Ford, Texas Bounce Back, Beat Georgia

Ater taking a hard fall early in Friday night’s game against Georgia, Texas guard T.J. Ford rebounded to match his career high with 22 points to go with eight assists as No. 4 Texas overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to beat No. 16 Georgia, 77-71, in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at New York.

Georgia, which was playing without two of its best inside players -- Chris Daniels was suspended for one game by the NCAA, Steve Thomas three games by the school -- got to within 71-69 on a three-point basket by Ezra Williams with 55 seconds left.

But Ford scored with 29 seconds left and Brandon Mouton made four of four free throws in the final 16 seconds to seal the victory for Texas.

No. 18 Marquette 73, Villanova 61 -- Marquette took an 11-2 lead, then made six three-point baskets, three by Travis Diener, to open a lead that ballooned to as many as 20 points in another Coaches vs. Cancer Classic game at New York.

USC 87, L.A. City All-Stars 1 83 -- Desmon Farmer scored 17 points and Rory O’Neil had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Trojans in an exhibition game at the Sports Arena.

The revolving door on USC Coach Henry Bibby’s doghouse keeps on spinning. With Jerry Dupree rejoining the Trojans after a week-long sabbatical, Brandon Brooks was suspended from USC’s final exhibition game.

Dupree, who is still saddled with a six-game Bibby-mandated suspension to begin the season, is awaiting a second opinion on his sore right foot. Brooks was suspended for not attending class.

*

Stanislav Zuzak scored a game-high 21 points to help UC Irvine defeat Team Ezybonds, 77-67, at Irvine.... Harry Statham became the winningest coach in NAIA history when McKendree College beat Mountain State University, 88-87, at Lebanon, Ill.