News / Sports
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Top 25 from Wednesday
NCAA Men’s Coaches’ Top 25 Basketball scores and highlights from Wednesday night
Derek Raivio, had 21 points and 8 rebounds as #23 Gonzaga (5-0) shocked #3 North Carolina (3-1) 82-74 to advance in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Josh Heytvelt added 19 points and grabbed 8 rebounds of his own to pace the Bulldogs past the Tar Heels. Gonzaga used their superior outside shooting to separate themselves from North Carolina, as a team the ‘Zags shot 8-15 from beyond the arch while the Tar Heels struggled, shooting 6-27 from downtown. Brandan Wright led the Tar Heels with 21 points and 13 rebounds while pre-season All-American Tyler Hansbrough finished with 9 points and 9 assists. Gonzaga will play Butler in the finals on Friday.
The #5 UCLA Bruins (4-0) won the Maui Invitational after dismantling the #19 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-1) 88-73. The Bruins built an 11 point lead by half-time and led by as much as 22 in the game as they cruised past the inexperienced Jackets. Led by Arron Afflalo’s 19 points and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s 14, the Bruins shot nearly 60 percent from the field. Lewis Clinch led the Jackets with 21 points.
Memphis (3-1) and ranked #11 in the Coaches’ Poll, rebounded from their loss to Georgia Tech and handed #22 Kentucky (3-2) their second straight loss 80-63 to take third at the Maui Invitational. Memphis dominated the glass, holding an 11 rebound advantage over the Wildcats and took advantage of 10 steals in the game. The Tigers were led by Robert Dozier who had 15 points and 7 rebounds. Randolph Morris had 18 points and 8 rebounds for Kentucky.
Demetris Nichols scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds while Paul Harris came off the bench for 17 points and 9 rebounds as #14 Syracuse (5-0) stayed perfect on the year, defeating Charlotte (1-2) 79-67. Syracuse shot 50 percent from three-point land while Charlotte struggled from the floor, shooting only 32 percent on the night.
After building a 28 point half-time lead the #15 Arizona Wildcats (3-1) cruised past Samford (1-3) 86-57. Size proved to be the difference in the game as Arizona grabbed 26 more rebounds than the Bulldogs. The Cats used a balanced attack from their starting five to easily handle their overmatched opponent. All five starters finished in double figures and four of the five finished with 8 or more rebounds.
Coming off their loss earlier this week the #16 Georgetown Hoyas (3-1) wanted to right the ship, Fairfield (1-6) proved to be exactly what the Hoyas needed. Backed by DaJuan Summers’ 17 points and Jessie Sapp’s 14 points Georgetown led by as many as 19 points before winning 73-60.
Butler (5-0) surprised the #22 Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) 56-44 to reach the NIT Season Tip-Off finals. Tennessee led by 3 at half but could only manage 19 second-half points while the Bulldogs put 34 points on the board to finish strong. Julian Betko led Butler with 15 points while JaJuan Smith led the Vols with 16 points, but neither team shot well from the floor. Butler finished at 34 percent from the field while Tennessee shot a dismal 25 percent. Butler will take on Gonzaga in the NIT Season Tip-Off finals on Friday.
