Djokovic vs. Federer for ATP title

Roger Federer saved four match points Saturday to ensure the most successful player at the ATP Finals will take on the best player of the season in the final in London.

Federer, a six-time champion, fought for nearly three hours to reach a ninth final in a thrilling 4- 6, 7-5, 7- 6 (6) win over fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka. The 17-time Grand Slam champion will face the top-ranked Novak Djokovic today.

Federer was the favorite, but he met strong resistance from the Australian Open champion.

Wawrinka had Federer under constant pressure from the baseline and kept his composure until he served for the match at 5-4 in the deciding set. He dropped serve following three clumsy approaches to the net on match points.

Federer saved the fourth one with a service winner in the tiebreak then converted his first chance to seal the semifinal with a drop shot volley that Wawrinka could not return.

“I got lucky tonight. Stan played better from the baseline and that usually does the job on this court,” Federer said. “But I kept fighting. It’s tough but I’m thrilled to be in another final in London.

“Novak is playing great tennis. It usually brings the best out of me.”

A two-time defending champion at the O2 Arena, Djokovic beat two-time Memphis winner Kei Nishikori 6-1, 3- 6, 6- 0 to advance to a third straight final.

DURHAM, N.C. — Freshman Justise Winslow scored 18 points and No. 4 Duke beat Fairfield 109-59 on Saturday night in its second game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Preseason All-American Jahlil Okafor and Quinn Cook each scored 17 for the Blue Devils (2-0).

“One of our main things is sharing the ball,” Okafor said. “Everybody’s eating right now.”

Duke shot 64.5 percent, hitting better than 60 percent for the second straight game, and used a 30-10 run that bridged the halves to keep pulling away.

Marcus Gilbert had 15 points for Fairfield (1-1).

The competition gets much tougher next time: No. 18 Michigan State awaits Tuesday night in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.

MEN’S TOP 25

(24) Michigan 92, Hillsdale 68 at Ann Arbor, Mich.: Caris LeVert had 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead the Wolverines (1-0) past the Division II Chargers (0-1).

The Wolverines raised their 2014 Big Ten championship banner before the game, then fell behind 15- 6, but the Chargers couldn’t hold them off for long. Michigan scored 10 straight points to take its first lead and led 50-33 at halftime.

Michigan has won Big Ten titles in two of the last three seasons and went to the Final Four in between, but the Wolverines have to replace Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary, all of whom left early for the NBA. Freshmen Mark Donnal and Kameron Chatman started. LeVert, Derrick Walton and Chatman all played at least 30 minutes.

SEC

LSU 93, Gardner-Webb 82 at Baton Rouge, La.: Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin each scored 21 points as the Tigers beat the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the season opener for both teams.

Mickey, who also had six rebounds and a careerhigh six assists, scored 12 points in a row for the Tigers in the second half when they built a 72-58 advantage. Martin had a double- double with career-highs in points (21) and rebounds (11).

Guards Josh Gray and Keith Hornsby had 18 and 17 points, respectively, in their first games for LSU.

Facing a one-point deficit, the Tigers came out quickly to start the second half. A 3-pointer and two foul shots by Martin put LSU in front 47-43. Hornsby then scored nine of the next 11 points as the Tigers grabbed a 58-49 lead with 15:20 to play.

Jerome Hill was the leading scorer for the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 25 points.

AAC

Oral Roberts 77, Tulsa 68 at Tulsa, Okla.: Obi Emegano scored 18 secondhalf points and Oral Roberts used a 13-1 run to pull away, giving Tulsa head coach Frank Haith a loss in his Golden Hurricanes debut.

James Woodard led Tulsa with 17 points, Rashad Smith scored 13 and grabbed nine rebounds, and Marquel Curtis scored 12.

Trailing 29-25 at halftime, Tulsa used a 9- 4 run to lead 34-33 after D’Andre Wright sank two free throws. But Emegano got the hot hand and Oral Roberts regained the lead. Then Bobby Word hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Golden Eagles pulled ahead 60-44.

MID-SOUTH MEN

CBU 72, Harding 61 at Searcy, Ark.: The Bucs shot 64 percent in the second half as they won their opener.

night in their first game of the season.

The Bisons (1-1) opened the second half with a 5-0 burst to take a 35-31 lead. After trading baskets, the Bucs went on a 21-3 run capped by a Drew Hildreth (Bolton) dunk that gave the Bucs a 56-40 lead with 7:23 remaining. The Bucs never allowed Harding closer than nine points again.

Trey Casey led the Bucs with 20 points, and Hildreth scored 14 of his 18 in the second half.

Washington University (St. Louis) 85, Rhodes 71 at Mallory-Hyde Gymnasium: Matt Palucki led all scorers with 20 points as the Bears won the season opener for both teams.

Rhodes was led in offense by Geoff Livsey, who finished with 15 points. Brennan Sullivan added 11 points and Luke Collins had 10. Drew Miller, Tate Sledge and Ryan Van Hoeck (St. Benedict) each added eight points.

MID-SOUTH WOMEN

CBU 80, Lane 57 at Canale Arena: Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Bucs (1-1).

Breanna Ridgell (White Station) led the Lady Bucs with 21 points, and Emily Reeves scored 16 with four rebounds. Courtney Banks (White Station) had 14 points, five assists and two steals, and Madison Luckett (St. Benedict) added 10 points. Taylor Pugh (Briarcrest Christian) had a game-high 16 rebounds and six assists to go with four points.

Rhodes 66, Rust College 57 at Conway, Ark.: Symone Daniels (St. Benedict) had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lynx in their season opener.

Bailey Kramer (Briarcrest) added 13 points for the Lynx, with Sarah Johnson adding eight points and nine assists.

DEVELOPMENTS

Florida forward hurt: Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith has a hairline fracture in his left, non-shooting hand.

Finney- Smith’s status for Monday’s game against Miami is uncertain. Finney-Smith led the seventh-ranked Gators (10) with 15 points in their 68-45 victory against William & Mary on Friday.

Summitt wins debut: Tyler Summitt won his debut as women’s coach of Louisiana Tech when the Lady Techsters rallied to beat Stephen F. Austin 76- 69 on Saturday night at Nacogdoches, Texas.

Trailing 62-56 with 5:20 left, the Lady Techsters closed with a 20-7 run to give the 24-year-old coach the victory. He’s now only 1,097 behind his mom, Hall of Famer Pat Summitt.