Associated Press
Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. — Kaleb Tarczewski scored 11 points and No. 1 Arizona opened its Pac-12 season with a 60-25 rout of Washington State on Thursday night, shattering the McKale Center record for fewest points by a team.
The 25 points were the fewest for Washington State since the Cougars had that many at Idaho on Jan. 15, 1938.
The previous McKale record for fewest points was 37 by Northern Arizona in 1989.
The Wildcats (14-0, 1-0) took a 21-2 lead and were up 28-7 at halftime.
The Cougars (7-6, 0-1) shot 9 for 45 from the field and they needed to make a series of shots late to reach that.
Washington State was without leading scorer DaVonte Lacy, who underwent an emergency appendectomy on Saturday. Junior Longrus led the Cougars with six points.
Tarczewski, back after missing two games with a sprained ankle, was the only Arizona player to score in double figures.
No. 4 WISCONSIN 76, NORTHWESTERN 49
EVANSTON, Ill. — Freshman reserve Nigel Hayes had a career-high 19 points and Wisconsin remained unbeaten with an easy win in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Hayes went 8 for 12 from the field and had six rebounds. The prize recruit is averaging 15.3 points in his last three games.
Sam Dekker scored 15 points and Traevon Jackson had 10 for the Badgers (14-0, 1-0), who earned their seventh consecutive win against the Wildcats. They shot 55 percent (32 for 58) from the field and enjoyed a 38-27 rebounding edge.
Northwestern (7-7, 0-1) has dropped two straight after a three-game winning streak. Alex Olah had a career-high 23 points, and Drew Crawford finished with 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting.
Wisconsin improved to 14-0 for the first time since the Badgers won each of their 15 games in the 1911-12 and 1913-14 seasons. It was their 11th straight win in a Big Ten opener.
No. 8 WICHITA ST. 82, S. ILLINOIS 67
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Fred VanVleet had 17 points, seven assists and two steals and Wichita State remained unbeaten behind 62 percent shooting in its Missouri Valley Conference opener.
Cleanthony Early scored 23 points for the Shockers (14-0, 1-0), the preseason conference favorites coming off a Final Four appearance. The 14-0 start is five wins better than the school’s previous best and the 14-game winning streak matches the school mark set in 1953-54 under coach Ralph Miller.
Sean O’Brien and Desmar Jackson had 19 points apiece for Southern Illinois (4-10, 0-1), which upset Wichita State at home last February the week after the Shockers had been knocked out of the Top 25. Coach Barry Hinson returned after missing one game due to the death of his son-in-law on Christmas.
Nick Wiggins added 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting for Wichita State.
No. 10 OREGON 70, UTAH 68, OT
SALT LAKE CITY — Damyean Dotson stole a pass from Dallin Bachynski and raced untouched for a breakaway dunk with 1 second left in overtime for unbeaten Oregon in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
Richard Amardi had 14 points and Dominic Artis added 12 for the Ducks (13-0, 1-0) who are off to their best start since winning 13 straight games to open the 2006-07 season.
Jordan Loveridge scored 21 points for Utah, while Delon Wright chipped in 14 and Bachynski added 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Utes (11-2, 0-1) led by as many as 10 points in the second half.
Wright put the Utes ahead 68-66 with consecutive baskets. But Dotson made two free throws to tie it in the final minute and then came up with the steal and winning basket.
Loveridge got off a 3-point attempt before the buzzer, but it bounced off the rim.
No. 20 COLORADO 64, OREGON ST. 58
BOULDER, Colo. — Josh Scott, Askia Booker and Jaron Hopkins all scored 13 points for Colorado in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
Scott had 10 rebounds for Colorado (12-2, 1-0), which matched its best start since the 1979-80 season when the Buffaloes also opened 12-2. Colorado remained unbeaten in 10 games at the Coors Events Center this season.
Spencer Dinwiddie had nine points, including three key free throws in the late going, for the Buffaloes.
Roberto Nelson, who is leading the league in scoring, had 23 points for Oregon State, including hitting all 10 of his free throws. Eric Moreland, reinstated after serving a season-opening suspension for a violation of team rules, had 10 rebounds for Oregon State (8-5, 0-1).
The Beavers got within 60-56 after Malcom Duvivier drained a 3-pointer with 2:17 left but Oregon State failed to score another field goal and Dinwiddie made three of four free throws to help rebuild a solid lead.
No. 24 GONZAGA 73, SAINT MARY’S 51
SPOKANE, Wash. — Przemek Karnowski had 15 points and nine rebounds for Gonzaga against archrival Saint Mary’s.
Kevin Pangos added 15 points and eight rebounds for the injury-plagued Bulldogs (13-2, 3-0 West Coast Conference). Starting forward Sam Dower Jr. played sparingly as he continues to recover from a back injury, while Pangos is hampered with turf toe. Starting guard Gary Bell Jr. is out with a broken hand.
Gonzaga has won three straight games since losing to Kansas State. The Zags have won 21 straight WCC games spanning three seasons.
Saint Mary’s (10-4, 1-1) played without coach Randy Bennett, who is serving a five-game suspension for NCAA violations.
Beau Levesque scored 12 points to lead Saint Mary’s, which shot 31.9 percent in the game, while Gonzaga shot 49 percent. The Gaels made 1 of 12 3-point attempts.