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College Basketball

Ducks defeat Gophers

EUGENE, Ore. -- Fifth-ranked Oregon took advantage of its opportunities even though it wasn't at its best.

Ian Crosswhite scored 18 and Luke Ridnour had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead the Ducks to a 90-81 victory over No.25 Minnesota on Sunday.

Oregon capitalized on first-half foul trouble for Gophers star Rick Rickert. The Ducks went on an 18-3 run -- including 14-0 at one point -- to take the lead for good with Rickert on the bench with three fouls.

"We were a very tired basketball team," Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. "This team needed to let its character rise up and show through the adversity."

Luke Jackson added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Ducks, who won their 22nd consecutive home game, one off the school record set from 1937-39. The streak is the nation's fifth longest.

"The key to this game was the team effort," Crosswhite said. "We stuck together, even when it was getting tough. I just go out and do whatever I can to help."

Steve Esselink led the Gophers with 18 points, all on 3-pointers. Jerry Holman had 17 points and Rickert, who had a career-high 28 points last season against Oregon, ended with eight points in 16 minutes before fouling out.

Esselink hit four 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch to lead Minnesota's comeback. The Gophers were able to get within three points with 3:11 left, but the Ducks held on down the stretch.

NO.9 NOTRE DAME 93, CANISIUS 75: Matt Carroll scored 25 on 10-of-12 shooting and Dan Miller added a career-high 23 for the host Irish.

Notre Dame shot 57 percent and went 12-of-26 from 3-point range. Miller, who missed Saturday's practice with the flu, was 6-of-9 and Carroll 4-of-5. Chris Thomas added 17 points for the Irish and had 13 assists, tying his career high.

At 10-1, Notre Dame is off to its best start since going 12-1 to start the 1978-79 season, when it was ranked No.1 for a month.

Brian Dux scored 20 and Richard Jones had 13 to lead Canisius.

The Irish made their first five shots of the second, moving ahead 63-35 when Torin Francis scored inside with 17:33 left. Notre Dame pushed the lead to 71-37 when Carroll hit a 3-pointer with 15:26 left.

With most of the Irish starters sitting the final 11 minutes, Canisius was able to cut the lead to 18 points at the end of the game.

NO.10 TEXAS 57, PRINCETON 54: Chris Ogden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and T.J. Ford made four free throws during the final 21 seconds as the host Longhorns avoided an upset.

Put in the game late, Ogden hit his only basket from deep in the right corner to put Texas up 51-48 with 3:57 left.

Princeton had a chance to tie at 53 when Kyle Wente was fouled on a layup, but he missed the free throw.

The Tigers had the ball with six seconds left, but Ed Persia was off-line on a desperation 3-pointer.

Brandon Mouton led Texas with 21 points and Ford added 10.

Wente had 14 points and Spencer Gloger added 11 for Princeton.

The Tigers led 21-18 at halftime behind a zone defense that didn't allow the Longhorns any easy entry passes under the basket and forced 10 turnovers.

The Longhorns struggled from the field, shooting 6-of-26 in the first, including 3-of-11 from 3-point range. Texas finished 17-of-48.

The Longhorns gained control in the second when Ford hit a driving layup, James Thomas finished a midcourt steal with a fastbreak dunk and Ogden hit a 3-pointer to give them the lead for good.

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