ATLANTA - Marvin Lewis scored 19 and No.3 Georgia Tech survived a lackluster second half to beat Virginia Commonwealth 86-65 Monday, giving it its best start ever. The Yellow Jackets also have their highest ranking since Feb.3, 1986, when they were No.2. And at 12-0, they are one game better than the 1962-63 team.
Georgia Tech led 48-25 at halftime and later by 31. But VCU slowly rallied. B.A. Walker made a 3-pointer midway through to make it 61-44, and it eventually got down to 14. But another run by Georgia Tech, punctuated by a dunk by Clarence Moore, sealed it.
NO.2 DUKE 88, DAVIDSON 54: J.J. Redick scored a season-high 22 for the Blue Devils, who increased their home win streak to a national-best 33. Mike Krzyzewski (599-176) moved within one victory of becoming the 13th coach in Division I-A with 600 at one school. Duke led 22-17 before going on a 36-5 run that spanned halftime.
NO. 7 OKLAHOMA 72, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 57: Kevin Bookout had a season-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for the host Sooners, who closed the first half with a 13-4 run to lead 37-25. Oklahoma center Jabahri Brown fell in the first half in a scramble for a rebound and was holding the left side of his jaw. He did not return, but X-rays showed no broken bones.
NO.13 KANSAS 78, BINGHAMTON 46: The host Jayhawks opened with a 19-2 run and were not threatened. An 8-0 run pulled the Bearcats to within 21-10, but Kansas responded with a 12-4 run to take a 33-14 halftime lead. It was the fewest first-half points Kansas allowed since Oklahoma's 14 on Feb.20, 1999.
NO.19 TEXAS 88, GEORGE WASHINGTON 72: Freshman P.J. Tucker had a season-high 27 points and 15 rebounds for the host Longhorns. Down 32-12, GW cut it to 62-50 with 9:44 left. But Texas pulled away behind Tucker and Kenny Taylor's five 3-pointers.
NO. 25 MARQUETTE 77, SACRED HEART 72: Travis Diener scored 22 for the host Golden Eagles. Down 15, the Pioneers cut it to 70-67. Diener sealed it with a 3-pointer with 1:17 left and added two free throws.
NO.15 PITT: Point guard Carl Krauser took part in a shooting session but his status for tonight's game against Georgia is uncertain. He missed Saturday's game with a groin injury.
FSU RANKED: The Seminoles are No.25 in the coaches poll, the first time they have been ranked since January 1998. "I'm extremely happy for our players because it gives them a sense of accomplishment," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "We realize it is early in the season and where we ranked at the end of the season is what really counts."
C-USA
MEMPHIS 69, OAKLAND (MICH.) 63: Sean Banks had 20 points as the host Tigers held on. Down 11 with 6:38 left, Oakland made it 63-61 with 1:19 left. But Memphis held on despite making 6 of 12 free throws late.
TCU 99, GRAMBLING 71: Marcus Shropshire scored a career-high 26 for the host Horned Frogs. He was 10-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-7 on 3-pointers.
Nation
INDIANA 79, N. TEXAS 70: Bracey Wright scored 39 for the visiting Hoosiers. Up 69-64 with 3:30 left, his two free throws and Ryan Tapack's 3-pointer sealed it.
NEBRASKA 77, MINNESOTA 60: Nate Johnson and Brian Conklin combined for 42 points off the bench for the visiting Cornhuskers, who made 11 3-pointers. A 24-6 run in the second half helped them pull away.
- Times staff writer Brian Landman contributed to this report.
