COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Arizona State Romps to Remain Undefeated

Mario Bennett and Ron Riley scored 14 points each and Arizona State’s defense forced 28 turnovers as the 12th-ranked Sun Devils defeated Northern Arizona, 74-50, Thursday night at Tempe, Ariz.

The Sun Devils (4-0) are off to their best start since 1985-86.

After leading by seven at the half, Arizona State held the Lumberjacks (1-2) without a field goal over a span of 6:59 and forced six turnovers in an 18-1 run that gave the Sun Devils a comfortable lead.

“I thought the difference was when we finally got the press to be effective,” Arizona State Coach Bill Frieder said.

No. 15 Minnesota 92, Central Connecticut State 56--Playing their fifth game in seven days, the Gophers opened leads of 13-0 and 24-2 and romped at Minneapolis.

Voshon Lenard scored 19 points to lead the Gophers (5-0), who surprised Arizona and Villanova and beat Brigham Young in winning the Great Alaska Shootout last weekend.

Central Connecticut (0-2) has lost its last 17 road games.

No. 20 Georgia Tech 89, Western Carolina 63--Drew Barry made six of eight three-point shots, scored 27 points and had seven rebounds and seven assists to lead the Yellow Jackets (3-0) past the Catamounts (1-2) at Atlanta.

No. 25 New Mexico State 89, Texas El Paso 83--Rodney Walker, Thomas Wyatt and Johnny Selvie each scored 16 points to lead the Aggies (5-1) over the Miners (1-1) at Las Cruces, N.M.

Guard Antoine Gillespie scored 24 points for Texas El Paso.

WOMEN

No. 1 Tennessee 105, No. 2 Stanford 69--Nikki McCray scored 21 points to lead the Volunteers (3-0) over the Cardinal (2-1) at Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee made 61% of its shots, outrebounded the Cardinal, 46-27, and forced 22 turnovers.