No. 17 Buckeyes need late layup to beat Akron

Zed Key saved No. 17 Ohio State from a seasonopening embarrassment, catching a sharp pass from freshman Malachi Branham in the paint and banking home a buzzer-beater to give the Buckeyes a 67-66 win over Akron Tuesday night.

Akron was in position for the upset thanks to Ali Ali, who was fouled on a step-back 3-pointer and converted the four-point play to put the Zips ahead 66-65 with 6 seconds left in a game that was tied six times in the second half.

E.J. Liddell led Ohio State with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but fouled

out on Ali’s late 3-pointer. Key had a career-high 14 points and touched off the opening-night victory celebration with the game-winning layup.

(3) KANSAS 87, MICHIGAN STATE 74 »

Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 29 points and Kansas beat Michigan State in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on the opening night of college basketball.

Remy Martin added 15 points and David McCormack had 10 for the Jayhawks, who returned four starters from last season’s squad that lost to USC in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. (24) CONNECTICUT 99, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 48 » Adama Sanog scored 20 points, leading Connecticut to a

rout of Central Connecticut.

R.J. Cole scored 15 points and Tyrese Martin added 14 for the Huskies, who led by 29-points at halftime and forced 29 Blue Devil turnovers for the game. (18) TENNESSEE 90, TENNESEE-MARTIN 62 » Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi each scored 20 points, leading Tennessee Tennessee-Martin.

MIAMI 77, CANISIUS 67 » Kameron McGusty scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and Miami fought off spirited Canisius.

Preseason All-ACC guard Isaiah Wong, a Bonner-Prendergast All-Delco, shot 3 for 11 and posted seven points for the Hurricanes.