Terriers Hang On, Down Liberty, 55-54
November 21, 2000 | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, VA (Nov. 21) - Sophomore forward Paul Seymour (Liverpool, NY) sank two clutch free throws with 13 seconds left in the game to give the Boston University mens basketball team a 55-52 lead in its 55-54 win over Liberty University before 1,275 at the Vines Center on Tuesday night.
With the win, the Terriers are now 2-0 to start the season for the first time under head coach Dennis Wolff and for the first time since 1993-94.
The Terriers, who lost to the Flames, 60-59 on a last-second shot at "The Roof" last January 11, came out on fire, rolling off a 36-14 run from the start of the game to the 4:41 mark of the opening half, taking a 38-23 lead at the break.
B.U. hit 15-of-32 shots, 47 percent, in the first half, while limiting Liberty to 7-for-24 shooting, 29 percent. Seymour led the way with 15 of his game-high 19 points in the opening half.
The Flames chipped away at the Terrier lead throughout the second half, but were not able to pull even. Maurice Watkins hit a jumper with 40 seconds left to cut the B.U. lead to 53-52, and had a chance to take the lead when Kenneth Anaebonam went to the line with 16 seconds left. Anaebonam missed both shots and Seymour iced the game with a pair of free throws of his own with 13 seconds left.
Freshman forward Jason Grochowalski (Shrewsbury, MA) was the other Terrier in double figures with 14 points. Fellow freshman Kevin Fitzgerald (Belle Harbor, NY) added four points, five assists and six steals. Freshman center Ryan Butt (Lancaster, PA) had eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
It was the 95th win in Dennis Wolffs B.U. career. He is now 95-83 at the university, one win shy of Matt Zunic, who currently stands in second place on the Terrier coaching win list with 96. Mike Jarvis, with 101 career wins, is in first.
The Terriers will now travel to George Washington to participate in the Red Auerbach Colonial Classic on Friday and Saturday, November 24-25. B.U. faces Quinnipiac University in the opening round at 6 p.m. on Friday.
