 points but was never able to take the lead.

The Hurricanes (14-0) remained one of five unbeaten teams in Division I along with Duke, Virginia, Oklahoma State and Butler.

All five Miami starters are averaging double figures, and they all got 10 or more again. Jones was 7-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range where the Hurricanes were 10-for-26 for the game.

Miami, which also had a 14-game winning streak in 1947, can break the school record Saturday at Connecticut.

Mike Sweetney scored 25 points to lead the Hoyas (9-4), who have lost three straight, all to ranked teams.

Courtland Freeland of the Hoyas scored on a tip-in that made it 68-68 with 3:48 to play, the last time the score was tied. Elton Tyler made two free throws, and Marcus Barnes followed with a 3-pointer to put Miami ahead by five, and the Hurricanes sealed the victory by making their free throws over the final two minutes.

Barnes finished with 15 points and Tyler had 12. John Salmons had 11 points and nine rebounds for Miami, while Darius Rice had 10 points and five rebounds.

Kevin Braswell had 13 points and six assists for Georgetown.

The game had a lifeless and ragged beginning in an atmosphere void of energy. The MCI Center was cavernous and quiet with students and cheerleaders away for the Christmas break and only a few thousand fans on hand. By halftime, there were nearly as many turnovers (22) as made baskets (23), and all five Georgetown starters had at least one steal.

Jones scored the first four points in an 11-0 run that gave the Hurricanes a 21-9 lead with 10:25 to go. The junior forward was the only player shooting well, going 5-of-8, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, as the Hurricanes led 37-25 at halftime.

But a strong comeback by the home team can excite even the smallest crowd, and fans were standing after a series of fast break layups started a 21-7 run that tied the game at 46.