Wednesday, December 19, 2007
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No. 3 Kansas 71, Georgia Tech 66
ATLANTA — Russell Robinson, more accustomed to setting up other scorers, took his turn on the Kansas high-scorer carousel against Georgia Tech. Robinson scored 17 points, becoming the Jayhawks’ seventh different leading scorer in 11 games, and No. 3 Kansas survived a last-minute scare to remain unbeaten. After Georgia Tech cut the Kansas lead to one point with 9 seconds left, Sherron Collins made two free throws and then had a steal and layup to clinch the victory. One game after setting a career high with 11 assists in a win over Ohio on Saturday, Robinson set his season high for points. Collins, Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush all had 11 points for Kansas. The Jayhawks (11-0) didn’t come close to their average of 85 points per game. Georgia Tech, playing only its second home game of the season, staged a strong rally after trailing by 13 points. A 3-pointer by Lewis Clinch, who led Georgia Tech (4-5) with 22 points, cut the Kansas lead to 63-55 with 3:20 left. Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt called a timeout immediately after Clinch’s 3-pointer, leaving him with only one. After a basket by Alade Aminu cut the lead to 65-57 with 2:30 left, Hewitt then burned his last timeout. The comeback continued with a basket by Clinch. Matt Causey hit a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left and, after a missed free throw by Chalmers, added a basket with 32 seconds left to cut the Kansas lead to 67-64. Robinson missed two free throws with 30 seconds left, opening the door for the Yellow Jackets. With 9.2 seconds left and the lead still only three points, Chalmers fouled Anthony Morrow, who made both free throws, leaving the Kansas lead at 67-66. Clinch again sent Collins to the free throw line with 8.2 seconds left. He made two free throws for a 69-66 lead before ending Tech’s hopes with his steal and layup. Kansas was the highest-ranked team from outside the Atlantic Coast Conference to visit Georgia Tech since 1976 when Tech, then in the Metro Conference, lost to No. 3 Marquette. Morrow had 12 points.
No. 4 Texas 66, Oral Roberts 56
AUSTIN, Texas — D.J. Augustin scored 24 points and Texas survived its toughest home game this season. The Longhorns (11-0) needed Augustin’s dazzling drives and late free throw shooting to put the game away. He scored 10 of Texas’ final 17 points. Texas had won nine of its 10 games by 15 or more points and found itself in a tough battle down the stretch against the Golden Eagles (6-4). Connor Atchley added 16 points for the Longhorns, who play No. 9 Michigan State on Saturday in Auburn Hills, Mich. Adam Liberty scored 12 points and Marchello Vealy had 11 points and eight rebounds to lead Oral Roberts. Texas led 49-46 with just under nine minutes left when Augustin took the game over, blowing past defenders for baskets or drawing fouls for free throws. He was 6-of-20 from the field but made up for it with an 11-of-12 effort from the line and timely layups when Texas needed them.
WOMEN
No. 8 LSU 86, Illinois-Chicago 44
CANCUN, Mexico — Sylvia Fowles scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures as LSU routed Illinois-Chicago at the Cancun Classic. After a slow start, Fowles opened the second half with back-to-back three-point plays. The senior center added a couple of lay-ups as the Lady Tigers extended their lead to 59-26, then was able to rest on the bench the remainder of the game. LSU (8-2) won its fourth straight.
No. 14 Duke 95, Utah Valley 61
DURHAM, N.C. — Abby Waner scored 19 points and tied an Atlantic Coast Conference record with 10 steals in Duke’s rout of Utah Valley. Reserve Carrem Gay scored a season-high 20 points, Joy Cheek scored 13 of her 15 points during the decisive first half and Chante Black also had 15 points for the Blue Devils (8-3). Duke forced 39 turnovers, scored 49 points off those miscues and never trailed in cruising to its third straight victory. Waner led the way during Duke’s 22-4 run that opened the second half, scoring nine points and capping it with a 3-pointer from the deep left wing that made it 66-32 with about 13 minutes remaining. Waner, who finished three assists shy of the third triple-double in school history, became the 11th player in ACC history with 10 steals, a feat most recently achieved by Miami’s Maurita Reed against Wake Forest in February 2007.
Associated Press