COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Eberz and Kittles’ Bit Satisfy Villanova, 66-58

For a season opener, Steve Lappas liked what he saw.

“Our level of intensity was the key,” the Villanova coach said. “That’s why we were able to respond when we got down by a point.”

With Eric Eberz scoring 23 points and All-American candidate Kerry Kittles adding 11 of his 16 in the second half, the No. 3 Wildcats beat Wisconsin, 66-58, Monday in the Maui Invitational at Lahaina.

Villanova led, 34-25, at the half, but the Badgers came back with a 12-2 run to begin the second half and took their only lead of the game.

After Wisconsin inched ahead, Kittles took control. He made a three-pointer and so did Eberz in the next four minutes to restore control.

Villanova outscored Wisconsin from the line, 16-6, and held a 42-33 rebounding advantage.

Dick Bennett was making his debut as coach for Wisconsin, which was led by Mosezell Peterson with 17 points. Sam Okey added 12 and Sean Daugherty had 10.

No. 20 North Carolina 71, Vanderbilt 63--The Tar Heels didn’t take the lead until Serge Zwikker made a pair of follow-up shots with three minutes left in this Maui Invitational first-round game.

The Tar Heels wound up making 27 of 56 shots, but were a dismal 11 for 27 in the first half.

Jeff McInnis scored 20 points for North Carolina, and Drew Maddux had 20 for Vanderbilt.

Michigan State 69, Chaminade 66--Quinton Brooks made an eight-foot turnaround jumper with 51 seconds left and Daimon Beathea converted a free throw 33 seconds later in the first game of the Maui Invitational. In Tom Izzo’s first game as coach, the Spartans struggled. In the past, the Division II Silverswords upset several ranked teams, including Virginia, which was ranked No. 1 at the time, Louisville and Southern Methodist.