Michigan St. fares better in second match in Hawaii

Michigan State’s second game in Hawaii was a lot better than its first.

Maurice Ager scored 23 points to lead the 12th-ranked Spartans to an 89-67 victory over Chaminade on Monday in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.

The win came just two days after the Spartans lost 84-62 at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. It also moved them into today’s semifinal against No. 8 Gonzaga.

The Silverswords, the Division II host of the tournament, stayed close for most of the first half and were ahead 32-31 with 4:27 left.

But two powerful dunks by freshman Marquise Gray seemed to energize the Spartans and started a 9-2 run to close the half that gave Michigan State a 40-34 lead.

The Spartans, coming off their fourth Final Four appearance in seven years, took command in the second half by using their size, strength and speed advantage.

(3) Connecticut 77, Arkansas 68: Sophomore forward Rudy Gay scored a career-high 28 points as the Huskies overcame turnover problems to hold off the Razorbacks in opening round action.

Connecticut will play No. 9 Arizona in today’s semifinal.

Gay had three highlight-reel baskets in bettering his previous best of 20 points last season against Georgetown. But the concern for the Huskies was taking care of the ball in the absence of point guard Marcus Williams, who was suspended until January for his part in the theft of laptops from a dorm room.

Connecticut, up by 19 at one point in the second half finished with 23 turnovers and that kept the Huskies from putting away Arkansas, which brought the game withing three points, 59-56, with 5:39 to play.

(9) Arizona 61, Kansas 49: Arizona had a terrible night shooting and blew a 16-point lead, yet the Wildcats still managed to beat the Jayhawks.

Mustafa Shakur and Kirk Walters each had 13 points for Arizona, which shot just 28.3 percent. Walters’ total was a career high.

Sasha Kaun had 12 points for Kansas (1-1), which had 27 turnovers and went 7:40 without a field goal in the second half after tying the game at 41.