Sports

College basketball

Spartans put happy finish on frenzied trip

Associated Press
Published November 24, 2005

---

LAHAINA, Hawaii - No. 12 Michigan State capped a wild five days in Hawaii with a 74-71 overtime victory over No. 9 Arizona on Wednesday to finish third in the Maui Invitational.

The trip to the 50th state started with a 22-point loss at the University of Hawaii that dropped the Spartans from their No. 4 preseason ranking. It included a 109-106 triple-overtime loss to No. 8 Gonzaga in the Maui semifinals, already being considered one of the best regular-season games ever played.

Just 18 hours after leaving the Lahaina Civic Center after the loss to Gonzaga, the Spartans (2-2) looked impressive in building a big lead against Arizona only to see the Wildcats score 16 straight to take a 60-58 lead. Paul Davis made two free throws with 30 seconds left to tie it and send the Spartans to overtime for the second straight day.

Shannon Brown, who had 19 points, gave the Spartans the lead for good at 70-68 with a jumper with 35 seconds left but, in keeping with the theme of the trip, the game had to have a crazy ending.

After Arizona freshman Marcus Williams missed two free throws with 8.5 seconds left, making him 0-for-7 from the line for his career, Davis hit two free throws with 5.8 seconds left.

Arizona's Chris Rodgers hit a 3-pointer with a second left and immediately called timeout. The Wildcats didn't have one left, so a technical foul was charged and Maurice Ager made two free throws.

NO. 5 OKLA. 88, BINGHAMTON 60: Taj Gray, David Godbold and Michael Neal scored 14 each to lead the host Sooners (2-0).

NO. 11 MEMPHIS 88, NO. 16 UCLA 80: Freshman Shawne Williams scored 20 of his 26 in the first half for the Tigers (3-0) in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in New York. Memphis faces Duke in the final Friday night.

NO. 21 GW 87, KENNESAW ST. 42: Playing without suspended star Pops Mensah-Bonsu, the host Colonials romped behind Mike Hall's 22 points and 10 rebounds in their season opener. Mensah-Bonsu is out three games for rules violations related to his early declaration and withdrawal from the NBA draft.

NO. 22 NEVADA 77, VERMONT 62: Marcellus Kemp scored 24 as the Wolf Pack (2-0) snapped the Catamounts' 14-game home winning streak.

NO. 1 DUKE 78, DREXEL 68: J.J Redick scored a season-high 31 for the Blue Devils (4-0) in the Preseason NIT semifinals. The Dragons (3-1) weren't intimidated facing a top-ranked team for the first time in school history and trailed 52-50 with 14:31 left in the game before Duke went on a 7-0 run to take control.

NO. 23 MARYLAND 75, ARKANSAS 62: Ekene Ibekwe had 16 points and Chris McCray 15 for the Terrapins (3-1) in the fifth-place game of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Maryland but failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in three appearances in this tournament.

N.C. STATE 75, VMI 55: Ilian Evtimov had 18 points and Andrew Brackman added a season-high 15 for the sluggish Wolfpack. Host North Carolina State (4-0) played without point guard Tony Bethel, nursing a groin injury sustained last season in the conference tournament.

CLEMSON 79, S.C. STATE 38: Sam Perry had 13 points to lead the host Tigers (3-0), who led by as many as 43 points.

Big East

PITT 86, ROBERT MORRIS 59: Carl Krauser had 27 points to lead the host Panthers (2-0) to a more difficult than expected win. Pitt led by one two minutes into the second half, but Krauser hit a 3-pointer after a timeout to spark an 11-0 run.

PROVIDENCE 75, NEW HAMPSHIRE 51: Randall Hanke had 17 points and nine rebounds and Donnie McGrath scored 15 for the host Friars (2-0). McGrath became Providence's all-time leader with 202 career 3-pointers, making 3-of-8.

MISS. ST. 53, CHARLOTTE 38: Dietric Slater's 13 points and a smothering zone defense led the Bulldogs (3-0) to their 15th straight road win over nonconference opponents.

State

W. FLA. 97, SAINT LEO 86: The visiting Argonauts (3-0) held on after a 23-8 first-half run.

Nation

PENN ST. 93, NICHOLLS ST. 56: Jamelle Cornley scored a career-high 17 and Milos Bogetic added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the host Nittany Lions (2-0) in the first meeting between the schools.

KANSAS 102, CHAMINADE 54: Sophomore forward C.J. Giles had a career-high 21 points for the Jayhawks (2-2) in the seventh-place game of the Maui Invitational, the Silverswords' worst loss in the tournament they host.

TEXAS TECH 83, FURMAN 74: Drew Coffman and Martin Zeno scored 22 each as the host Red Raiders (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak.

[Last modified November 24, 2005, 00:19:08]