MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Home court makes a big difference for 2nd-ranked Kansas
The Jayhawks' crowd ignited the team to a 81-57 win over Holy Cross.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- It was just one more reason for Kansas fans to love storied old Allen Fieldhouse.
Known as one of the most difficult places to play in the country, the arena where Wilt Chamberlain got his start helped make the difference Tuesday night when No. 2 Kansas beat Holy Cross 81-57 in the Preseason NIT.
The Crusaders were putting up a good fight, just as they had done last March when they threw a scare into the top-seeded Jayhawks in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
But then Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich triggered a 24-4 run at the end of the half and the sellout crowd of more than 16,000 found its voice.
"It is the loudest crowd I have ever heard," Holy Cross' Tim Szatko said. "When the noise got real loud, we just gave in. The last 11 minutes of the first half was the difference in the game."
Collison had 20 points and eight rebounds as Kansas coach Roy Williams raised his record in the Preseason NIT to 13-0. The Jayhawks will host North Carolina-Greensboro in the second round Friday night, with the winner advancing to the semifinals in New York on Nov. 27.
Keith Langford finished with 15 points, while Hinrich, a 6-3 guard and preseason All-American, and Wayne Simien each had 13.
Szatko had 14 points for Holy Cross and Brian Wilson added 12
No. 8 Florida 76, Louisiana Tech 55
Freshman Matt Walsh had 26 points, five assists, three rebounds and four steals to lead the Gators, who improved to 7-0 in openers under coach Billy Donovan.
Sophomore David Lee had 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots, while senior Justin Hamilton finished with 21 points.
The visiting Bulldogs, who started five seniors, kept it close for about 15 minutes, then Lee, Walsh and Hamilton combined for an 11-2 run to give the Gators a 40-26 halftime lead.
Antonio Meeking led the Bulldogs with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
UNC-Greensboro 84, Wagner 65
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- James May had 21 points and nine rebounds to lead UNC-Greensboro.
May also had one assist and was 7-for-10 on free throws as the Spartans shot 75 percent from the line.
Ronnie Taylor added 16 points, including going 2-for-2 from 3-point range, and four assists, for the Spartans, while Ray Bristow had 15 points.
Jermaine Hall led Wagner with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Courtney Pritchard added 17 points and three assists.
Colorado St. 77, Cleveland St. 63
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Brian Greene scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Colorado State to a 77-63 victory over Cleveland State on Tuesday night and the championship of the BCA Invitational.
Greene, who was 11-for-20 from the field, had five rebounds and four assists. He finished the tournament with 63 points and 14 rebounds and was selected MVP.
Andy Birley added 18 points, including six to start the second half, for Colorado State (3-0).
Florida Atlantic 93, IPFW 86, 2 OT
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Earnest Crumbley scored six of his 24 points in the second overtime and Jeff Cowans added 20 points as Florida Atlantic outlasted Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne 93-86 in the BCA Invitational on Tuesday night.
Cowans, who tied the game with a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime, gave Florida Atlantic (2-1) an 88-86 lead with 43 seconds left in the second overtime. IPFW (0-3) missed its last three shots while Crumbley went 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
Two free throws by Cowans with seven seconds left in regulation put Florida Atlantic ahead 68-68. Terry Collins, who led IPFW with 21 points, split a double-team and beat the buzzer with a tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.