Jayhawks Win Their Third Preseason Nit
Men’s Top 25
Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz, Kansas’ preseason All-Americas, took over the game in the second half and led the second-ranked Jayhawks to a 73-58 victory over Florida State in the championship game of the Preseason NIT.
Each was held to two points in the first half as the Jayhawks (6-0) trailed the Seminoles (4-1) 28-20 at halftime.
It was the third Preseason NIT title for Kansas as it also won the 16-team tournament in 1989 and 1993, both times under coach Roy Williams.
(4) N. Carolina 95, Seton Hall 65
In Anchorage, Antawn Jamison scored 25 points and Vince Carter had 18 to lead the Tar Heels (5-0) past the Pirates (3-1) in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout.
(6) Purdue 82, Massachusetts 69
Chad Austin’s 20 points led the Boilermakers (5-0) past the Minutemen (1-2) in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout.
Butler 73, (18) Oklahoma 63
In Hilo, Hawaii, Jon Newhouser scored 21 points and Butler got its last 21 points from the free-throw line as the unranked Bulldogs (3-1) upset the Sooners (3-1) in the Big Island Invitational tournament.
(19) Louisville 58, Illinois 57
Nate Johnson’s basket with 2:19 remaining capped the Cardinals’ (2-0) rally from a 13-point third-quarter deficit, giving Louisville a victory over the Illini (4-1) in the Puerto Rico Shootout.
Hawaii 82, (21) Indiana 65
In Honolulu, the Rainbows used a late 22-7 run to pull a startling upset over the Hoosiers (1-2) in the opening game of the Tipoff Classic.
(22) Georgia 94, Texas 76
In Athens, Ga., freshman Jumaine Jones had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and the Bulldogs (5-1) capitalized on 22 turnovers to defeat the Longhorns (2-3) for the second time this season.
xxxx TODAY ON TV 10 a.m.: Men, Puerto Rico Shootout championship game: Louisville vs. Georgia Tech (FSN) 12:30 p.m.: Women, Tennessee vs. Stanford (FSN) 2:30 p.m.: Men, Fresno State vs. Arkansas (FSN) 5 p.m.: Men, Kentucky vs. Clemson (FSN) 9 p.m.: Men, Great Alaska Shootout championship: Purdue vs. North Carolina (ESPN)