Cal, Clemson earn title berths

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Michael Gill broke open a close game with 17 of his career-high 22 points in the first nine minutes of the second half as California defeated Oregon 85-69 in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.

The Golden Bears (21-11) advanced to Thursday night's final at Madison Square Garden against Clemson. In beating the Ducks (19-12) for the first time after two losses in Pac-10 play this season, California rode Gill's hot streak and went on a 17-5 run in the first 6:32 of the second half. The surge extended a 35-32 halftime lead to 52-37. But Gill, who was 10 of 14 from the field, wasn't finished. The 6- foot-6 senior forward hit three more baskets and the Bears led 58-44 with 11:02 remaining. Sean Lampley had 16 points, 12 in the first half, and Francisco Elson and Carl Boyd had 13 apiece for California. Terik Brown led Oregon with 16 points, A.D. Smith had 14 and Scales 12, including two 3-pointers in the second half. OREGON (19-12) Scales 5-15 0-0 12, Smith 5-14 3-3 14, Carson 4-8 0-0 8, Brown 5-7 5-6 16, Wright 2-8 0-0 6, Hartenstein 0-0 0-0 0, F.Jones 1-5 0-0 3, Christoffersen 3-4 1-2 7, Rosemond 1-1 0-0 3, Harker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-62 9-11 69. CALIFORNIA (21-11) Gill 10-14 2-2 22, Lampley 7-12 2-4 16, Elson 4-10 5-8 13, Carlisle 4-13 2-2 10, Kilgore 1-5 4-4 6, Boyd 4-9 4-7 13, Hughes 1-2 0-0 2, Gates 0-1 3-4 3, R.Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Gordon 0-0 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0, Forehan-Kelly 0-0 0-0 0, Rather 0-0 0-0 0, Lingle 0-0 0-0 0, Meyers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-66 22-31 85. Halftime score--California 35, Oregon 32. 3-point goals--Oregon 8- 18 (Wright 2-5, Scales 2-6, Rosemond 1-1, Smith 1-2, Brown 1-2, F.Jones 1-2), California 1-8 (Boyd 1-2, Kilgore 0-1, Lampley 0-1, Gates 0-1, Carlisle 0-3). Fouled out--Christoffersen. Rebounds-- Oregon 34 (Smith 6), California 43 (Elson 8). Assists--Oregon 17 (Brown, Scales 4), California 15 (Kilgore 5). Total fouls--Oregon 23, California 12. Clemson 79, Xavier 76Lenny Brown's 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim and ended Xavier's furious comeback attempt as Clemson held on for the victory in the nightcap. Trailing by 24 points with just under 15 minutes to play, Xavier staged one of college basketball's more amazing rallies. The Muskeeters went from a 61-37 deficit to a 76-73 lead, going ahead on Brown's 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining. The Tigers (20-14) hit six free throws down the stretch -- two apiece by Harold Jamison, Tom Wideman and Andrius Jurunas -- and then held their breath as Brown's shot at the buzzer was just off line. XAVIER (24-11) Frey 1-4 0-0 3, Posey 3-12 7-7 14, Turner 2-4 2-2 6, L.Brown 4-17 2-2 14, Lumpkin 4-9 4-5 16, McAfee 3-3 0-0 8, Price 5-10 1-2 13, O.Harris 0-0 0-0 0, A.Brown 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-60 16- 18 76. CLEMSON (20-14) Jamison 6-9 4-7 16, Jurkunas 2-8 4-4 8, Wideman 2- 3 6-6 10, Christie 6-10 2-5 16, McIntyre 7-11 2-2 20, Allenspach 1-2 0-2 2, Solomon 2-6 2-2 7, Gilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Braddick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-49 20-28 79. Halftime score--Clemson 40, Xavier 29. 3-Point Goals--Xavier 14-37 (Lumpkin 4-9, L.Brown 4-14, McAfee 2-2, Price 2-6, Frey 1-1, Posey 1- 5), Clemson 7-21 (McIntyre 4-7, Christie 2-5, Solomon 1-3, Jurkunas 0-6). Rebounds--Xavier 30 (Turner 7), Clemson 32 (Wideman 15). Assists--Xavier 15 (Lumpkin 7), Clemson 15 (McIntyre 5). Total fouls- -Xavier 21, Clemson 17. A--9,455.

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