Dec. 29, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Kevin Gardner scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and Boston University sent UC Riverside to its 14th straight loss dating to last season, 80-69 Thursday night in the consolation game of the Cable Car Classic.
Corey Hassan added 17 points with three 3-pointers for the Terriers, who haven't played at home since a 67-46 win over New Hampshire on Dec. 8 and have two more road games next week before hosting Albany on Jan. 12.
Gardner shot 9-for-12 and also had seven rebounds, three assists and a steals as Boston University shot 70.4 percent after halftime to 70.8 for UC Riverside.
Rickey Porter led the struggling Highlanders with 14 points, Klaus Schille had 13 and eight rebounds and Benoit Bekono added 12 points, six boards and two blocked shots.
Larry Cunningham's short jumper in the paint with 10:45 left pulled UC Riverside within 48-47, but Omari Peterkin immediately scored for Boston University and Gardner got baskets the next two times down the floor. His three-point play at 9:07 made it 55-47.
Ibrahim Konate made a pretty one-handed jam in transition with 7:58 left for the Terriers in the first meeting between the schools.
Boston University (5-7), playing in this event for the first time since 1988, has won five of its last seven games following an 0-5 start. Shaun Wynn added 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Terriers.
UC Riverside (0-10) used an 8-0 spurt midway through the first half to turn a 22-15 deficit into a 23-22 lead, but couldn't sustain the momentum.
The Highlanders are off to their worst start since their first season in 1954-55.
UC Riverside shot 32.1 percent in the first half, including 4-of-11 from 3-point range, but made all seven of its free throws to stay within 34-29 at the break.
The Highlanders have only led at halftime against a Division I team once this season - in Wednesday night's 63-61 loss to host Santa Clara. UC Riverside held a 13-point halftime lead against Division III Puget Sound on Dec. 21, but lost 115-111.