No. 12 Memphis tops No. 15 Alabama

Darius Washington had 23 points and six assists as No. 12 Memphis ran past No. 15 Alabama for an 87-76 win at Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the second round of the Preseason NIT.

The Tigers (2-0) kept Alabama off balance all night with an aggressive full-court press and a fastbreak that beat the Crimson Tide (1-1) down court much of the game.

Memphis advanced to the semifinals against UCLA on Wednesday in New York.

Alabama trailed 48-32 at halftime and by as many as 20 in the second half before cutting the lead to eight late in the game, thanks mostly to the shooting of reserve Justin Jonus.

Jonus lead the Tide with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.

(16) Syracuse 81, Texas Tech 46: At New York, Syracuse (3-0) had big runs in each half and the Orange ran away to a victory over the Red Raiders (2-1) in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoop Classic.

The defending champion Orange (3-0) will play Florida in the championship game tonight at Madison Square Garden.

(18) UCLA 54, Temple 47: At Los Angeles, Arron Afflalo scored 18 points and the Bruins (2-0) squelched a second-half surge by the Owls (1-1) for a victory in a second-round Preseason NIT game.

Florida 77, (19) Wake Forest 72: At New York, sophomore Taurean Green almost doubled his career high with 23 points and the Gators (3-0) beat the Demon Deacons (2-1) in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoop Classic.

Women

(9) Connecticut 60, Boston College 46: At Storrs, Conn., Charde Houston and Ann Strother scored 11 points apiece to lead the Huskies (3-0) over the Eagles (2-1) in the semifinals of the preseason Women’s NIT.