COLLEGE BASKETBALL / GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT : Minnesota Holds Off Fifth-Ranked Arizona’s Comeback, 72-70

Vashon Lenard scored 18 points and Jay Walton added 16 as Minnesota held off a late rally to upset fifth-ranked Arizona, 72-70, in the first round of the Great Alaska shootout in Anchorage, Alaska.

Minnesota (1-0) held a 72-65 lead with one minute 50 seconds remaining, but Damon Stoudamire hit a free throw and a short jumper, and Joseph Blair dunked an offensive rebound to cut it to 72-70 with 40 seconds left.

The Wildcats had a chance at the end, forcing the Golden Gophers into a missed shot and grabbing the rebound with six seconds left. But Stoudamire’s three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the side of the rim. Stoudamire and Ray Owes led Arizona (0-1) with 17 points apiece.

No. 21 Villanova 75, Alaska Anchorage 58--Villanova had an 18-0 run in the first half and a 17-2 run in the second half against the Division II Seawolves to advance to the second round against Minnesota.

Eric Eberz scored a career-high 23 points, Jason Lawson added 17 and Kerry Kittles 12. Everz, a junior forward, scored 17 of Villanova’s 33 second-half points.

The Wildcats (1-0), bigger and quicker than Alaska-Anchorage at every position, led, 44-37, early in the second half before going on a 17-2 run capped by three-pointers by Roscoe Harris and Eberz.

“We were just able to have a spurt, and we went with it,” said Villanova coach Steve Lappas, who credited his defense with limiting the Seawolves’ outside shooting.

Alaska Anchorage, ranked No. 7 in Division II, didn’t connect on its first three-pointer until the final seven minutes and finished two for 12 behind the three-point line.

“I thought their quickness was going to hurt us,” said Seawolf Coach Charlie Bruns. “They were running out hard. We’re just not used to that.”

Jason Kaiser led Alaska Anchorage with 21 and Dana Pope had 20 points and eight rebounds.