Kansas Avenges Loss To Indiana

Top 25

Freshman Paul Pierce wasn’t around the last time Kansas played Indiana. Still, he had heard all about it.

Sophomore Scot Pollard didn’t need to watch any video to remember.

Pierce scored 21 points and Pollard led an inspired inside game Saturday as No. 1 Kansas beat the Hoosiers 91-83 at Kansas City, Mo., a 27-point turnaround from last year’s whipping.

For a little motivation, Jayhawks coach Roy Williams played the tape of last season’s game on the team bus as Kansas traveled from nearby Lawrence, Kan., for the game.

“I was hungry,” said Pollard, who scored 14 points, had 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. “I remember they embarrassed us on the boards last year. I was embarrassed. I was mad. I didn’t want that to happen again. We watched the game on the bus. It made me mad.”

Indiana (4-4) stayed with Kansas in the second half until Pierce stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a dunk with 2:18 remaining to give Kansas (6-0) an 87-78 lead.

Indiana coach Bobby Knight maintained the vow of silence that he has kept since the Hoosiers opened the season in Alaska. All Indiana players were already on the bus when reporters were allowed into the locker room.

(5) Kentucky 96, Morehead St. 32

At Lexington, Ky., Antoine Walker scored 22 points and Tony Delk added 18 as the Wildcats cruised to their fourth straight victory in demolishing the Eagles.

Kentucky (5-1) dominated both ends of the court in recording the 10th-most lopsided victory in its history. It was the third-biggest loss in Morehead State history.

Morehead State (3-4) couldn’t handle Kentucky’s fullcourt pressing defense and couldn’t contend with the Wildcats’ superior size under the basket.

(6) Memphis 57, Tennessee 55

At Memphis, Tenn., Mingo Johnson scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and the Tigers escaped with a win over the Volunteers.

Memphis (5-0) overcame poor shooting (36 percent) and some tight defense by Tennessee (3-3) to remain undefeated.

Tennessee’ forward Damon Johnson took two shots in the final 5 seconds; the first was partially blocked by Chris Garner, the second missed as time ran out.

(9) Iowa 110, Texas Southern 67

At Iowa City, Iowa, Russ Millard scored 20 points, Jess Settles added 18 and Chris Kingsbury, making his first start of the year, had 15 to lead the Hawkeyes past the Tigers.

Andre Woolridge scored 14 points and J.R. Koch added 12 for Iowa (8-1), which won its sixth straight while snapping Texas Southern’s four-game winning streak.

The Hawkeyes bottled up Texas Southern (4-4) guards Kevin Granger and Randy Bolden. Each came into the game averaging 29 points, but Granger finished with 20 and Bolden 11. John Rhodes scored 12 points for the Tigers.

(10) UNC 96, Dartmouth 66

At Chapel Hill, N.C., Jeff McInnis scored a career-high 24 points and keyed the Tar Heels early surge as North Carolina rolled over the Big Green, ending the nation’s longest major college winning streak.

Dartmouth (6-1) came into the contest with 10 consecutive wins dating to last season and was off to its best start in 15 years, but North Carolina (7-1) jumped out to a 19-point lead 9 minutes in and cruised to the victory over the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League.

A nine-day exam layoff didn’t seem to bother the Tar Heels much, except at the foul line, where they were a miserable 4 for 12 in the first half and missed their first three attempts of the second period.

(12) Cincinnati 70, Temple 49

Danny Fortson scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, and Damon Flint hit consecutive 3-pointers to break open a close game as the Bearcats (6-0) beat the Owls (2-4) at Gund Arena in Cleveland.

Cincinnati, which had defeated its previous five opponents by an average of 34 points, led by just four with 6 minutes to play, then closed the game with a 21-4 run.

The game was the second half of a college basketball doubleheader. Dayton beat Cleveland State 68-60 in the first game.

(14) Missouri 73, Arkansas St. 63

At Jonesboro, Ark., Jason Sutherland’s 3-pointer started an 11-2 run late in the first half and the Tigers (6-1) went on to a win over the Sun Devils (1-4).

Sutherland scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half as the Tigers built a 40-28 halftime lead. He also had two free throws during the spurt.

(15) Miss. St. 72, S. Miss. 69 (OT)

At Hattiesburg, Miss., Marcus Bullard sparked a key run late in regulation and scored the game-winner in overtime as the Bulldogs (5-1) beat the Golden Eagles (3-2).

Bullard scored four of his 17 points in overtime, including a 15-footer with 43 seconds left to give Mississippi State the lead for good at 70-69. Darryl Wilson added two free throws with 19 seconds left.

The Bulldogs trailed 53-49 with 2:13 left in regulation before Bullard had his only two steals, an assist and scored two baskets in a 30-second span. It came in the middle of a 10-0 run.

(16) Illinois 81, Ill.-Chicago 73

At Champaign, Ill., Jerry Gee scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Illini survived several scares in their win over the Flames.

Gee’s aggressive play in the lane helped Illinois (7-0) overcome stale outside shooting and a quick UIC attack.

The Illini shook off several second-half rallies from the Flames, who led 70-69 with 3:23 to go when a free throw from Kiwane Garris tied the score.

Illinois stretched the lead to 76-70 with 1:49 to go on a free throw from Bryant Notree before Jason Strojinc hit a 3-pointer to bring the Flames (3-3) within 76-73. Garris then hit four free throws and nailed a thunderous dunk in the final minute to seal the win.

(19) Ga. Tech 88, (20) Louisville 77

At Atlanta, Matt Harpring scored 22 points and freshman Stephon Marbury hit a key 3-pointer to stall a Cardinals’ comeback in the Yellow Jackets’ win.

The Cardinals (6-3), who trailed by 21 points with 10 minutes remaining, cut the lead to 75-68 with 4:13 to play on a steal and dunk by DeJuan Wheat. Marbury’s 3-pointer with 3:41 to play put the Yellow Jackets (6-3) in control again.

Tech’s victory came in the nightcap of the Jeep-Eagle Classic.

Georgia 85, (17) Virginia Tech 72

In the opener in the Jeep-Eagle Classic at Atlanta, Katu Davis scored 18 points and Shandon Anderson added 16 as the Bulldogs never trailed in beating Virginia Tech, snapping the Hokies eight-game winning streak over two seasons.

The Bulldogs (6-1) extended their winning streak to three games

Carlos Strong scored seven of his 13 points in the first 2 minutes when the Bulldogs bolted to a 10-2 lead which Tech (3-1) was never able to erase.

(25) Syracuse 72, Charleston 61

At Syracuse, N.Y., John Wallace had 22 points and the Orangemen scored the first 11 points of the second half to pull away from the Cougars.

Charleston (2-1) toyed with dealing the Orangemen (8-0) just their third loss over the last 78 games against a non-conference opponent in the Carrier Dome as it led for most of the first half, and by as many as 12. Only Notre Dame, now a Big East member, has beaten Syracuse in that span on its homecourt.