COLLEGE HOOPS Ohio, Big Ten games

November 29, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Illinois 69, Kent State 63 (OT)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Mike Tisdale hit two free throws to force overtime then scored the first six points of the extra period as Illinois came back to beat Kent State at the South Padre Island Invitational. Tisdale finished with 20 points for Illinois (5-0), which fell behind in the second half but closed regulation with an 11-6 run and tied the score at 60. Mike Davis added 17 for Illinois, including the final three free throws in OT. Al Fisher led Kent State (3-1) with 18 points, and Chris Singletary added 15. Illinois outrebounded Kent State 40-30, led by Davis’ 13.

Dayton 60, Auburn 59 OT

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Marcus Johnson scored eight of his team-high 16 points in overtime as Dayton beat Auburn in the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Johnson, a 6-foot-3 guard, scored four points at the start of the overtime period for a 52-49 Dayton lead and the Flyers (5-0) never trailed again. After driving one-handers by Chris Wright and London Warren gave Dayton a 56-52 lead with 31 seconds to play, Johnson protected the advantage by making four straight free throws to clinch the victory. DeWayne Reed scored a game-high 22 points for Auburn (3-2), including four 3-point baskets in a contest marked by poor shooting on both sides. The teams combined to miss their first 29 3-point attempts and Dayton wound up 0-for-24 from 3-point range. Auburn was 7-for-31.

Wright had 10 points for Dayton while Barber and Tay Waller scored 10 points each for Auburn.

Rhode Island 77, Penn St. 72

PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Baron scored 20 points, including four crucial free throws in the last 12.6 seconds, as Rhode Island defeated Penn State in the Philly Classic tournament. Keith Cothran scored 18 points and Kahiem Seawright had16 for Rhode Island (5-1). Jamelle Cornley scored 23 points and Talor Battle had 15 for the Nittany Lions (5-1). Rhode Island took a 72-67 lead on a free throw by Delroy James with 19.8 seconds to go, but Cornley made a layup for Penn State seven seconds later. Baron then made two free throws with 12.6 seconds remaining, and after Stanley Pringle missed a 23-footer, Baron ended the game with two more foul shots. Baron’s shooting sparked Rhode Island to a 29-20 lead with 7:03 left in the first half. Penn State answered with an 11-2 run to tie the score 31-31, but a jumper by Cothran gave the Rams a 33-31 edge at the break.

No. 11 Oklahoma 87, No. 10 Purdue 82, OT

NEW YORK — Blake Griffin had 18 points, including the go-ahead free throws in overtime, and matched a career high with 21 rebounds to help Oklahoma rally in the championship of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Willie Warren added a career-high 22 points and Taylor Griffin had 19 for the Sooners (6-0), who are off to their best start since winning their first 10 games in 2003.

Associated Press