NIT ROUNDUP : Sun Devils Get Past Gauchos

Stevin Smith scored 18 points and made two free throws down the stretch as Arizona State rallied to defeat UC Santa Barbara, 71-65, Thursday night at Santa Barbara in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

With the score tied, 62-62, with 1:45 to play, Arizona State (19-13) went on an 8-0 run to seal the victory.

In that run, Smith made a steal and drove the length of the court but was fouled by Idris Jones. Smith made the two free throws to put Arizona State ahead, 66-62.

Lester Neal’s dunk with 18 seconds left gave Arizona State a 70-62 advantage.

Santa Barbara (20-9), which held a 32-29 lead at halftime, went ahead, 51-47, with 7:35 left. But Arizona State used its press to take control with 10 consecutive points. A free throw by Neal tied the score, 51-51, with 6:51 left, and the Sun Devils then increased their lead to 57-51.

Duane Fontana scored 12 points for Arizona State and Marion Bennett added 16.

Lucius Davis scored 26 points for Santa Barbara.

Florida 66, Richmond 52--Stacey Poole scored 16 points and the Gators (17-12) made eight of their last nine free throws to hold off the Spiders (22-8), who nearly overcame a 16-point lead in the second half at Gainesville, Fla.

Richmond, regular-season champion of the Colonial Athletic Assn., used a 21-6 run to trim the deficit to 47-46 with eight minutes left.

Florida made only three field goals in the last eight minutes.

Purdue 82, Butler 56--Woody Austin scored nine of his 24 points during a 21-2 run at the start of the second half to lead the Boilermakers (17-14) over the Bulldogs (21-10) at West Lafayette, Ind.

Boston College 78, Southern Illinois 69--Billy Curley scored 24 points and Malcolm Huckaby had 17 to lift the Eagles (17-13) over the Salukis (22-7) at Newton, Mass.

Rhode Island 68, Vanderbilt 63--Andre Samuel scored 13 points and the Rams (21-9) held the Commodores (15-15) off from the free-throw line in the final minutes at Nashville, Tenn.

Manhattan 67, Wisconsin Green Bay 65--Carey Edwards scored his only basket on a breakaway with two seconds left to give the Jaspers (24-8) to victory over the Phoenix (25-5) in New York.

New Mexico 90, Louisiana Tech 84--Reserve Lewis LaMar scored 18 points and his offensive rebound in the final 13 seconds helped the Lobos (19-12) hold off the Bulldogs (23-8) at Albuquerque.

Utah 72, Ball State 57--Reserve Byron Wilson scored 15 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Utes (21-10) over the Cardinals (24-9) at Salt Lake City as Utah Coach Rick Majerus beat Ball State, his former school.