College Basketball Roundup : Minnesota Surprises Illini, 60-58

Minnesota had a good reason to celebrate, but things were strangely quiet in the Gophers’ locker room.

Minutes after a 60-58 upset of sixth-ranked Illinois in their Big Ten opener at Minneapolis, the Gophers were already looking ahead.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in four years playing in the Big Ten, it’s that there’s no time to celebrate the wins or think about the losses,” said Minnesota’s Tommy Davis, who scored 19 points, including a game-winning breakaway layup with three seconds left.

In 48 hours, Minnesota plays Purdue, Davis pointed out, and Illinois and Purdue shared first place in the Big Ten last year.

“After all this emotion running so high, the best thing to do now is to go home and get some rest,” echoed backup guard Marc Wilson, who passed the ball to Davis with seven seconds left. “I’m definitely going to get to sleep early.”

Although Davis and Wilson weren’t celebrating, 14,532 Williams Arena fans went berserk when Davis’ game-winner ended a topsy-turvy contest.

Minnesota (8-3) led the first three quarters of the game, several times by as many as 10 points. But in the second half, the Gophers shot only 32% and Illinois (11-3) took control.

The Illini outscored Minnesota, 28-9, in the middle of the second half and opened an 11-point lead, 54-43, with 5 1/2 minutes left.

But Minnesota outscored Illinois, 15-2, the last five minutes to pull off what several players said was the biggest upset in their careers.

The score was tied, 58-58, when Illinois’ Bruce Douglas took a 15-foot jump shot with eight seconds to go. It banged off the rim to Wilson, who tossed it ahead to Davis for the game-winner.

DePaul 76, St. Mary’s 53--Tyrone Corbin scored 18 points and the Blue Demons (9-2) trounced the Gaels (2-7) at Rosemont, Ill.

Louisville 72, Santa Clara 67--Manuel Forrest scored 20 points and the Cardinals (7-4) bro0ke a three-game losing streak by turning back the Broncos (9-5) at Louisville. Nick Vanos scored 25 for Stanta Clara.

Georgia Tech 93, Maryland Eastern Shore 40--Yvon Joseph scored 19 points as the Yellow Jackets (10-1), off to their best start in 14 years pounded the Fighting Hawks (1-8) at Atlanta.

Kansas 78, Texas Southern 74--Ron Kellogg scored 24 points and the Jayhawks (9-2) survived an overtime scare from Southern (2-6) at Lawrence, Kan.

Evansville 80, Nebraska 73--Bubby Mukes had 22 points and the Aces (7-3) surprised the Cornhuskers (8-3) at Evansville, Ind.

Michigan State 82, Ohio State 79--Sam Vincent scored the last five points and the Spartans (10-1) upended the Buckeyes (8-2) in a Big Ten opener at East Lansing, Mich.

Iowa 75, Purdue 63--Freshman Jeff Moe scored 17 points and Michael Payne added 16 points as the Hawkeyes (12-2) defeated the Boilermakers (9-2) in a Big Ten opener at Iowa City, Iowa.

BYU 62, Texas El Paso 60--The Cougars (7-5) made eight free throws in the final minutes to hold off the Miners (7-5) in a Western Athletic Conference opener at Provo, Utah.

San Diego State 60, Wyoming 57--Guard Anthony Watson and center Leonard Allen each scored 16 points to lead the Aztecs (9-2) past the Cowboys (7-5) in a Western Athletic Conference opener at Laramie, Wyo.

Utah 68, New Mexico 63--Manuel Hendrix scored 24 points and Kelvin Upshaw hit four straight free throws in the final 27 seconds to ice as the Redskins (6-7) held off the Lobos (6-4) in a Western Athletic Conference opener at Salt Lake City.

Iowa State 114, Morgan State 67--Barry Stevens scored a school-record 47 points as the Cyclones (10-4) routed the Golden Bears (0-10) at Ames, Iowa.

Illinois State 66, Drake 56--Lou Stefanovic scored 19 points and the Redbirds (10-1) won their seventh straight game by turning back the Bulldogs (8-4) in a Missouri Valley Conference opener at Normal, Ill.

Wichita State 98, West Texas State 64--Xavier Franklin scored 22 points and Rickie Winslow and Eric Dickens added 20 each as the Cougars (9-2) downed the Horned Frogs (8-4) in a Southwest Conference game at Fort Worth, Tex.

Houston 83, Texas Christian 73--Alvin Franklin scored 22 points and Rickie Winslow and Eric Dickens added 20 each as the Cougars (9-2) downed the Horned Frogs (8-4) in a Southwest Conference game at Fort Worth, Tex.

North Carolina 85, Stetson 71--Brad Daugherty scored 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds as the Tar Heels (9-1) turned back the Hatters (4-9) at Orlando, Fla.

Mississippi 71, Alabama 67--Chauncey Robinson scored 21 points and the Rebels (5-5, 1-0) held Bobby Lee Hurt to one field goal to upset the Crimson Tide (8-3, 0-2) in a Southeastern Conference game at Tuscaloosa, Ala.