Darius Rice played brilliantly for 40 minutes and still managed to save his best for last.
The nephew of Oakland Raiders receiver Jerry Rice capped a 43-point performance by stealing an inbounds pass and sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the host Miami Hurricanes stunned 11th-ranked Connecticut 77-76 Monday.
Connecticut appeared to clinch a victory when Ben Gordon hit two free throws with 8.9 seconds left, giving him 32 points and the Huskies a 76-72 lead.
But Miami’s Armondo Surratt drove for an uncontested layup with four seconds to go and Shamon Tooles’ hurried inbounds pass was stolen in the corner by Rice, who swished a shot as time expired.
“The guy threw the ball in, and I just stuck my hand out,” Rice said. “I said, `This is mine.’ I shot it, and I had no doubt it was going in.”
The defeat left Connecticut players crying in their locker room.
“I did the wrong thing by passing it,” said Tooles, his eyes red. “I cost us the game. They trusted me to be in the game. I’m supposed to make the correct pass.”
Miami (8-7, 1-3 Big East) broke a three-game losing streak, including an overtime loss at Connecticut on Jan. 11. The Huskies (11-3, 2-1), beaten Saturday at North Carolina, have lost two in a row for the first time since last Feb. 2.
Sooner heroics
Oklahoma also won with a buzzer shot. Hollis Price made one to force overtime, then scored five of the No. 7 Sooners’ nine points in the extra period in a 69-64 victory over host Texas Tech.
Oklahoma (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) won its 32nd straight at home after seeing an eight-point lead turn into a three-point deficit in the closing seconds of regulation.
Wright `day-to-day’
Indiana freshman guard Bracey Wright will miss his third straight game Tuesday with a sore back.
“It’s still day-to-day,” said coach Mike Davis, whose Hoosiers play host to Ohio State. “I’m not going to play him till he’s ready.”
RESULTS, MONDAY’S SYNOPSIS
#7 Oklahoma 79 vs. Texas Tech 74 Tech (11-3, 1-2 Big 12) couldn’t give coach Bob Knight his 799th win. Kasib Powell led with 19 points.
#10 Creighton 95 vs. Illinois State 82 Larry House had a career-high 23 points and eight rebounds as Creighton (16-1, 7-0 MVC) dropped ISU to 1-14, 0-7.
#11 Connecticut 76 at Miami 77 Miami had 13 points in last minute behind Darius Rice, who finished with 43. Huskies lost despite shooting 56 percent.
