***** Top-25 College Basketball Game Capsules ***** (Friday, November 26th)
Final Score: (1) Wake Forest 63, (18) Arizona 60
New York, NY (Betting Express) - Justin Gray scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half to lead top-ranked Wake Forest to the Preseason NIT title with a 63-60 win over 18th-ranked Arizona at Madison Square Garden. Taron Downy added 11 points for the Demon Deacons (5-0), who are 3-0 since being voted the No. 1 team in the nation for the first time in school history on Monday. Eric Williams added 10 points as Wake overcame an 11-point deficit early in the second half to rally for its first title in this tournament. Hassan Adams scored 19 points for the Wildcats (3-2), who have dropped two of three after winning their first two of the season. Salim Stoudamire tallied 16 for Arizona, which suffered its first loss in 16 games in the Preseason NIT.
Final Score: (3) Georgia Tech 79, Arkansas-Little Rock 54
Atlanta, GA (Betting Express) - B.J. Elder scored 23 points, Isma'il Muhammad added 13 and No. 3 Georgia Tech rolled to a 79-54 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Will Bynum chipped in 11 points and Jarrett Jack collected 10 with nine rebounds and nine assists for the Yellow Jackets (3-0), who were coming off a nail-biting 60-59 victory over Illinois Chicago on Monday. Brandon Freeman scored 18 points to lead the Trojans (1-2), who have dropped two straight against top-10 opponents after a 25-point loss to sixth-ranked Oklahoma State on Tuesday. Zack Wright added 13 points in the loss.
Final Score: (8) Kentucky 77, Georgia State 59
Lexington, KY (Betting Express) - Chuck Hayes and Kelenna Azubuike each finished with 16 points and nine rebounds to lead eighth-ranked Kentucky to a 77-59 win over Georgia State at Rupp Arena. Randolph Morris scored 14 points and pulled down nine boards for the Wildcats (3-0), who improved to 33-1 all-time at home in November. Rajon Rondo contributed 12 points. Marcus Brown made 4-of-5 three-pointers to post a team-high 16 points for the Panthers (1-2), who have lost two of three to open the season. Kevin Thomas chipped in with 12 points.
Final Score: (13) Maryland 84, (25) Memphis 61
Springfield, MA (Betting Express) - Nik Caner-Medley netted a team-high 17 points to lead No. 13 Maryland over 25th-ranked Memphis, 84-61, in the 26th annual Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. John Gilchrist and Chris McCray each added 16 points for the Terrapins (3-0), who have started the season with three straight wins, all by at least 23 points. Rodney Carney scored 23 points for the Tigers (4-2), who have dropped two of three after starting the season with three consecutive victories.
Final Score: (17) North Carolina State 99, Campbell 44
Raleigh, NC (Betting Express) - Cameron Bennerman made 6-of-8 three-pointers for a game-high 20 points to lead No. 17 North Carolina State to a 99-44 rout of Campbell at the RBC Center. Julius Hodge collected 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds for the Wolfpack (4-0), who were coming off a victorious run in the BCA Invitational. Levi Watkins and Jordan Collins added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Diago Aguiar led the way with 16 points for the Fighting Camels (1-2), who fell to 1-24 all-time versus ACC opponents -- the only win coming against N.C. State back in 1993. Comerlee Poole had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Final Score: (19) Alabama 78, Minnesota 72
Anchorage, AK (Betting Express) - Earnest Shelton poured in 29 points as 19th- ranked Alabama held off Minnesota for a 78-72 victory in the first semifinal of the Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena. Kennedy Winston added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Crimson Tide (4-0), who now advance to face No. 22 Washington. Ronald Steele chipped in 14 points in the win. Dan Coleman tallied 16 points for the previously unbeaten Golden Gophers (2-1), who have never beaten Alabama in four all-time meetings. Aaron Robinson pitched in with 14 while Jeff Hagen collected 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a losing cause.
Final Score: (21) Notre Dame 54, Charleston Southern 38
South Bend, IN (Betting Express) - Chris Quinn scored a team-high 17 points to lead 21st-ranked Notre Dame to a 54-38 win over Charleston Southern at the Joyce Center. Chris Thomas contributed 15 points, six assists and four steals for the Irish (3-0), who made just 38 percent of their shots from the field. Kurtis Rice finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Buccaneers (1-2), who have lost two of three to open the season.
Final Score: (22) Washington 96, Oklahoma 91
Anchorage, AK (Betting Express) - Nate Robinson scored 19 points and handed out eight assists to lead No. 22 Washington over Oklahoma, 96-91, in the semifinal round of the Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena. Jamaal Williams added 18 points and six rebounds for the Huskies (3-0), who will face Alabama in the finals on Saturday. Alabama defeated Minnesota earlier on Friday. Kevin Bookout netted 22 points for the Sooners (2-1), who suffered their first loss of the season.
