Gators take bite out of Buckeyes
Al Horford's ankle is just fine, and so are the defending national champions.
Horford had 11 points and 11 rebounds in his return from a sprained ankle, keyed Florida's second-half run, and helped the fifth-ranked Gators dismantle No. 3 Ohio State, 86-60, yesterday in Gainesville, Fla.
Horford, cleared to play after a morning shootaround, dominated his matchup with talented 7-foot freshman Greg Oden.
Oden was in foul trouble much of the game and finished with 7 points and six rebounds.
Gators coach Billy Donovan had said Horford would not play against the Buckeyes, but the 6-10 junior practiced Friday without any setbacks and was inserted into the game early.
He was much more effective late, though.
Ohio State (10-2) used a 9-0 run to start the second half and erase a 38-29 deficit. But then Horford took over.
He had two jumpers, two dunks, a layup, a free throw, and several rebounds over the next few minutes to help the Gators (11-2) put the game away.
UCLA 92, Michigan 55 -- Josh Shipp scored 18 points, Arron Afflalo added 17, and the No. 1 Bruins overpowered the Wolverines at Los Angeles.
Darren Collison added 15 points and eight assists and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 13 points for the Bruins (11-0), who were in command from the opening tip.
The Bruins are off to their best start since the 1993-94 season, when they won their first 14 games.
Wisconsin 83, Pacific 47 -- Kammron Taylor scored 17 points as the No. 4 Badgers had four starters in double figures in a rout of the Tigers in Madison, Wis.
Alando Tucker added 15 points for Wisconsin, while Brian Butch and Joe Krabbenhoft had 11 each.
Pittsburgh 84, Dayton 54 -- Sam Young scored 18 points and the No. 7 Panthers (11-2) jumped to big early leads and roughed up the visiting Flyers.
Young, whose previous career high was 16 points, had 7 points during a 12-2 first-half run that increased Pitt's lead from 27-20 to 39-22 just before intermission. The Panthers led by 20 early in the second half.
USC 60, Wichita St. 56 -- Nick Young scored 26 points and the Trojans beat the No. 8 Shockers in the third-place game of the Las Vegas Classic. It was Wichita State's second loss in as many nights after opening the season 9-0.
Young, who went 11 for 14 from the field, made a jumper as the shot clock ran out with 1:03 to play, and Lodrick Stewart then stole the ball and made one free throw to put the Trojans (10-3) ahead, 58-53.
Alabama 99, Coppin St. 49 -- Alonzo Gee was 12 for 14 from the field for a career-high 26 points and had nine rebounds to lead the No. 10 Crimson Tide at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Crimson Tide (11-1) used an 11-0 run to take a 16-8 lead in the game's opening eight minutes. Coppin State (2-9) scored 5 straight points to get within 3 points, but Alabama broke the game open with a 33-12 run and led 55-30 at halftime.
Memphis 86, Middle Tenn. 46 -- Doneal Mack scored 18 points to lead the 18th-ranked Tigers to victory at Memphis.
Jeremy Hunt added 16 points for Memphis (9-3), while Chris Douglas-Roberts went 5 for 6 from the field and had 13 points. Willie Kemp and Robert Dozier each had 11 points.
LSU 68, Louisiana Tech 52 -- Glen Davis made a career-high 15 free throws, had 23 points, and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds to lead the No. 12 Tigers at Baton Rouge, La.
LSU (7-3) extended its homecourt winning streak against Louisiana schools to 64 games.
Oregon 84, Mercer 64 -- Aaron Brooks scored 27 points and Bryce Taylor added 21 as the No. 21 Ducks rolled over the visiting Bears.
Maarty Leunen had 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, and Adam Zahn added career highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds for the shorthanded Ducks (11-0), who are off to their best start in 60 years. Oregon was 12-0 in 1946-47.
Penn State 75, Maine 42 -- Geary Claxton scored 21 points and the Nittany Lions' defense shut down the visiting Black Bears. Penn State (8-4), which led at the break, 35-19, has held three teams below 50 points this season.
Jon Sheets led the Black Bears (5-6) with 10 points.
Vermont 101, Quinnipiac 87 -- Joe Trapani (25 points) and Mike Trimboli combined for 49 points to lead the Catamounts (7-5) at Hamden, Conn.
Chris Holm added 13 points and 11 rebounds for Vermont.
The game between 24th-ranked Air Force (11-1) and visiting Northern Colorado was postponed because of travel complications arising from a snowstorm.
Four Huskies scored in double figures to lead UConn to its first 9-0 start in three seasons.
FIU 73, Central Conn. 51 -- Coach Cindy Russo won her 600th career game as the Golden Panthers rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Blue Devils in Miami.
