NIT : Fordham Has No Trouble in Opener

Dave Buckner scored 25 points, including six of seven shots from three-point range, as Fordham defeated South Florida, 76-66, at Tampa, Fla., in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Fordham shot 77.8% in the second half to improve to 25-7--the best record of any team that wasn’t selected to play in the NCAA tournament.

Radenko Dobras led South Florida (19-11) with 16 points.

Oklahoma 111, Tulsa 86--Kermit Holmes scored 28 points and Brent Price scored 24 points and had 11 assists and eight steals for the Sooners at Norman, Okla.

The Sooners (17-14), who failed to get a bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1982, had lost 12 of their past 15 games before Thursday night.

Arkansas State 78, Rice 71--Bobby Gross scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half and Dewayne McCray worked inside for 20 points at Jonesboro, Ark., as the Indians advanced to the second round.

Arkansas State (22-8), co-champion of the American South conference, is making its fourth NIT appearance in five years.

Brent Scott scored 21 points for Rice (16-14).

Memphis State 82, Alabama Birmingham 76--Elliot Perry scored 24 points and the Tigers used a seven-point run in the second half for the victory at Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis State is 17-14. Alabama Birmingham finished 18-13.

Southwest Missouri State 57, Coppin State 47--Darryl Reid scored 14 points and keyed a late second-half rally for the Bears in their victory at Springfield, Mo.

Southwest Missouri (22-11) outscored Coppin State (19-11), 15-6, in the final 6:25.

Siena 90, Fairleigh Dickinson 85--Marc Brown scored 31 points as Siena (24-9) hung on for the victory at Albany, N.Y.

Fairleigh Dickinson finished 22-9.