UConn set for ultimate Jam session

Miami's DeQuan Jones (right) arrives too late to prevent Hashim Thabeet from scoring 2 of his 19 points for UConn. (Brennan Linsley/Associated Press)

Hasheem Thabeet and the second-ranked Connecticut Huskies overpowered Miami in the Paradise Jam semifinals.

The 7-foot-3-inch Thabeet had 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting and added 14 rebounds in 32 minutes in Connecticut's 76-63 victory over No. 17 Miami last night in the US Virgin Islands.

"It's not about me hitting the first shot or the last shot," Thabeet said. "I give credit to my teammates and my coaches for executing the plays."

A.J. Price added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (4-0), who will face No. 25 Wisconsin tonight in the final of the eight-team tournament. Miami (2-1) will play San Diego in the third-place game.

"When the big fellow plays like that, we can contend with any team in the country," Price said.

Jack McClinton had 27 points for the Hurricanes, and Dwayne Collins added 16 points and 14 rebounds. McClinton was 5 for 8 from 3-point range.

The Huskies shot 47.5 percent, while holding the Canes to 35.3 percent, and had a 48-30 advantage in points in the paint.

Trevon Hughes's 22 points led Wisconsin (4-0) past San Diego, 64-49.

Penn St. 70, UNH 50 - Talor Battle scored 24 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the host Nittany Lions (4-0), who held the Wildcats (1-2) to 32 percent shooting. New Hampshire (1-2) was led by Tyrece Gibbs, who scored 14 points.

Louisville 81, S. Alabama 54 - Freshman Samardo Samuels was dominant for the second straight night, scoring 24 points to lead the third-ranked Cardinals (2-0) past the Jaguars (3-1) in the final of the Billy Minardi Classic at Louisville.

Duke 78, Montana 58 - Nolan Smith scored 12 of his 14 points during the decisive first-half run that led the 10th-ranked Blue Devils (6-0) past the visiting Grizzlies (2-2).

Xavier 63, Memphis 58 - Terrell Holloway made 10 free throws without a miss and finished with 13 points to help the Musketeers (5-0) beat the 13th-ranked Tigers (4-1) in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship game in San Juan.

Arizona St. 61, Pepperdine 40 - James Harden scored 33 points and had 12 rebounds as the 15th-ranked Sun Devils (3-0) beat the visiting Waves (1-4).

Missouri 83, Southern Cal 72 - DeMarre Carroll's 29 points helped the Tigers (4-1) pull away for a victory over the 19th-ranked Trojans (3-2).

Women's basketball

N. Carolina 80, Oklahoma 79 - Jessica Breland scored a career-high 31 points - including two key baskets in the final two minutes - and the fourth-ranked Tar Heels (5-0) held off the second-ranked Sooners in Norman, Okla., to win the Women's Preseason NIT.

Oklahoma (3-1) had a chance to win on the final possession, but Danielle Robinson's 6-footer missed as time expired.

Stanford 81, Rutgers 47 - Jayne Appel had 19 points and 14 rebounds to help the host eighth-ranked Cardinal (3-1) rout the third-ranked Scarlet Knights (2-2).

Marist 76, Harvard 63 - Julianne Viani scored 12 of her 19 points during a 16-0 run at the start of the second half as the Red Foxes (3-2) pulled away in Harvard's home opener.

Sophomore Emma Markley led the Crimson (2-2) with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Maine 54, UMass 45 - Sophomore Cerie Mosgrove scored a career-high 19 points but the Minutewomen (2-2) squandered an early 11-point lead and fell to the Black Bears (1-2) in Augusta, Maine. Kristin Baker (16 points, 6 assists) led Maine.

Binghamton 68, Bryant 61 - Darryll Peterson came off the bench to score 17 points and grab eight rebounds, lifting the host Bearcats (2-2) past the Bulldogs (1-2).

Football

S. Florida 17, UConn 13 - Jamar Taylor ran 25 yards for a touchdown to snap a fourth-quarter tie, helping the host Bulls beat the Huskies and end a three-game losing streak.

Benjamin Williams scored on a 3-yard run for USF (7-4, 2-4 Big East), which held UConn's Donald Brown - the nation's leading rusher - to 96 yards on 28 carries and stopped a potential go-ahead drive in the closing minutes by forcing a fumble by quarterback Tyler Lorenzen.

UConn (7-4, 3-3) tied the game at 10 late in third quarter when Lorenzen threw a 43-yard TD pass to Ellis Gaulden.