Miami Pulls Upset of North Carolina

Earlier this season, Miami appeared to be heading toward the kind of year that would have fans counting down the months to football season. But consecutive wins against ranked opponents might change that.

Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite each scored 24 points to help Miami upset No. 20 North Carolina, 81-70, on Saturday, giving the Hurricanes their first win in six visits to Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Hurricanes, 10-6 overall, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, beat the Tar Heels (10-3, 2-1) for only the second time.

The Hurricanes also recorded consecutive wins against ranked opponents for the first time, after last week’s 84-70 victory against then-No. 14 Maryland.

No. 1 Duke 87, Clemson 77 -- The Blue Devils (16-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off to their best start since the 1992 NCAA champions opened 17-0. And after losses by Georgia Tech and North Carolina, they are the ACC’s only unbeaten team. J.J. Redick scored 34 points for visiting Duke, which hasn’t lost to the Tigers (13-4, 2-2) since 1997.

No. 2 Florida 69, Auburn 57 -- Taurean Green made six free throws over the last 5:25 at Gainesville, Fla., to help the Gators (16-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) extend the best start and longest winning streak in school history. They used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from the Tigers (8-6, 0-3).

No. 4 Connecticut 74, Georgetown 67 -- The Huskies (14-1, 2-1 Big East) beat the Hoyas (10-4, 2-2) for the 11th time in a row. Center Hilton Armstrong scored six consecutive points for the Huskies with under five minutes to play at Hartford, Conn., and the Hoyas didn’t get closer than four points the rest of the way.

No. 5 Memphis 73, Southern Methodist 53 -- The host Tigers (15-2, 2-0 Conference USA) opened the game with an 18-2 run over the first nine minutes and never let the advantage get under 10 the rest of the way. It was the worst loss of the season for the Mustangs (7-7, 0-2).

No. 7 Illinois 79, Michigan 74 -- Dee Brown scored 26 points and James Augustine had 23 and the Illini (16-1, 2-1 Big Ten) withstood a second-half charge to beat the visiting Wolverines (11-3, 1-2) for the 11th consecutive time. The win was Illinois’ 31st in a row at Assembly Hall, tying the school record set between Jan. 15, 1984 and Jan. 4, 1986.

No. 15 Boston College 90, Florida State 87 -- Louis Hinnant made four free throws during the last 28 seconds at Boston and intercepted a desperation inbounds pass with 0.5 seconds left to clinch the first Atlantic Coast Conference victory for the Eagles (12-4, 1-3). Al Thornton, who made three baskets during the last 29 seconds, scored 37 points for the Seminoles (11-3, 2-2).

No. 16 West Virginia 104, Marquette 85 -- The Mountaineers (12-3, 4-0 Big East) routed the Golden Eagles (12-5, 2-2) at Morgantown, W.Va., for their 10th consecutive victory. Mike Gansey scored 33 points, and Kevin Pittsnogle had 30 for West Virginia, which made 20 of 38 from three-point range to break the conference mark of 18 it set last season against Louisville in the NCAA regional finals.

No. 17 George Washington 82, St. Joseph’s 70 -- The Colonials (12-1, 3-0 Atlantic 10), who held the Hawks (6-7, 1-3) scoreless for nearly six minutes in the first half at Washington, never trailed and led by as many as 21 points.

No. 18 North Carolina State 87, Georgia Tech 78 -- The victory at Raleigh. N.C., gave the Wolfpack (14-2, 3-1 ACC) its best start since it won 14 of its first 16 games in 1988-89 under Jim Valvano. They beat the Yellow Jackets (9-5, 2-1) for the seventh time in a row.

No. 21 Wisconsin 68, Northwestern 52 -- The Badgers (14-2, 4-0) remained the only unbeaten team in Big Ten play by beating the Wildcats (9-6, 2-2) at Madison, Wis.

No. 22 Oklahoma 45, Texas A&M; 44 -- Terrell Everett made a three-point basket with 6.1 seconds left at College Station, Texas, and the Sooners (10-4, 1-2 Big 12) beat the Aggies (11-3, 1-2) for the 13th consecutive time and 24th in 25 meetings.

Syracuse 77, No. 25 Cincinnati 58 -- Gerry McNamara scored 29 points to lead the Orange (15-2, 3-0 Big East) past the Bearcats (13-4, 2-2) at Cincinnati for their 12th consecutive victory.

OTHER GAMES

Kansas State (10-4, 1-2 Big 12) ended its 31-game losing streak to Kansas (10-5, 1-1), charging back from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat the Jayhawks, 59-55, at Lawrence, Kan. Akeem Wright clinched the victory by making the second of two free throws with nine seconds left.... St. John’s (8-6, 1-2) ended a 25-game road losing streak with a 68-49 victory over South Florida (6-10, 0-3) at Tampa. The Red Storm’s last road win was a 72-61 victory against Stony Brook on Nov. 29, 2003.