College basketball

Arizona pulls away for another NIT win

By wire services
Published November 17, 2004

TUCSON, Ariz. - Mustafa Shakur scored 23 and Ivan Radenovic 20 - both career highs - in No.10 Arizona's 80-69 victory over San Diego on Tuesday in the first round of the Preseason NIT.

The Wildcats won their 13th consecutive Preseason NIT game and are 13-1 overall in the event. They won it in their past three appearances, 1990, 1995, 1999.

The Wildcats host Wright State, a 72-66 overtime winner over Tulsa on Tuesday, in the second round Thursday.

Down 41-23 at halftime, a 9-0 Toreros run, capped by Avi Fogel's driving layup, cut it to 59-47 with 9:25 left. But Radenovic scored inside. Then Salim Stoudamire made an 18-footer and 14-foot floater from the baseline that made it 65-49 with five minutes left.

PROVIDENCE 83, NIAGARA 78: Ryan Gomes had 25 points and 19 rebounds and made the winning jumper in the lane with 24 seconds left for the host Friars in the Preseason NIT. Providence next faces Penn, 74-60 winners over Quinnipiac on Tuesday, at home Thursday. Down 74-61 with 8:15 left, a 13-2 Friars run cut it to 76-74. Then Niagara committed turnovers on its last three possessions.

OHIO ST. 82, ROBERT MORRIS 50: J.J. Sullinger scored 11 of his 15 during the first half to help the host Buckeyes roll in the Guardians Classic. Ohio State reached the semifinals in Kansas City, Mo., where the four teams will be seeded. It led 40-16 at halftime after making 17 of 28 shots.

MISSOURI 77, HOUSTON 61: Linas Kleiza had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the host Tigers, who reached the semifinals of the Guardians Classic. Missouri outscored Houston 20-1 during a 61/2-minute span at the end of the first half and beginning of the second. Jason Conley made a 3-pointer at the end of the half and another to make it 44-30 4:30 in.

CREIGHTON 68, IONA 62: The host Bluejays made 12 3-pointers to reach the semifinals of the Guardians Classic. Iona led 46-42 eight minutes into the second half when a 9-0 run on three 3-pointers put Creighton ahead for good.

MARQUETTE 69, AIR FORCE 65: Travis Diener scored 34 and made five 3-pointers for the host Golden Eagles in the final of the Black Coaches Association Classic. Down 48-44, Diener made three 3-pointers and a 2-pointer for an 11-2 run that put Marquette up 55-50 with 9:08 left.

ILLINOIS ST. 70, MISSISSIPPI 52: Trey Guidry scored 24 and Lorenzo Gordon 22 for the Redbirds in the third-place game of the BCA Classic. Illinois State ended the first half with a 22-5 run for a 38-23 lead and was not threatened afterward.

SAINT LEO 104, PUERTO RICO-CAYEY 68: The host Lions scored the game's first 18 points. Larry Henderson led them with 22 points and seven rebounds.

[Last modified November 17, 2004, 00:03:19]