No. 1 Gonzaga overwhelms No. 2 UCLA
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Andrew Nembhard scored 24 points, freshman Chet Holmgren showed off his unique skill set and top-ranked Gonzaga routed No. 2 UCLA 83-63 on Tuesday night in the Empire Classic final.
The Zags (6-0) showed there’s a big gap between No. 1 and No. 2 with a dazzling display at both ends. Gonzaga rocked UCLA (5-1) with an early blitz and never let up.
Holmgren stole the show as a soloist at times, swatting shots, swooping for dunks and awing the crowd with his agility. The 7-foot1, 195-pound freshman earned a deserved ovation early in the second half when he blocked Myles Johnson’s shot and went end to end — with a dribble behind his back to boot — for a two-handed slam.
WISCONSIN 65, No. 12 HOUSTON 63: Also in Las Vegas, Johnny Davis scored a career-high 30 points and Wisconsin (4-1) beat No. 12 Houston (4-1) in the Maui Invitational semifinals.
The Cougars erased a 20-point halftime deficit and cut Wisconsin’s lead to two on Kyler Edwards’ 3-pointer with 40 seconds left. With the final possession, Jamal Shead drove baseline and passed to Edwards, who wasn’t expecting the feed, costing the Cougars a chance at a final attempt.
No. 13 ARKANSAS 73, CINCINNATI 67: In Kansas City, Mo., Au’Diese Toney scored 19 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 1:23 left, and Chris Lykes was perfect at the foul line down the stretch to help Arkansas (5-0) beat Cincinnati in the title game of the Hall of Fame Classic.
No. 14 ILLINOIS 72, KANSAS STATE 64: In Kansas City, Mo., Kofi Cockburn had 23 points and 13 rebounds, Alfonso Plummer hit seven 3-pointers and added 21 points, and Illinois held off Kansas State in the consolation game of the Hall of Fame Classic.
NEVADA 88, GEORGE MASON 69: In Sioux Falls, S.D., Grant Sherfield had a career-high 31 points, adding six assits, as Nevada (2-4) beat George Mason.
AGGIE MEN: New Mexico State hosts NCAA Division II New Mexico Highlands on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (streaming at espn+; audio on 99.5 FM Las Cruces and the Varsity Network app). It’s the 4-1 Aggies’ final game before hosting New Mexico on Nov. 30.
New Mexico State is coming off an 80-66 win over Indiana State Sunday night for third place in the Myrtle Beach Invitational. Donnie Tillman scored an Aggie-high 23 points. The Aggies’ average of 9.8 3-pointers per game is 45th-most in Division I.
Wednesday’s game is an exhibition for the Cowboys, as was their 101-72 loss at UNM on Nov. 5, when Boston College transfer Sammy Barnes-Thompkins pumped in a game-high 22 points.
Women
No. 10 LOUISVILLE 73, CAL POLY 32: In San Luis Obispo, Calif., Liz Dixon scored 15 points as Louisville rolled in its first visit to California in seven years with a rout of Cal Poly.