It’s Not Special for Kent St.

Kent State yawned.

The Golden Flashes thoroughly outplayed an Oklahoma State team from a more recognized and supposedly more rugged conference, led almost wire to wire against a higher seed in a 69-61 victory Thursday and, afterward, acted as if they just beat the last-place Mid-American Conference team.

“From our standpoint, it’s probably not an upset,” said guard Trevor Huffman, who scored 18 points.

“It wasn’t anything special,” said forward Demetric Shaw, who led all scorers with 21 points.

No. 10 seed Kent State’s victory over seventh-seeded Oklahoma State in a first-round game in the South Region was not an eye-popping score. It was merely another Golden Flash in the pan, a win in a string of wins, the 19th in a row for Kent State (28-5) and the 24th win in its last 25 games.

After leading by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Golden Flashes held off the Cowboys (23-9) in the second half. They never allowed Oklahoma State to get closer than four points. With 1:03 left, the Cowboys cut the deficit to four at 64-60 on Iva McFarlin’s layup.

On the next possession, Huffman traveled and gave Oklahoma State an opportunity to get closer. But Kent State forward Eric Thomas stole a pass from Cheyne Gadson, who had dribbled into trouble. The Golden Flashes made five of six free throws to seal a first-round victory for the second consecutive year. Last season, they beat Indiana, 77-73.

Kent State has not lost since Buffalo claimed a 66-65 home victory over the Golden Flashes on Jan. 9. Since then, it has put together the longest winning streak in the nation.

“They are a good basketball team,” Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton said. “I don’t care if you say they’re from a mid-major conference.”

Forward Fredrik Jonzen led Oklahoma State with 19 points but the Cowboys only got three from Maurice Baker, their best player, who struggled with groin and ankle injuries all season.

Alabama 86, Florida Atlantic 78--On this day, the difference between a No. 2 and No. 15 seed was one player. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide and unfortunately for the Owls, that player was Maurice Williams.

Williams scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had six assists to lead the surprisingly timid Crimson Tide past Coach Sidney Green’s Owls.

“Once you play 19 games in the SEC, I don’t think you ever play nervous,” said Williams, a freshman who played with surprising poise. “You get use to that. You get used to anything.”

Even with Williams’ superb game, Alabama (26-7) did not pull away until the end. The game was tied at 64 with 6:45 remaining before Alabama forward Rod Grizzard made a three-pointer to start a 10-0 run.

Florida Atlantic (20-12), playing in its first NCAA tournament, could not overcome the spurt. Orlando native Raheim Brown had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Alabama plays Kent State Saturday.

Duke 84, Winthrop 37--While the rest of the contenders for the national title flirted with trouble and sweated through near upsets, the Blue Devils--the top seeded team in the South Region--walloped the Eagles (19-12). The 47-point margin tied the school record for the most lopsided victory in an NCAA tournament game. It was also the fourth-most lopsided game in NCAA tournament his-

tory.

Winthrop Coach Gregg Marshall gave his wife a thumbs-up before tip-off and blew a kiss to his 3-year-old daughter Maggie in the stands, who blew one back.

But that’s the most fun Marshall would have all night with his club playing only 85 miles from campus.

Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Jason Williams, Duke’s three All-Americans, combined for 55 points. The Blue Devils (30-3) had built a 20-point lead 7:20 into the game. The score was 52-15 at halftime and 60-19 early in the second half.

Notre Dame 82, Charlotte 63--The No. 8-seeded Fighting Irish got 20 points each from Matt Carroll and Ryan Humphrey, and 19 from David Graves to defeat the 49ers and win back-to-back NCAA openers for the first time in 23 years.

The last time was in 1978 and 1979 under Digger Phelps.

“It’s huge for us, not just to go to the tournament, but win the first round,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “It’s great. These guys have worked hard and they deserve it.”

Graves, a senior, has spent four years listening to fans and classmates talk about Notre Dame beating UCLA in 1974 to end the Bruins’ 88-game winning streak. “That’s all you hear about,” he said. “Notre Dame making history. We want to make history here before we go.”

A victory Saturday over Duke would also do it. The Irish (22-10) haven’t gone to the round of 16 since 1987, also with Phelps. Brey, incidentally, was an assistant to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski for eight seasons.

Charlotte (18-12) had won its previous four opening-round games.