Wake Forest Overcomes Providence

Justin Gray refused to let an elbow in the face upset his game, and his second-half shooting protected Wake Forest’s No. 1 status Wednesday night at New York.

The top-ranked Demon Deacons survived some hot shooting by Providence’s Ryan Gomes in Madison Square Garden, defeating the Friars, 79-67, in the semifinals of the preseason NIT.

In Friday’s title game, Wake Forest (4-0) will play Arizona (3-1).

Gray needed six stitches in his right eyebrow after taking a shot to the face from Tuukka Kotti in the first half.

“I saw blood and I thought, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Gray said.

Gray seemed hardly bothered, making three three-point baskets in the first four minutes of the second half.

Gray’s spurt was interrupted by a spectacular steal by Gomes, who went in alone but blew the jam. It was Gomes’ only mistake in the opening minutes of the second half. He scored 10 consecutive points, keeping Providence in the game.

Gray, who fouled out with 2 minutes 31 seconds to play, finished with five three-pointers and led Wake Forest with 21 points. Gomes had 24 and Dwight Brewington 23 for Providence (3-1).

No. 5 Illinois 85, Oakland (Mich.) 54 -- Luther Head scored 22 points to lead the Illini at Champaign, Ill.

Head made a career-high six three-point shots. Five of his three-pointers came in the first half, including one during an 11-0 run that gave Illinois (3-0) a 25-9 lead midway through the half and a two to finish off an 11-3 run near the end of the half to build the lead to 47-24. Oakland is 0-2.

No. 11 North Carolina 106, Iowa 92 -- Junior point guard Raymond Felton led the Tar Heels to the Maui Invitational championship at Lahaina, Hawaii.

It was the fourth Maui Invitational title game in as many appearances for the Tar Heels (3-1) and their second title. And even though Rashad McCants had 22 points, Felton was the main reason for the win, so he was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

Felton had 13 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals, and held Jeff Horner to 18 points. Horner averaged 22.5 points in the other two Maui games for the Hawkeyes (3-1).

No. 12 Louisville 82, Stanford 67 -- Taquan Dean scored 30 points to lead Louisville (3-1) in the fifth-place game of the Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii.

Dean scored 10 of Louisville’s 13 points when the Cardinals broke the game open midway through the second half.

Rob Little had a career-high 19 points for Stanford (2-2).

No. 15 Texas 95, Tennessee 70 -- Freshman guard Daniel Gibson scored 19 points and started the Longhorns’ run of second-half three-pointers in the third-place game of the Maui Invitational.

The Longhorns (3-1) have made at least 10 three-point shots in their four games.

C.J. Watson had 19 points for Tennessee (1-2).

No. 16 Pittsburgh 83, Robert Morris 59 -- Chris Taft and Chevon Troutman led a 16-0 run in the last six minutes of the first half that rallied the Panthers (2-0) from a sluggish start at Pittsburgh.

Troutman keyed the run with four steals in just over three minutes, leading to three baskets. Taft finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, and point guard Carl Krauser scored 18. Troutman had 10 points, five steals and five rebounds.

Pittsburgh won its 42nd in a row at home against nonconference opponents. The Panthers are 24-0 against Robert Morris (1-3).

No. 18 Arizona 61, Michigan 60 -- Dion Harris’ basket with 51 seconds left in regulation tied the score, 55-55, for Michigan and sent into overtime the preseason NIT game at New York.

The Wolverines had the ball and a chance to win in overtime, but Daniel Horton’s shot missed.

Shakur led Arizona (3-1) with 13 points and Harris had 16 for Michigan (3-1). Arizona plays Wake Forest in Friday’s title game.

No. 19 Alabama 90, Alaska Anchorage 55 -- Jermareo Davidson scored 17 points to lead the Crimson Tide (3-0) in a first-round game of the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage.

Mark Drake and Carl Arts each scored eight points for Division II Alaska Anchorage (1-2).

No. 24 Gonzaga 88, Idaho 74 -- Ronny Turiaf scored a career-high 40 points to lead the Bulldogs (3-0) at Spokane, Wash.

The Vandals (0-4) used five three-point baskets early in the second half to cut an 11-point halftime deficit to three.