Duke gets past Memphis

Shelden Williams matched his career high with 30 points, including the game-winning tip-in with 32 seconds left, to give No. 1 Duke a 70-67 victory over No. 11 Memphis on Friday night in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at New York.

The Blue Devils (5-0) didn’t wrap up their third title in the tournament at Madison Square Garden right after Williams’ eighth rebound of the game.

Duke’s Lee Melchionni was fouled after grabbing the rebound of a miss by Memphis’ Darius Washington Jr., but he missed two free throws with 11 seconds left. Sean Dockery of the Blue Devils got the rebound of the second miss, but he missed the first of his two free throws. He made the second for a 70-67 lead, then Memphis freshman Shawne Williams hit the rim with a 3-point attempt at the buzzer and Duke had the title to go with the ones in 1985 and 2000.

J.J. Redick had 15 points – all in the first half for Duke – and freshman Josh McRoberts added 12.

The Duke starters scored all the points for the Blue Devils, who were without starting guard DeMarcus Nelson, who is out indefinitely after suffering a hairline fracture of his right ankle in the 78-68 semifinal win over Drexel.

Williams had 15 points for the Tigers (3-1). Rodney Carney added 12 and Washington had 11.

(7) Kentucky 81, Liberty 51: At Lexington, Ky., sophomore forward Bobby Perry, making his second career start, scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Wildcats (4-1) past the Flames (1-2).

(10) Boston College 87, Drake 84: At Las Vegas, Jared Dudley scored a game-high 23 points, including 11 of 12 from the free-throw line to lead the Eagles (4-0) past the Bulldogs (2-1) in the third round of the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational.

(14) Florida 74, Florida St. 66: At Gainesville, Fla., Taurean Green scored 15 points, all from the free-throw line, and the Gators (5-0) overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Seminoles (2-1).

(15) Illinois 55, Wichita State 54: At South Padre Island, Texas, Warren Carter’s layup as time expired gave the Illini (4-0) a win over the Shockers (3-1) in the semifinals of the South Padre Island Invitational.

(17) Syracuse 96, Siena 77: At Syracuse, N.Y., Gerry McNamara broke out of his shooting slump, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 22 points, and the Orange (4-2) beat the Saints (0-2) to snap a two-game losing streak.

(24) Wake Forest 91, Appalachian State 78: At Winston-Salem, N.C., Trent Strickland scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Demon Deacons (5-1) past the Mountaineers (2-1).