Arizona Toppled By Duke

It was supposed to be a gradual improvement process for Duke. Someone evidently hit the fast-forward button.

The third-ranked Blue Devils sent a thunderclap message from out in the Pacific on Wednesday night when they defeated No. 1 Arizona 95-87 to win the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.

The Blue Devils tore into the defending national champions early, then held off a late Arizona comeback to improve to 5-0 this season and perhaps move into the top spot in the national polls. Arizona is 3-1.

Freshman guard William Avery led Duke with 21 points. Miles Simon scored 25 for Arizona.

(8) Kentucky 77, Missouri 55

Jamaal Magloire had 18 points, 17 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Wildcats (3-1) recovered from an embarrassing loss to top-ranked Arizona by beating the Tigers (2-2) in the Maui Invitational.

The victory in the third-place game came one night after the Wildcats fell 89-74 to Arizona in a much-ballyhooed rematch of last season’s national championship game.

(2) Kansas 90, Arizona State 88

The Jayhawks survived a major scare from the Sun Devils in overtime at the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in New York.

The Jayhawks (5-0) face Florida State for the title Friday night. The Seminoles defeated No. 11 Connecticut 67-60 in the opener.

(6) Purdue 92, UAB 64

Chad Austin and Brad Miller each scored 19 points to lead the Boilermakers in an effortless 92-64 victory over the Blazers in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage.

The Boilermakers (4-0) moved the ball inside at will against the Blazers (2-2), and used the 6-foot-11 Miller’s height advantage to control the boards, outrebounding UAB 45-32.

Florida St. 67, (11) UConn 60

LaMarr Greer missed seven of his first eight shots from the field, but his 3-pointer with 1:21 to play propelled the Seminoles (4-0) past the Huskies (4-1).

Greer, who finished with nine points, came into the game shooting just 33 percent from the field, and he struggled against the Huskies until his shot from the corner gave the Seminoles a 64-57 lead.

(12) Fresno St. 90, LSU 65

Rafer Alston and Daymond Forney scored 14 points each as the Bulldogs beat the Tigers.

The Bulldogs (3-0) had six players score in double figures. Willie Anderson led the Tigers (2-1) with 20 points.

Women’s Top 25

(2) Old Dominion 72, (25) Purdue 62

Aubrey Eblin made five 3-pointers and scored 24 points off the bench to lead the Lady Monarchs over the Boilermakers at Norfolk, Va.

Old Dominion (2-0) scored the first seven points in the second half to expand on a 31-25 halftime lead. Purdue is 2-1.

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