Top-25 College Basketball Game Capsules

Syracuse, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Freshman Tyler Ennis was dominant once again for unbeaten Syracuse without scoring a point as the second-ranked Orange routed Eastern Michigan 70-48 from Carrier Dome. Ennis shot 0-for-4 from the floor but dished out a game-high nine assists with five rebounds and three steals as Syracuse (13-0) finished its non-conference slate without a loss. The Orange have won 51 straight home games against non-conference foes. Jerami Grant and Rakeem Christmas netted 15 points apiece while C.J. Fair added 13 for Syracuse. Glenn Bryant led all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting for Eastern Michigan (7-5), which has lost three in a row to the Orange after winning the first meeting between the two schools in 1996.

Final Score: (3) Ohio State 78, Purdue 69

West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – LaQuinton Ross had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes remained unbeaten with a 78-69 win over Purdue in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Shannon Scott and Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 18 and 14 points, respectively, for the Buckeyes (14-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who have won eight of their last 10 conference openers. Aaron Craft finished with just seven points, but had eight rebounds, 10 assists and four steals without a turnover. A.J. Hammons scored 18 points to go with 16 rebounds and five blocks, Ronnie Johnson tallied 16 points and Terone Johnson poured in 13 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists for the Boilermakers (10-4, 0-1), who lost at Mackey Arena for the first time this season.

Final Score: (5) Michigan State 79, Penn State 63

University Park, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Branden Dawson had 20 points and nine rebounds as the fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans used a big second half to beat the Penn State Nittany Lions, 79-63, on Tuesday. Keith Appling and Gary Harris added 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Spartans (12-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who outscored Penn State by a 39-16 margin in the second half. Brandon Taylor and D.J. Newbill tallied 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Nittany Lions (9-5, 0-1), who have lost two of three.

Final Score: (7) Duke 86, Elon 48

Greensboro, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – Andre Dawkins had 15 points, Rodney Hood scored 13 and seventh-ranked Duke completed its non-conference schedule with an 86-48 win over Elon at the Greensboro Coliseum. Freshman Jabari Parker posted 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Blue Devils (11-2), who will carry a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s ACC opener at Notre Dame. Quinn Cook had a solid all-around game with 11 points, five boards, four assists and three steals. Lucas Troutman and Ryley Beaumont both supplied 11 points for an overmatched Phoenix (7-7) squad.

Final Score: (11) Villanova 76, Butler 73 (OT)

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – JayVaughn Pinkston scored 22 points and No. 11 Villanova outlasted Butler in a 76-73 overtime thriller at Hinkle Fieldhouse, spoiling the Bulldogs’ first conference game in the Big East. Darrun Hilliard added 15 points and Josh Hart netted 10 to help the Wildcats (12-1, 1-0 Big East) bounce back from their lone loss of the season, Saturday’s 78-62 setback at second-ranked Syracuse. Butler (10-3, 0-1) gave Villanova all it could handle in its Big East debut, however, fighting back from a nine-point second-half deficit to force overtime on Kellen Dunham’s jumper with 21.5 seconds left in regulation. Dunham also had back-to-back buckets in the extra session to bring the Bulldogs within 74-73 with 15.2 seconds remaining, but missed an off-balance 3-point attempt late and Butler turned the ball over in the closing stages to have a five-game win streak halted. Dunham ended with 22 points, while Elijah Brown put up a career-best 19 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

Final Score: (13) Iowa State 99, Northern Illinois 63

Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) – Melvin Ejim and Naz Long each scored 17 points as No. 13 Iowa State routed Northern Illinois, 99-63, on Tuesday. DeAndre Kane nearly recorded a triple-double for Iowa State (12-0), as the Marshall transfer scored 16 points with 12 assists and eight rebounds. Georges Niang scored 14 points in the win, while Dustin Hogue and Monte Morris chipped in with 11 points apiece. Dontel Highsmith led all scorers with 19 points for Northern Illinois (5-6), which had a two-game winning streak snapped. Travon Baker finished with 12 points and was the only other player in double figures for the Huskies.

Final Score: (14) Louisville 90, UCF 65

Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Russ Smith poured in 24 points and dished out nine assists as No. 14 Louisville cruised past UCF, 90-65, in the AAC opener for both teams. Luke Hancock added 16 points and Montrezl Harrell finished with 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cardinals (12-2, 1-0 AAC), who bounced back from a 73-66 loss to No. 18 Kentucky on Sunday. Louisville forward Chane Behanan was dismissed from the team for “a violation of university policy” on Monday. He was averaging 7.6 points and 6.3 assists per game this season. Isaiah Sykes scored 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Knights, (8-4, 0-1), who had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Final Score: Houston 75, (17) Connecticut 71

Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Houston made its first American Athletic Conference game a memorable occasion, as TaShawn Thomas’ two free throws with 9.2 seconds left snapped a tie and helped the Cougars earn a 75-71 decision over 17th-ranked Connecticut at Hofheinz Pavilion. Thomas also blocked a layup attempt by Shabazz Napier in the closing stages, with Tione Womack pulling down the rebound for the Cougars and making both foul shots to seal the victory. Thomas finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Jherrod Stiggers contributed 17 points off the bench for Houston (9-5, 1-0 AAC). Danrad Knowles added 13 points in the win. Napier compiled 27 points and nine rebounds in the loss, the second in four outings for Connecticut (11-2, 0-1) following a 9-0 start. Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels posted 19 and 12 points, respectively, for the Huskies.

Final Score: (18) Memphis 88, South Florida 73

Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Geron Johnson scored 19 points with five steals as No. 18 Memphis took an 88-73 win over South Florida to open American Athletic Conference action. Joe Jackson scored 18 points with five rebounds and Michael Dixon gave 18 points and five assists for the Tigers (10-2, 1-0 AAC), who have won three straight. John Egbunu had a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls (9-5, 0-1), who have lost three of their last four. Victor Rudd gave 17 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

Final Score: (19) North Carolina 84, UNC-Wilmington 51

Chapel Hill, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – James Michael McAdoo had a game-high 23 points as the 19th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks, 84-51, at Smith Center. McAdoo also contributed 10 rebounds, while Marcus Paige tallied 15 points. Brice Johnson and Leslie McDonald both had 14 points off the bench as the Tar Heels (10-3) won their third straight and picked up their 2,100 win in program history. Cedrick Williams paced the Seahawks (6-9) with 18 points and nine rebounds. Chris Dixon had 12 points off the bench in UNC-Wilmington’s fourth straight loss.

Final Score: (22) Iowa 67, Nebraska 57

Iowa City, IA (SportsNetwork.com) – Roy Devyn Marble recorded 15 points and eight rebounds to help 23rd-ranked Iowa win its Big Ten opener with a 67-57 decision over Nebraska at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Aaron White added 13 points and seven rebounds in the Hawkeyes’ 18th consecutive victory at home, with Jarrod Uthoff contributing 11 points off the bench for Iowa (12-2, 1-0 Big Ten). Terran Petteway amassed 20 points and 12 rebounds in a losing cause for Nebraska (8-5, 0-1), while Walter Pitchford tallied 13 points and 12 boards.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball