The Cincinnati Enquirer

Anthony Taylor pulls down a rebound in front of LaSalle's Donnie Carr. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Anthony Taylor was the last one out of Millett Hall after Miami's final practice before Friday's game. Taylor, who had only five points against Xavier Tuesday, wanted to work on his shot.

The extra time paid off in the RedHawks' 71-66 victory over La Salle in the first game of the Carrier Classic. Miami (6-1) plays Syracuse (6-0) at 8 p.m. today in the finals.

The Orangemen defeated Texas Southern 85-73.

Taylor had a career-high 28 points to go along with a career-high eight assists and career-high-equalling three steals. Taylor also held Donnie Carr, the top-scoring freshman in the nation last year (23.8 per game), scoreless in the first half and to 11 points overall.

''Anthony stepped up and had a great game,'' said Wally Szczerbiak, who added 25 points. ''Damon (Frierson) and I aren't always going to have great games.''

Frierson, starting at point again in Rob Mestas' absence, scored a season-low nine points, but he had seven assists and seven rebounds. Frierson was 2-of-9 from the field.

His struggles and the emotional win over XU made the RedHawks vulnerable.

''We were in a tournament like this last year,'' Szczerbiak said. ''We came out flat and ended up losing in the first round.''

Taylor saw to it that Miami was not flat. He scored six points in a row to give the RedHawks a 17-15 lead midway through the period, and they never trailed again. He scored 17 first-half points.

   La Salle    m fg at ft at  r  a  f to tp 
   Thomas     34  5 10  7 10 12  1  2  0 19 
   Jordan     26  0  1  0  1  6  0  2  4  0 
   Wesson     36  5 10  3  3 10  1  2  4 14 
   Carr       39  3 15  3  3  1  7  0  4 11
   Gizzi      39  6 14  2  2  1  4  1  3 18 
   Landgren    4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0 
   Catlett     7  0  1  0  0  0  0  4  0  0 
   Flickinger  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0 
   Bragg      14  2  2  0  0  1  0  3  2  4 
   Totals    200 21 54 15 19 35 13 14 19 66 
   Team Rebounds- 1.
    
   Miami       m fg at ft at  r  a  f to tp
   Frierson   40  2  9  4  4  7  7  0  5  9 
   Szczerbiak 40  9 17  3  6  6  4  4  2 25 
   Lethunya   14  1  4  0  0  3  1  2  2  2 
   Lackaff    13  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0 
   Taylor     40 12 16  0  0  1  8  3  3 27 
   Estick     16  3  4  0  1  3  1  4  1  6 
   Locklier    5  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  0  0 
   Allendorf   3  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  1  0 
   Ensminger  29  1  2  0  0  4  0  0  2  2 
   Totals    200 28 53  7 11 29 21 15 16 71 
   Team Rebounds- 1. 
   La Salle  26 40 - 66
   Miami     38 33 - 71 

Attendance- NA. 3-point goals- La Salle (9-19) Thomas 2-5, Wesson 1-1, Carr 2-5, Gizzi 4-7, Flickinger 0-1; Miami (8-17) Frierson 1-3, Szczerbiak 4-8, Taylor 3-6.Technical fouls- None

Miami game coverage

Miami 80, Xavier 72 Dec. 10, 1997
Miami 85, Virginia Commonwealth 75 Dec. 7, 1997
Miami 102, IUPUI 75 Dec. 2, 1997
Miami 66, Wisconsin-Green Bay 46 Nov. 26, 1997
Miami 94, Dayton 86 Nov. 23, 1997
Tennessee 75, Miami 74 Nov. 18, 1997