Michigan knocks off another top-10 opponent in Gonzaga
PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS » Isaiah Livers scored
21 points and Michigan again overwhelmed a highly ranked opponent with its flowing offense to beat No.
8 Gonzaga 82-64 on Friday in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Jon Teske added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Wolverines, who beat sixthranked North Carolina on Thursday and finished a memorable three-game run to the title by giving firstyear coach Juwan Howard another marquee victory.
This one had a similar feeling to the UNC win, too, with Michigan’s offense kicking into a hot-shooting gear midway through the second half to take control and build a huge lead.
NO. 6 NORTH CAROLINA 78, NO. 11 OREGON 74 » Cole Anthony hit a driving layup and four key free throws in the final 64 seconds to help North Carolina hold off Oregon in the third-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The freshman point guard had a baseline drive past Will Richardson with the Tar Heels protecting a one-point lead. He then hit four straight free throws to protect the lead in a game that went down to the final seconds.
Senior Brandon Robinson followed with the final free throws with 0.8 seconds left to seal it, giving the Tar Heels (6-1) a needed bounceback effort after Thursday’s loss to Michigan.
NO. 1 DUKE 83, WINTHROP 70 » Freshman Matthew Hurt scored a season-high 20 points, Joey Baker added a career-high 16 and Duke beat Winthrop to bounce back from its stunning loss to Stephen F. Austin.
Playing three nights after the unheralded Lumberjacks became the first Cameron Indoor Stadium visitor from outside the ACC to win in nearly 20 years, the Blue Devils (7-1) spent the better part of this one looking ripe for another upset before Baker — a sophomore who appeared in just four games last season — saved them.
He hit two dagger 3-pointers 30 seconds apart in the final 3 minutes to put Duke up by double figures to stay. NO. 2 LOUISVILLE 71, WESTERN KENTUCKY 54 » Jordan Nwora scored 25 points as Louisville defeated Western Kentucky to remain unbeaten and make its case for the No. 1 ranking.
There will be a new No. 1 team when The Associated Press Top 25 comes out on Monday because top-ranked Duke fell at home to Stephen F. Austin 85-83 in overtime on Tuesday.
The Cardinals last topped the AP poll on Jan. 14, 2013, and they went on to win the national championship that year.
NO. 5 MARYLAND 80, HARVARD 73 » Anthony Cowan Jr. scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half to help Maryland overcome another slow start to remain unbeaten, topping Harvard in the semifinals of the Orlando Invitational.
NO. 9 KENTUCKY 69, UAB 58 » Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery each scored 16 points and combined for 17 rebounds, helping Kentucky beat UAB.
NO. 13 SETON HALL 84, IOWA STATE 76 » Myles Powell scored 19 of his 24 points after halftime to help Seton Hall beat Iowa State 84-76 in the fifth-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis.