By Dylan Butler
His team was 15 seconds away from a disheartening loss at Providence Monday night and then Royal Ivey hit one of the biggest shots of his collegiate career.
The former Cardozo standout drained a game-tying three-pointer off a broken play for the Texas men’s basketball team, sending the game into overtime when freshman PJ Tucker won it for the Longhorns with a controversial buzzer-beating layup in a thrilling 79-77 victory at the raucous Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Rhode Island.
Known more for his defensive prowess, Ivey scored a career-high 22 points for No. 18 Texas and set up Tucker’s heroics after Donnie McGrath tied the game for Providence, which trailed by 21 in the first half.
Tucker took the inbound from Ivey and raced up court, into the lane untouched and scored as time expired. The game’s officials, a veteran Big East crew of Tim Higgins, John Clougherty and Bob Donato, reviewed the tape of the final play.
After several tense moments and nearly 20 different looks at the replay, the officials called the basket good, incensing the crowd of 12,993, some of whom tossed plastic beer bottles on the court.
In 41 minutes Ivey had 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting and had four rebounds and three assists for Texas, which avoided its third loss of the year (its other two losses were to Arizona and Duke at Madison Square Garden).
While it was a joyous moment for one Cardozo alum, it was heartbreaking for another, Providence assistant coach Steve DeMeo.
Former Newtown standout Charlie Villanueva was named Big East Rookie of the Week after averaging 22 points and nine rebounds in UConn’s 2-0 week, including a career-high 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting in a 92-83 win at Rice Friday.
He also posted his second double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 91-67 win over UMass.
Rashad Bell, a former St. Francis Prep standout, had 14 points and six rebounds to help lift Boston University to a 79-62 win over Albany Sunday.
Queens Village native Uka Agbai out of Archbishop Molloy scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Boston College past St. Bonaventure, 77-70, Saturday.
Another former Stanner Kevin Hamilton had 17 points and six rebounds, and Queensbridge native Jave Meade out of Christ the King had four points and 10 assists in Holy Cross’ 59-55 loss to Marist at Madison Square Garden Saturday.
Francis Lewis grad Diane Ramirez averaged 6.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and six steals in an 0-3 week for the Baruch women’s basketball team, earning the Sunnyside native CUNY Rookie of the Week honors.
The sophomore guard had eight points and six steals in an 80-28 loss to Suffolk (Mass.), seven points, eight steals, seven assists and 11 rebounds in a 75-63 loss to William Patterson in the CUNY-NJAC Challenge and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds along with five assists and four steals in a 56-49 loss to Skidmore.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
