Sports

College basketball

Colonials not perfect, thanks to Wolfpack

By wire services
Published December 31, 2005

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RALEIGH, N.C. - A stingy defense. A nearly perfect balance of scoring from the paint and the perimeter.

In short, another solid effort from No.19 North Carolina State. The only surprising thing might have been the opponent.

Cameron Bennerman led five players in double figures with 17 points, Cedric Simmons got his second career double double and the Wolfpack handed No.12 George Washington its first loss, 79-58 on Friday.

Simmons had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and Engin Atsur tied a career high with nine assists for N.C. State (11-1), which gave coach Herb Sendek the best start of his nine-year tenure. The best field-goal percentage defense in Division I held the Colonials (8-1) to 31 percent, their worst effort of the season.

Carl Elliott had 14 points for George Washington, and leading scorer Danilo Pinnock finished with 11, about five below his average.

NO.22 WAKE 87, CHARLESTON SO. 47: Shamaine Dukes had 11 points and tied the school's freshman record with 10 assists in his first start to lead the host Demon Deacons (10-2), who won their third straight.

OLD DOMINION 58, VA. TECH 55: Isaiah Hunter had 13 points, including two free throws with six seconds left, for the host Monarchs (8-4). ELON 74, CLEMSON 69: Colin Wyatt and Montell Watson scored 15 each as the Phoenix (3-9) got its first win over a Division I opponent this season.

Big East

NO.2 UCONN 111, QUINNIPIAC 75: Hilton Armstrong scored a career-high 26 and Craig Austrie set a team freshman record with 14 assists to lead the host Huskies (11-0). It's the fourth start of 10-0 or better in 20 years under coach Jim Calhoun.

NO.25 W.V. 80, CANISIUS 68: Kevin Pittsnogle scored a career-high 34 as the host Mountaineers withstood a late rally. Canisius (1-8) took advantage of seven Mountaineers turnovers to outscore them 29-8 over the final 11 minutes. Patrick Beilein and Mike Gansey each hit three free throws in the final 40 seconds to preserve the win.

SYRACUSE 78, KENT ST. 66: Louie McCroskey and Eric Devendorf combined for 30 points, and Terrence Roberts had 21 for the host Orange (11-2), who have won eight straight and have not lost since Devendorf replaced McCroskey in the starting lineup a month ago.

NOTRE DAME 74, WOFFORD 71: Torin Francis hit two free throws with 12.6 seconds remaining as the host Irish avoided a near upset. Howard Wilkerson's 3-point attempt for Wofford (4-8) at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

CINCY 105, N.C. A&T 69: Eric Hicks had a career-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots to lead the host Bearcats (11-2) to their eighth straight win.

NO.18 UK 71, OHIO 63: Joe Crawford (23 points) and Ramel Bradley (16) had career highs to lead the Wildcats in Cincinnati. Kentucky (9-3) got little from its point guards - Rajon Rondo scored six and Patrick Sparks three. Ohio (6-2) led most of the game but unraveled after leading 59-55 with 3:56 to go.

VANDERBILT 63, DAYTON 60: Shan Foster scored 11 of his 19 during the final 6:11, and the Commodores (9-1) took advantage of the host Flyers' cold shooting in the final minutes.

OLE MISS 82, ALCORN ST. 69: Dwayne Curtis scored a career-high 25 and four players reached double figures for the host Rebels (9-3). Todd Abernethy and Bam Doyne scored 12 each, while Jeremy Parnell had 11.

ARK. 66, UT-PAN AMERICAN 38: Jonathon Modica scored 14 as the host Razorbacks (10-2) extended its winning streak to eight. MISS. ST. 63, GEORGE MASON 61: Jamont Gordon scored 16 to lead the host Bulldogs (10-3).

Top 25

NO.4 MEMPHIS 90, PURDUE 70: Joey Dorsey had 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead the host Tigers (11-1) to their eighth straight win. Chris Douglas-Roberts also scored 16 for Memphis.

NO.6 ILL. 84, TENN.-MARTIN 46: James Augustine scored 19 and had 11 rebounds, becoming the school's career leader, as the host Illini won its 14th straight and finished its non-conference schedule undefeated in consecutive seasons. Augustine passed Efrem Winters with his 854th career rebound with 10:51 to play.

NO.15 TEXAS 110, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 38: Brad Buckman returned after missing two games with a twisted right knee and scored a season-high 20 for the host Longhorns (10-2). The 72-point margin was the most for Texas since a 148-71 win over Northern Montana in 1978.

State

UCF HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Birmingham-Southern beat Central Florida 58-50 in the championship game, snapping the Golden Knights' 11-game homecourt winning streak. In the consolation game, Western Illinois held North Florida (3-6) to a season-low in scoring as it won 58-52.

[Last modified December 31, 2005, 00:48:13]

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