COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Illinois Works Overtime to Beat Hawaii

Illinois came very close to losing its second consecutive game at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu.

Jerry Gee made a free throw with two seconds left in overtime, giving the 12th-ranked Illini an 82-81 victory over Hawaii on Friday in the consolation round of the tournament.

After Sam Smith made his first three-point basket of the season to tie the score with 26 seconds left, Gee was fouled by Smith as he took a shot from the baseline. He made the first but missed the second, giving the Rainbows one last chance. Justice Sueing grabbed the rebound, but the clock ran out before he could get a shot off.

Garris, who was held to four points in the Illini’s 75-64 loss to No. 13 Syracuse on Wednesday, scored eight points during a stretch when Illinois (10-1) made up a 10-point deficit against the Rainbows (3-4).

Garris’ free throws with 45 seconds left in regulation gave Illinois a 72-71 lead, but Sueing made one of two free throws 17 seconds later to send the game into overtime.

For Hawaii, Anthony Harris turned in his second big performance. After scoring 32 against Rhode Island in an 89-74 loss on Wednesday, he scored 30.

No. 2 Kentucky 106, Iona 79--Tony Delk made six of seven three-point shots and scored 29 points to lead the Wildcats in the championship game of the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden.

Kentucky (9-1) won its eighth consecutive game by using its speed, depth and full-court press. The Wildcats started the second half with a 16-6 run to take a 60-47 lead with 16:01 left.

North Carolina State 79, No. 18 Missouri 70--The Wolfpack used a 17-8 run to start the second half and went on to upset the Tigers in a consolation game at the Rainbow Classic.

The loss was the second in a row to a non-ranked team by Missouri (7-4), which committed 21 turnovers to offset its 42-27 advantage in rebounds.

PACIFIC 10

Arizona State 62, Southern Methodist 58--Ron Riley made a three-point basket with 34.7 seconds remaining to cap his game-high 27 points to give the Sun Devils a victory in the first round of the Tribune Classic at Tempe.

SMU (3-5) and Arizona State (5-2) exchanged the lead four times late in the second half before Joe Zaletel put the Sun Devils ahead for good, 56-55, with 4:16 to play.

Nebraska 99, Oregon 76--The Cornhuskers took advantage of the Ducks’ poor shooting to win the first-round game of the Far West Classic at Portland.

Jaron Boone scored 25 points to lead Nebraska (9-2). The Ducks (6-4) made only 12 of 29 free throws and shot 30%.

OTHER GAMES

Ryan Minor scored 31 points, including 21 in the second half when Oklahoma (7-3) pulled away to beat Baylor, 84-71, in the first round of the 60th All College Tournament at Oklahoma City. Doug Brandt scored 22 for Baylor (3-7). . . . Danny Hurley scored 24 points as Seton Hall (5-4) won its fourth Seton Hall Meadowlands Tournament, 81-74 over St. Joseph’s (4-2). . . . Penn State beat Santa Clara, 70-49, in the first round of the Cable Car Classic at San Jose. The Nittany Lions (8-0) are off to their best start in 71 years. The Broncos are 8-3.

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College Basketball Notes

The NCAA placed Georgia Southern on two years’ probation, saying it was guilty of academic cheating and fraud, illegal recruiting, unethical conduct, and lack of institutional control. The probe resulted in the resignation of Coach Frank Kerns, two assistants, and Athletic Director David “Bucky” Wagner. . . . Evansville’s Brian Jackson, the most accurate three-point shooter in Division I last season, suffered a season-ending injury this week when he broke his leg diving for a loose ball in practice. Jackson led NCAA Division I in three-point accuracy last season at 55.8%, making 53 of 95 shots.