Hurricanes Finally Pull Rank on Someone

For the first time in Coach Leonard Hamilton’s eight-year tenure, Miami (3-0) beat a ranked nonconference opponent.

Tim James scored 23 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked six shots in an 89-72 upset over No. 17 North Carolina Charlotte (0-1) on Friday night at Miami.

“This win was a big step for us,” James said. “We need to win games like this all season long. Wins like this can earn the respect that UM basketball deserves.”

No. 2 Kansas 92, Nevada Las Vegas 68--Paul Pierce had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Billy Thomas made five of seven three-point shots as the Jayhawks (4-0) weathered an off night by Raef LaFrentz at Lawrence, Kan., in the second round of the Preseason NIT.

After falling behind by 16 at halftime, the Runnin’ Rebels (2-1) made a move behind the outside shooting of Tyrone Nesby and the inside muscle of Kaspars Kambala before the Jayhawks pulled away.

No. 5 Clemson 79, Iona 49--Greg Buckner scored 18 points and the Tigers shot 67% from the field at Fairbanks, Alaska, in the Top of the World Classic.

The Tigers (2-0) built a 15-point halftime lead, and increased the margin to 33 at one point in the second half. Iona is 0-1.

No. 6 South Carolina 77, Citadel 58--The Gamecocks finally may be learning to put away lesser opponents as guards Melvin Watson and BJ McKie combined for 29 points at Columbia, S.C.

The Gamecocks (2-0) have soared against top competition, but they have been stung by the lesser teams the last couple of years. The Bulldogs are 0-3.

No. 11 New Mexico 90, Texas Southern 67--Clayton Shields scored 22 points and Kenny Thomas again was an unstoppable force inside in the opening round of the Lobo Classic at Albuquerque.

New Mexico (3-0) had no trouble dominating the Tigers (0-1), as Thomas scored 20 points, making eight of 11 shots, and had a game-high 10 rebounds.

OTHER GAMES

Greg Stolt scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Florida (3-0) used a strong second half in a 76-69 victory against Stetson (0-3) at Gainesville, Fla. . . . Illinois Chicago (3-0) withstood a late Michigan State (1-1) rally to earn a 70-58 victory at Chicago. . . . Henry Madden scored 22 points as Oregon (1-0) defeated Brigham Young, 74-67, at Provo, Utah. . . . Billy Di Spaltro scored a career-high 24 points as Vanderbilt (3-0) took advantage of a sloppy Memphis (1-1) squad for an 86-77 victory at Nashville. . . . Jerry Hester scored 18 points for Illinois (2-0) in an 82-63 victory over Georgia Southern (2-1) at Champaign, Ill.

WOMEN

Chamique Holdsclaw scored 24 points as top-ranked Tennessee beat No. 2 Louisiana Tech, 75-61, at Knoxville, Tenn. The Volunteers (2-0) broke away with a 12-0 second-half run. . . . Ann Klapperich scored 22 points as Wisconsin upset No. 4 Stanford, 90-82, at Madison, Wis. Stanford is 0-1.