Dec 20, 2001

Box Score

HONOLULU (AP) - Alex Shorts scored 21 points and Miami (Ohio) got unexpected scoring support from Chester Mason and Ben Helmers as the RedHawks beat No. 10 Boston College 73-67 on Thursday night in the first round of the Rainbow Classic.

Shorts scored 13 points in the second half, keying a 10-1 run that helped boost the RedHawks (3-5) to a 57-51 advantage.

But his big points came in the final 59 seconds when he converted a three-point play and made two free throws that gave Miami the lead for good.

Mason, who entered the game averaging 5.3 points, scored 18 points. Helmers, a 2.3-point performer, had 12 on four 3-pointers. Danny Horace had eight points and 11 rebounds, and Juby Johnson also added eight points.

Boston College (9-1), which was averaging 84.4 points per game, tied it at 65 on a 3-pointer by Kenny Walls, and moved ahead on a free throw by Troy Bell, but Shorts went on his five-point spree to put the RedHawks ahead for good, 70-67.

For good measure, Mason added three free throws to close out the scoring.

For the Eagles, Bell had another big scoring night, finishing with 29 points. He was 7-of-19 from the field, but was only 2-of-10 from 3-point range. In his last four games, Bell has scored 129 points. Walls added 19 points.

Despite its record, Miami played the Eagles on equal terms over the first 20 minutes. But with Bell scoring 16 points and Walls 13, Boston College took a 39-37 halftime lead.

The win put Miami in the championship bracket of the eight-team tournament.