N.C. State brings down second-ranked Arizona
Cincinnati beats Wyoming for title
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — From the day he was hired, new North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts promised his team would play an aggressive style that didn’t back down from competing with anyone.
The Wolfpack needed all of five games to prove him right in a huge upset.
Freshman Braxton Beverly scored a season-high 20 points and sparked the decisive late run that helped N.C. State stun No. 2 Arizona 90-84 in Wednesday’s first round at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
“I feel like every game, every day, these guys have given me tremendous effort, and they’re playing hard,” Keatts said,” and they deserved the win.”
It’s quite a reversal from a year ago, when Keatts was still the head coach at UNC Wilmington and N.C. State was stumbling its way through an underachieving season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That team suffered several blowout losses that raised questions about their effort, not to mention leaving Keatts’ predecessor, Mark Gottfried, practically begging his team to play with more defensive intensity.
A few months later, the Wolfpack (5-0) pushed back every time the Final Four favorite Wildcats (3-1) made a run.
“We had plenty of offense,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “But our defense was really, really bad. Until we get that corrected, we’re going to win a few then we’re going to lose a few.”
Allonzo Trier scored 24 of his 27 points after halftime for the Wildcats, who are still without sophomore guard Rawle Alkins due to a preseason foot injury. Freshman big man Deandre Ayton had 27 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Wildcats control the glass and score 16 second-chance points. No. 5 VILLANOVA 66, WESTERN KENTUCKY 58: In Paradise Island, Bahamas, Jalen Brunson scored 18 points for the Wildcats (4-0) in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Darius Thompson scored 16 points for the Hilltoppers (2-2), who shot 44 percent. No. 8 KENTUCKY 86,
FORT WAYNE 67: In Lexington, Ky., Nick Richards had career highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds, and the Wildcats (5-1) shot
70 percent in the first half. No. 11 MIAMI 57, LA
SALLE 46: In Reading, Pa., prized freshman Lonnie Walker IV struggled in his return home, but Dewan Huell scored 16 points and the Hurricanes (4-0) did just enough to get by the Explorers.
Part of Miami’s recruiting pitch for the projected NBA lottery pick was a game in his hometown. Walker was held to five points and 2-of-8 shooting, and his woes were contagious. Miami shot 37 percent from the field and the Explorers were 0 of 15 from 3-point range. No. 12 CINCINNATI 78,
WYOMING 53: In George Town, Cayman Islands, Gary Clark scored 17 points and Kyle Washington had 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Bearcats (6-0) won the inaugural Cayman Islands Classic.
Hayden Dalton led Wyoming (4-1) with 15 points. TENNESSEE 78, No. 18
PURDUE 75 (OT): In Paradise Island, Bahamas, Grant Williams scored all 22 of his points after halftime and hit the go-ahead shot with 14.5 seconds left in overtime to lift the Volunteers (3-0) past the Boilermakers (4-1) in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Tennessee trailed by 11 points in the first half
and needed to make a late 3-pointer to force overtime. MWC men FRESNO STATE 79,
GEORGE MASON 73: In Cancun, Mexico, Deshon Taylor scored 23 points, Ray Bowles added 21 and the Bulldogs (3-2) held off the Patriots (3-3).
Bryson Williams scored 15 on 7-of-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second straight doubledouble for Fresno State, which shot 53 percent from the floor (29 of 55). State men UC RIVERSIDE 75, WNMU
57: In Riverside, Calif., the Highlanders topped the Mustangs in an exhibition. Jon-Reese Woodson scored 16 points and had 13 rebounds for Western New Mexico. Top 25 women No. 16 DUKE 84, OLD
DOMINION 51: In Norfolk, Va., Lexie Brown had 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range and the Blue Devils (3-1) beat the Lady Monarchs (0-5). No. 18 OREGON STATE
97, N.C. CENTRAL 44: In Durham, N.C., Kat Tudor had careers-highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds, and the Beavers (3-1) earned their first road win of the
season. Oregon State stays in Durham to face No. 16 Duke on Saturday before opening the Maui Invitational on Dec. 1 against Nevada. No. 19 TEXAS A&M 66,
LITTLE ROCK 49: In College Station, Texas, Danni Williams scored 18 points for the Aggies (3-1). Texas A&M coach Gary Blair (742-305) and Little Rock’s Joe Foley (746-236) are two of 10 active coaches in Division I with 700+ career wins. No. 22 KENTUCKY 86, MOREHEAD STATE 53: In Lexington, Ky., Maci Morris made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points, Makenzie Cann had her second straight double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the Wildcats (5-0) beat the Eagles (2-3). No. 25 MICHIGAN 78, OAKLAND 69: In Ann Arbor, Mich., Hallie Thome scored 29 points, Katelynn Flaherty added 26 and the Wolverines (3-1) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a victory. State women NMHU 60, WNMU 56: In Silver City, Savannah Madrid-Andrews scored 19 points and Ari Baca added 18 as the Cowgirls (2-3) beat the Mustangs (0-5). Cassandra Vickery led Western New Mexico with 15 points.