Even without Hansbrough, Tar Heels humble Kentucky

Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Deon Thompson scored a career-high 20 points to help top-ranked North Carolina beat Kentucky 77-58 on Tuesday night despite playing yet again without national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

Wayne Ellington had 16 points for the Tar Heels (2-0), who led by double figures barely 4 minutes into the game and never looked back in a matchup of the winningest programs in men’s college basketball.

Patrick Patterson had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (0-2), who finished with 28 turnovers in their second straight mistake-prone performance.

North Carolina didn’t really need Hansbrough, who has missed almost three weeks of practice with a shin injury.

No. 7 Texas 76, Tulane 51

AUSTIN, Texas — Damion James scored 16 points for Texas.

Dexter Pittman, a 6-foot-10, 300-pound junior forward, muscled over the Green Wave for 10 points and six rebounds in his second career start for the Longhorns (2-0), who had five players score in double figures. A.J. Abrams, who had 21 points in the season-opener, had 15 against Tulane, hitting three 3-pointers.

Kevin Sims scored 11 points to lead Tulane (1-1).

No. 11 Purdue 78, Loyola 46

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — E’Twaun Moore scored 14 points, and Purdue advanced to the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals.

Robbie Hummel scored 13 points and Marcus Green had 12 points and matched his career-high with 10 rebounds for the Boilermakers (3-0).

No. 14 Tennessee 91, Tenn.-Martin 64

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Reserve forward Brian Williams scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Tennessee beat Tennessee-Martin. It was the Volunteers’ 34th consecutive home victory.