COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : No. 4 Kansas Blows Out Southern Mississippi in a Classic Mismatch

The BMA Classic in Kansas City, Mo., is no longer considered a tournament because co-hosts Kansas and Kansas State switch opponents on consecutive nights rather than playing for a championship.

On Friday night, fourth-ranked Kansas performed as if it were playing for the national title in a 109-76 rout of Southern Mississippi at Kemper Arena.

“Offensively that was our best execution of the year,” Kansas Coach Roy Williams said. “Just about everything we did worked out. It was kind of like a snowball that kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Kansas (7-0) dominated inside with a season-high 16 points from center Eric Pauley and also made 10 three-point shots, one short of the school record. Former Reseda Cleveland High standout Adonis Jordan made three three-point shots and finished with 14 points.

“I really believe it when I say I want every shot to be either a three-pointer or a layup,” said Williams, who raised his record against nonconference opponents to 50-7.

Southern Mississippi (4-5) never cut its deficit to fewer than 10 points after the first seven minutes and committed 15 first-half turnovers against the Jayhawks’ trapping, pressing defense.

No. 5 Connecticut 112, Central Connecticut State 58--Chris Smith had 22 points and eight assists and the Huskies dominated inside for a victory in the first round of the Connecticut Mutual Classic at Hartford, Conn.

Rod Sellers scored 17 points and Toraino Walker had 12 points for Connecticut. Both had 13 rebounds as the Huskies outrebounded Central Connecticut, 72-36.

Connecticut (7-0) improved to 23-2 against other Connecticut teams in six seasons under Coach Jim Calhoun and is off to its best start since going 8-0 in 1985-86.

Central (2-8) lost its seventh consecutive game.

No. 9 Michigan State 82, Austin Peay 71--Anthony Miller, a sophomore center, came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points and lead the Spartans to a first-round victory in the Spartan Classic at East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan State (9-0) is off to its best start since 1916-17. The Spartans will play for the championship against Stanford, a 94-72 winner Friday over Siena.

Geoff Franklin scored 15 for Austin Peay (4-6) before fouling out.

No. 10 Indiana 86, Texas Tech 69--Calbert Cheaney scored 11 of his 20 points during a decisive second-half run as Indiana won a first-round game of the Hoosier Classic at Indianapolis.

Indiana (7-2) led, 51-44, with 13 minutes left before outscoring Texas Tech, 21-6, over the next eight minutes.

Cheaney and Damon Bailey made consecutive three-point baskets, giving the Hoosiers a 70-51 lead.

Stacy Bailey scored 14 points for Texas Tech (5-3).

No. 14 Oklahoma 118, Morehead State 99--Damon Patterson scored 36 points and Brent Price added 19 as the Sooners advanced to the final of the All College Tournament at Oklahoma City.

Patterson scored 22 points in the first half, including nine during a 17-2 run that gave Oklahoma a 58-34 lead late in the half. Oklahoma (7-0) led by as many as 27 points.

Morehead State (4-5) pulled to within 78-67 early in the second half on a three-point basket by Mitch Sowards and again got within 11 midway through the half, but could get no closer.

No. 18 St. John’s 70, Fordham 53--The Redmen held the Rams to one field goal over the final 11 minutes of the first half and cruised to victory in the ECAC Holiday Festival at New York.

It was the 23rd victory in a row for St. John’s over Fordham (2-5) since 1971.

Malik Sealy scored 21 points for St. John’s (5-2).

No. 23 Iowa 114, Butler 92--Acie Earl scored 31 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Hawkeyes in the first round of the Tampa Tribune Holiday tournament at Tampa, Fla.

Iowa (7-1) advances to tonight’s championship game against host South Florida, which defeated Northeastern Illinois, 96-77, Friday night.

Michael Butler scored 26 points for Butler (8-3).

EAST

Anfernee Hardaway scored 21 points to lead Memphis State (5-2) to a 77-60 victory over St. Joseph’s (5-3) in the first round of the ECAC Holiday Festival at New York. The Tigers will play St. John’s for the tournament championship.

MIDWEST

Adam Keefe scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half and finished with 15 rebounds as Stanford (6-0) beat Siena, 94-72, in the first round of the Spartan Classic at East Lansing, Mich. The Cardinal trailed Siena (5-4) by as many seven points early in the game, but led 51-29 at the half and never was challenged in the second half.

SOUTH

Dirkk Surles scored five of his 18 points during a decisive first-half run to lead George Washington (6-2) to a 71-57 victory over Penn State in a first-round game of the Palm Beach Classic at Palm Beach, Fla. Penn State (7-2) has lost two consecutive games.

WEST

Voshon Lenard scored 18 points and Minnesota (8-3) used a 25-point blitz in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half to roll past Oregon, 89-64, in the opening game of the Far West Classic at Portland, Ore. Jordy Lyden scored 15 points for Oregon (4-3). . . . Will Scott scored 18 points to lead New Mexico (5-5) over Bucknell, 70-57, in the opening round of the Lobo Invitational at Albuquerque. Patrick King scored 22 points for Bucknell (2-3).

Freshman Mario Bennett scored 14 of his career-high 22 points in the second half to lead Arizona State to a 78-71 victory over Brown (3-3) in the ASU-Tribune tournament at Tempe, Ariz. The Sun Devils (7-3) advanced to the championship game against Northwestern (6-2), which got 24 points from Charles Howell in a 76-57 victory over Creighton (2-5).