No. 2 UConn rolls to easy victory in opener, 81-55

No. 5 Pittsburgh also had an easy time with Fairleigh Dickinson, 86-63.

Associated Press

STORRS, Conn. — Hasheem Thabeet had 23 points and 17 rebounds to lead No. 2 Connecticut to a season-opening 81-55 win over Western Carolina on Friday night.

The 7-foot-3 junior, who towered at least 7 inches over any defender for the Catamounts, also blocked five shots. He was 7-of-11 from the field, with most of his attempts from inside 5 feet.

Brandon Giles led Western Carolina with 16 points.

No. 5 Pittsburgh 86, Fairleigh Dickinson 63

PITTSBURGH — DeJuan Blair was overpowering inside with 17 points and 13 rebounds in slightly more than a half and Pittsburgh got a big lift from point guard Levance Fields’ return from a broken foot.

The 265-pound Blair scored eight points during a 16-2 surge in the first 6 1/2 minutes as Pittsburgh won its 12th consecutive season opener.

Fields’ status was uncertain until minutes before gametime. The senior missed a dozen games with a broken left foot last season, then fractured it again in August and needed a bone graft operation. He missed Pitt’s two exhibition games, but had no visible problems with his foot while getting 15 points and eight assists in 25 minutes.

No. 7 Texas 68, Stetson 38

AUSTIN, Texas — A.J. Abrams scored 21 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and Texas opened the season with a victory.

The Longhorns’ career leader in 3-pointers with 289, Abrams made four in the first half. The wispy 5-foot-11 guard had considered going to the NBA after last season, but opted to return to the Longhorns for his senior season. It was his 18th game with at least five 3-pointers.

Connor Atchley added 14 points for Texas, which returns four starters and nine of the top 10 scorers from the squad won a school-record 31 games last season.

No. 12 Oklahoma 83, American 54

NORMAN, Okla. — Blake Griffin had 24 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for Oklahoma.

The Sooners shot 53.8 percent from the field and have won 22 of their last 24 season openers, including six in a row.

The 6-foot-10 Griffin, who opted to return for his sophomore season with the Sooners instead of jumping into the NBA, wasn’t perfect — he went only 5-of-14 from the free-throw line — but he went 9-of-11 from the field, including his first career 3-pointer.

No. 16 Marquette 95, Houston Baptist 64

MILWAUKEE — Wesley Matthews scored a career-high 27 points and Marquette won easily in Buzz Williams’ debut as the Golden Eagles’ coach.

Jerel McNeal had 20 points and Lazar Hayward added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Marquette. The Golden Eagles never trailed and broke open the game with a 14-0 spurt to start the second half.

Gordon Watt led Houston Baptist with 17 points.

No. 21 Wake Forest 94, North Carolina Central 48

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Freshman Al-Farouq Aminu had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help Wake Forest cruise to the win in its season opener.

James Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Jeff Teague added 14 points for the Demon Deacons. They led by 31 points before the Eagles made their second field goal.

No. 23 Villanova 78, Albany 60

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Scottie Reynolds scored all 13 of his points in the second half to lead Villanova to the season-opening win.

Corey Stokes and Dante Cunningham added 13 apiece for the Wildcats, who won their first game of the season at The Pavilion for the 18th year in a row. Antonio Pena scored 12, Reggie Redding had 11 and Corey Fisher 10.