Tar Heels Pull a Big Surprise

Don’t worry about North Carolina getting carried away by Wednesday night’s 67-56 victory over No. 2 Kansas in the semifinals of the Preseason National Invitation Tournament at New York.

Where do the Tar Heels go from here, freshman sharpshooter Rashad McCants was asked.

“We’ve got practice tomorrow,” McCants said.

North Carolina (4-0) is halfway to last season’s total of eight victories. Coach Matt Doherty survived that nightmare season and imported a roster of freshmen who seem determined to turn things around.

McCants sent that message, shooting 10 for 15 from the field and scoring 25 points.

The loss ended a win streak at 14 in the Preseason NIT for Kansas (2-1).

Stanford 69, No. 7 Florida 65 -- Stanford’s Matt Lottich made two three-point baskets down the stretch and Rob Little added 14 points to help lift the Cardinal (4-0) past the Gators in a Preseason NIT semifinal. Matt Bonner had 19 points for the Gators (3-1).

No. 19 Indiana 70, Virginia 63 -- Bracey Wright scored 21 points and fellow freshman guard Marshall Strickland added 15 to lift the Hoosiers (3-0) to the championship of the Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii. Travis Watson had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers (3-1).

In other Maui Invitational games:

No. 15 Kentucky 80, No. 20 Gonzaga 72 -- Keith Bogans scored 18 points and the Wildcats (2-1) held off a comeback by the Bulldogs in the third-place game. Blake Stepp had 24 points for Gonzaga (2-2).

Arizona State 83, Utah 79 -- Curtis Millage scored 26 points in his season debut as the Sun Devils (3-1) held off the Utes (2-2) in overtime in the fifth-place game. Nick Jacobson had 22 points for Utah (2-2). Millage missed the first three games while questions about his academic eligibility were cleared up with the NCAA.

Massachusetts 69, Chaminade 55 -- Anthony Anderson had 20 points and nine assists to lead the Minutemen (1-2) in the seventh-place game. It was the 30th consecutive loss for the Silverswords (0-4) in the tournament they have played host to since 1984.

In other games:

No. 1 Arizona 101, Northern Arizona 66 -- Luke Walton sprained his right ankle in the first half, but the Wildcats (2-0) won easily at Tucson as Jason Gardner scored 24 points. The Lumberjacks (1-2) trailed by only 44-39 at halftime.

No. 3 Texas 76, Texas Arlington 45 -- James Thomas had 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Longhorns (3-0) crushed the Mavericks (1-3) at Austin, Texas.

No. 5 Pittsburgh 69, St. Francis, Pa. 46 -- Brandin Knight had 10 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Panthers (2-0) cruised past the Red Flash at Pittsburgh.

No. 11 Maryland 97, Citadel 49 -- Drew Nicholas scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the first half as the Terrapins (2-0) cruised past the Bulldogs (1-2) at College Park, Md.

Georgia Tech 83, No. 17 Georgia 77 -- Sophomore guard B.J. Elder scored 24 points to lift the Yellow Jackets (2-0) past their rivals at Atlanta. Jarvis Hayes had 20 points for the Bulldogs (1-2).