No. 7 Tennessee crushes Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Santiago Vescovi scored 15 points, and Yves Pons and Jaden Springer added 13 apiece as No. 7 Tennessee blitzed No. 12 Missouri 73-53 on Wednesday in both teams’ Southeastern Conference opener.
The Volunteers (7-0) shot 50 percent from the field in their first road game of the season. They made their first seven shots on mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers, building a 21-4 lead.
Xavier Pinson scored 11 points to lead the Tigers (6-1), who totaled four assists.
Missouri didn’t get many chances to play at its preferred fast pace because it began most possessions by pulling the ball from the net. Tennessee built a 38-24 halftime lead.
The second half was much of the same, as the Vols hit their first three shots and scored eight points in the first minute and a half.
In both halves, Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin called a timeout within the first two minutes. Tennessee stretched its lead to 28 points midway through the second half.
■ No. 2 Baylor 105, Alcorn State 76: At Waco, Texas, Macio Teague had 18 points to lead six scorers in double figures for the Bears (8-0), who scored 26 points off 14 first-half turnovers by the Braves (0-5). Tyree Corbett had 24 points for Alcorn State, which had only four turnovers after intermission, when it held a 4946 scoring edge.
■ No. 23 Virginia 66, Notre Dame 57: At South Bend, Ind., Kihei Clark had 19 points and five assists for the Cavaliers (5-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast), which improved to 12-0 in league openers under coach Tony Bennett and 10-0 in league regular-season
matchups against the Fighting Irish (3-5, 0-2). Nate Laszewski scored 28 points for Notre Dame, which twice got within one point but never led.
■ No. 25 Ohio State 90, Nebraska
54: At Columbus, Ohio, reserve Justin Ahrens had 18 points to lead five double-figure scorers for the Buckeyes (8-2, 2-2 Big Ten), who held the Cornhuskers (4-6, 0-3) to 28.3-percent shooting. Nebraska has lost 12 straight games against ranked foes.
MOUNTAIN WEST
■ Colorado State 81, Fresno
State 59: At Fort Collins, Colo., David Roddy had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Rams (5-1, 2-0), who shot 52.3 percent and held the Bulldogs (2-2, 0-2) to 34.3 percent. Orlando Robinson had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Fresno State, which trailed 41-17 at halftime.