COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL ROUNDUP : North Carolina Charlotte Upsets No. 20 DePaul, 68-63

Rodney Odom did the work in the first half and Henry Williams and Delano Johnson scored decisive second-half points Friday night as North Carolina Charlotte upset No. 20 DePaul, 68-63, in the Tournament of Champions at Charlotte, N.C.

It was UNCC’s first victory over a ranked team since 1977.

“I think if you polled the 11,000 or 12,000 people here, 95% probably said UNCC didn’t have a chance, and rightfully so,” Charlotte Coach Jeff Mullins said. “But that’s the great thing about basketball, and that’s what I’ve been trying to convince the kids all week.’

Odom scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, missed only one of his 10 shots and had 10 rebounds.

Johnson scored 18 points, including a free throw with 7.9 seconds left. Williams scored all 11 of his points in the second half for the 49ers (3-1).

Stephen Howard scored 16 points for DePaul (3-1), which made only 32% of its field-goal attempts, 16 of 30 free throws and managed two field goals in the final 10 minutes.

No. 15 Alabama 77, North Carolina State 66--Latrell Sprewell and Robert Horry led the Crimson Tide on a 32-2 run in the first half then helped Alabama hold off the Wolfpack in the Tournament of Champions at Charlotte, N.C.

Sprewell scored 23 points and Horry added 15.

No. 21 Iowa 74, Army 39--Acie Earl scored 14 points and James Moses added 11 at Iowa City to advance to the championship game of the Hawkeye Classic.

Iowa (4-0) meets Louisiana Tech (3-1), a 67-47 winner over Bowling Green.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

EAST

Freshman Lawrence Moten scored eight consecutive points to start a 21-6 run and rally Syracuse to an 84-78 victory over Eastern Kentucky in the Carrier Classic at Syracuse, N.Y. The Orangemen meet St. Joseph’s, an 87-77 winner over Wright State, tonight in the championship game.

MIDWEST

Sophomore center Deon Thomas scored 24 points to lead Illinois to a 69-64 victory over Hawaii in the opening game of the Fighting Illini tournament at Champaign, Ill.

SOUTHWEST

Joe McNaull scored 21 points as San Diego State beat Texas Southern, 79-64, in the Longhorn Classic at Austin, Tex. San Diego State meets Texas, a 124-107 winner over North Texas, for the tournament title.