Battle Of Unbeatens Tips Syracuse’s Way

Top 25

J.B. Reafsnyder scored eight of his 10 points down the stretch Wednesday night to lift No. 13 Syracuse to a 75-64 victory over 12th-ranked Illinois (9-1) in a battle of unbeatens in the opening round of the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.

With the Orangemen (10-0) ahead 47-45 with 11:22 left, Reafsnyder scored six of his team’s seven points to stretch the lead, which eventually reached 13 points.

Marius Janulis then followed with 11 of his team-high 18 points to help keep Illinois at bay. Syracuse’s John Wallace had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

(2) Kentucky 90, Rider 65

Sophomore forward Antoine Walker had a career-high 27 points and Tony Delk added 24 as the Wildcats used their size, speed and depth to pull out a win over the Broncs in the opening round of the ECAC Holiday Festival at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The Wildcats (8-1) won their seventh straight and weren’t challenged the final 30 minutes. They will play Iona, 70-57 winners over St. John’s, in Friday night’s championship game.

(7) Connecticut 77, Charleston 60

At North Charleston, S.C., the Huskies, without much help from star Ray Allen, put together a 10-0 run to start the second half and put away the Cougars (2-2).

Allen, who grew up 90 miles north of Charleston in Sumter, S.C., still had 22 points, but only five after halftime when the Huskies (9-1) broke away from a 39-35 lead.

Kirk King has a pair of slams during the decisive run and Allen’s follow-up layin with 16:23 to go put Connecticut ahead 49-35.

(15) Utah 108, Cal St.-Fullerton 58

At Salt Lake City, Brandon Jessie scored 20 points and Keith Van Horn added 19 to lead the Utes (8-2) to a win past the Titans (1-6).

The 108 point total was Utah’s highest output since a 109-75 victory over Iona in 1988, the year before Rick Majerus became the Utes’ head coach.

Thirteen players scored for Utah and five reached double figures. Andre Miller and Ben Melmeth each had 11 points off the bench and Michael Doleac had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Kansas loses exhibitions

At Strasbourg, France, No. 4 Kansas, hurt by the 3-point shooting of its opponents and unaware of rule changes for the tournament, lost two shortened exhibition games to French teams in the Buckler Challenge.

The Jayhawks lost 45-38 to PauOrthez and 50-48 to Strasbourg in 20-minute games.

Kansas plays today in a regulation 40-minute game for fifth place in the six-team event. No U.S. college team has won a game in the four years of the tournament.