Memphis Tops Alabama, 87-76

Darius Washington had 23 points and six assists and No. 12 Memphis ran past No. 15 Alabama, 87-76, in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Robert Dozier scored 11 points and Rodney Carney 10 for the Tigers (2-0), who took an 18-10 lead in the first five minutes and remained ahead.

Alabama (1-1) trailed, 48-32, at halftime and by as many as 20 in the second half before cutting the lead to eight late in the game, thanks mostly to the shooting of reserve Justin Jonus. He lead the Tide with 18 points, including four three-pointers, and got all but two of his points in the second half.

Memphis will play UCLA in the semifinals Wednesday in New York.

In another NIT Season Tip-Off quarterfinal, Drexel (2-0) defeated Sam Houston State, 72-61, at Philadelphia. Drexel will play Duke on Wednesday.

No. 16 Syracuse 81, Texas Tech 46 -- In a semifinal of the 2K Sports College Hoop Classic in New York, Jim Boeheim got his 706th win and improved his record against Bob Knight to 4-1. Knight’s lone win was in the 1987 national championship game with Indiana. Knight has 856 wins.

Syracuse (3-0) opened the game with a 20-4 run. The Red Raiders (2-1) missed their first 12 shots from the field and 16 of their first 17.

Florida 77, No. 19 Wake Forest 72 -- Sophomore Taurean Green almost doubled his career high with 23 points for the Gators (3-0), who advance to today’s 2K Sports College Hoop Classic championship game against defending champion Syracuse.

WOMEN’S TOP 25

Charde Houston and Ann Strother scored 11 points apiece to lead No. 9 Connecticut to a 60-46 win over Boston College in a semifinal of the preseason Women’s NIT in Storrs, Conn. The Huskies (3-0) will play Oklahoma (3-0) for the title Sunday.