Tuesday, December 31, 2002
The Crimson Tide was stopped by Utah, while Arizona lost Luke Walton to injury in a win over Boston University.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top-ranked Alabama lost a game and No. 4 Arizona lost its star -- again.
The Crimson Tide tumbled for the first time this season, missing a couple of shots in the final seconds and falling at Utah 51-49 Monday night.
Alabama (9-1) found itself in a defensive struggle against the Utes, and the game was tied at 19 at halftime.
Nick Jacobson scored 13 points, including two key free throws with 24.2 seconds left, to lead Utah. The Utes (8-3) got the 1,500th win in school history.
Alabama had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but Erwin Dudley missed a put-back in the lane. Utah's Richard Chaney grabbed the rebound as time expired.
Walton is injured
Arizona beat Boston University 85-71, but watched Luke Walton hop off the court after re-injuring his right ankle.
Walton, a pre-season All-American forward, stepped on teammate Jason Gardner's foot midway through the second half and sprained the ankle for the fourth time this season.
As the capacity crowd in Tucson fell silent, Walton pounded his fist on the court in a rare show of emotion.
No. 6 Notre Dame 76, Vanderbilt 63
Chris Thomas scored 19 points and Matt Carroll added 15 as Notre Dame won at home. At 11-1, the Irish are off to their best start since going 12-1 to open the 1978-79 season.
No. 7 Texas 58, Louisiana Tech 50
Texas coach Rick Barnes got his 300th career victory as the Longhorns won at home. Brandon Mouton scored 16 points for Texas (8-2).
No. 8 Mississippi St. 85, South Alabama 74
Timmy Bowers and Derrick Zimmerman each scored 21 points and Mississippi State won at South Alabama. Mario Austin had 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Bulldogs (9-1).
No. 10 Oklahoma 100, North Carolina-Asheville 64
Ebi Ere scored 19 points and freshman Kevin Bookout had 17 as Oklahoma romped at home. Hollis Price added 12 points for the Sooners (7-2).
No. 11 Illinois 63, Coppin St. 37
Brian Cook, the Big Ten's leading scorer, matched his season average with 20 points as No. 11 Illinois won at home.
No. 12 Florida 91, Florida A & amp;M 58
Matt Bonner made four 3s and scored 18 points to lead Florida over Florida A & amp;M. The Gators (11-2) have won 36 consecutive non-conference games at home.
East Carolina 73, No. 13 Marquette 70
Marquette lost for the second straight season at East Carolina, which took the lead on Derrick Wiley's two foul shots with 32 seconds left. Gabriel Mikulas had 22 points and 11 rebounds for East Carolina (9-2).
Toledo 81, No. 14 Michigan St. 76
Toledo blew a 13-point lead in the second half and then held on to win at Michigan State. Nick Moore scored 19 points and Keith Triplett added 17 for the Rockets (7-4).
No. 16 Missouri 65, Valparaiso 47
Rickey Paulding scored 22 points and Ricky Clemons added 18 as Missouri won at home. Arthur Johnson added 12 points and nine rebounds for Missouri (7-1).
No. 20 Kentucky 115, Tennessee State 87
Keith Bogans scored a season-high 26 points and Kentucky broke away at home. Josh Cooperwood led Tennessee State (2-7) with 32 points.
No. 21 LSU 69, New Orleans 57
Ronald Dupree had 18 points and 12 rebounds as LSU overcame a sluggish start at home. The Tigers (9-1) were held to their lowest halftime total of the season and trailed 27-23.
No. 23 Wake Forest 96, Bethune-Cookman 54
Chris Ellis scored 14 points and Vytas Danelius had 12 as Wake Forest won at home. Six players scored in double figures as the Demon Deacons (8-0) used a 16-0 run to overwhelm the Wildcats (1-6).