Friday, February 11, 2011
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
» NBA
Kobe rallies Lakers past Allen, Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, and the Los Angeles Lakers spoiled Ray Allen's record-setting night by beating the Boston Celtics 92-86 in an NBA finals rematch on Thursday night. Allen became the NBA's career leader in 3-pointers in the first quarter, but Bryant later put him on the bench in foul trouble during his big second half that rallied Los Angeles from an early 15-point deficit. Pau Gasol added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who split the regular season series with their biggest rivals and got a sorely needed victory against one of the league's top teams. Andrew Bynum, the subject of trade rumors in the never-ending Carmelo Anthony saga, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Allen hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter to pass former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller (2,560), who was sitting courtside calling the game for TNT. But he made only one more and had 20 points after scoring 12 in the first quarter. Paul Pierce had 15 points for the Celtics, who came in shooting an NBA-best 49.7 percent and
AP
Boston Celtics Ray Allen celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers to break the NBA record for 3-point baskets, during the first quarter in Boston.
shredded the Lakers for 60 percent shooting in their 109-96 victory at Los Angeles on Jan. 30, but went cold after a strong start in this one and finished at 40 percent. Bryant scored 41 points in that loss, but seemed headed nowhere
near it after taking only three shots in the first half. He had a quick flurry out of halftime, then had eight points in the final 4:51 to help the Lakers hold on. Lamar Odom finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and one
headache for the Lakers, who moved to 3-0 on their sevengame Grammys road trip that continues Friday in New York. Down eight at halftime, Los Angeles return from the locker room with a 10-0 burst, and it
was back and forth the remainder of the third quarter. The Lakers scored six consecutive points late in the period, the last two in painful fashion after Odom tipped in Gasol's miss, then their heads collided as they
turned to run downcourt. Los Angeles led 72-68 after three. Sporting a large bandage on his forehead, Odom opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, but the Celtics were only down three midway through the period before Bryant made two jumpers and a layup to push the lead to 88-79 with 3:12 remaining. Boston got back within five, but Bryant found Gasol for a bucket underneath, then finished with off with a jumper with 48 seconds to play. It gets no easier for the Celtics, who host Miami on Sunday in a showdown of Eastern Conference powers. Allen tied the record with his first 3-pointer with 4:14 left in the first quarter, but missed on the next possession with the crowd ready to roar. He nailed the record breaker with 1:48 to go, taking a pass from Rajon Rondo as he trailed on a delayed break and pulling up from the right wing for a 22-14 lead. Allen had 12 points in the period, then was honored during the break with a loud, standing ovation. He hugged Miller, then his mother before going into the crowd to see his family. A video montage in the second quarter showed highlights from his earlier years in Milwaukee and Seattle.
UConn golf team gears up for spring season
By Dan Huang Campus Correspondent As spring approaches, one team to look out for is our men’s golf team. The squad is led by coach Dave Pezzino, a New Haven native, in his fourth season as head coach. The team unofficially kicked off its spring season with the Nutmeg Match on Feb. 5th. The Nutmeg Match is an alumni game hosted by UConn and was held at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Course in Jupiter, Fla.
Junior golfer Jeb Buchanan, a rising star from Loudonville, N.Y., is excited to start the season. “Every time I tee it off, I look to win. We’ve got a really good team this year and we should compete for the Big East title,” said Buchanan. “Notre Dame is the top ranked team in the Big East and they’re the team to beat.” Coach Pezzino credits his senior captains, as well as Buchanan, for stepping up and getting the team ready to compete. “Matt Dubrowski and Jeremy Troy are our
senior captains and also The junior from Winsted, the leaders of the team. I Connecticut won the New don’t believe E n g l a n d in going with Intercollegiate three captains, G o l f but Jeb’s also Association done a great Championship job as a leader this past fall. and I expect Coach Pezzino him to be a said of Vaccari, captain next “ A d a m ’ s year,” said already got – Jeb Buchanon one win and Coach Pezzino. his mentality is Both Coach UConn golf captain where it needs Pezzino and to be to play Buchanan at a high level. point to junior Adam Vaccari as a player He’s got a good short game primed for a breakout season. and I can see him having a
“We should compete for the Big East title.”
good spring after winning a tournament already.” The first tournament that the Huskies will participate in will be the Match Play, held in Tampa, Fla. The Huskies will then play in tournaments in South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Florida and Rhode Island, before heading back to Florida for the Big East Championship. “Playing in the Caribbean Invitational Tournament in Puerto Rico is the tournament I’m looking most forward to,” said Brian Hwang, a junior golfer from Hauppauge, N. Y. However, Hwang has
no reservations when saying that the most important tournament will be the Big East Championship. “Our goal is to win the Big East Championship and play in the NCAA Championship,” Hwang said. “We’ve never won the Big East Championship before and it would be a great accomplishment if we could be the first UConn team to do so,” added Buchanan.
Haidan.Huang@UConn.edu