COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 26, 2009

UConn coach seventh to win 800 games

MILWAUKEE -- Jim Calhoun's 800th career victory came thanks in large part to senior guard A.J. Price, who scored a career-high 36 points as No. 2 Connecticut beat No. 8 Marquette 93-82 on Wednesday night.

Calhoun joined Bob Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Jim Phelan, Mike Krzyzewski and Eddie Sutton as the only coaches to win 800 games in Division I history.

"I looked around at that list, and I'm really happy to be in their company," Calhoun said.

Stanley Robinson added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies (26-2, 14-2 Big East), who had a pronounced size advantage going into the game but ended up getting the best of Marquette on the perimeter, too.

Jerel McNeal scored 26 points for the Golden Eagles (23-5, 12- 3), who played most of the game without guard Dominic James.

James broke a bone in his left foot early in the first half. Golden Eagles coach Buzz Williams announced after the game that James' college career is over.

VIRGINIA TECH 80, #12 CLEMSON 77 -- At Clemson, S.C., Malcolm Delaney scored 26 points and Virginia Tech ended a three-game losing streak by rallying past Clemson.

Delaney put the Hokies (17-10, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) ahead for good with 7 minutes left, then kept pushing them forward to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.

"If we win a couple of more games, I don't see how they can keep us out," Delaney said, smiling.

Clemson (22-5, 8-5) had a final shot to tie the game, but Demontez Stitt's desperation 3-point try bounced off the rim.

#25 TEXAS 87, TEXAS TECH 81 -- At Austin, Texas, Damion James had 20 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double as Texas beat Texas Tech.

A.J. Abrams scored 24 points for the Longhorns (19-8, 8-5 Big 12), who have won four of their last five after a three-game losing streak.

Nick Okorie scored 24 points to lead Texas Tech (12-16, 2-11), which played without head coach Pat Knight, who was suspended by the Big 12 for one game after criticizing the officiating in the Red Raiders' previous loss. Tech has lost nine of its past 10 games.

Associate head coach Chris Beard filled in for Knight and had the Red Raiders in position to pull off the upset. The Red Raiders led at halftime, and even when the Longhorns went ahead, Tech stayed within striking distance all the way to the end.

At halftime, Texas retired the No. 35 jersey of former Longhorn Kevin Durant, who spent one season at Texas but was the national player of the year as a freshman in 2006-07.

#7 DUKE 78, MARYLAND 67 -- At College Park, Md., Gerald Henderson scored 19 points, Jon Scheyer hit a key 3-pointer with 1:54 left, and No. 7 Duke spoiled Maryland's upset bid with a 78-67 victory Wednesday night.

Eager to avenge an 85-44 loss to the Blue Devils last month and build on Saturday's win over then-No. 3 North Carolina, the Terrapins forged a tie with 5:44 left.

But Duke (23-5, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) pulled away, and by the time Scheyer's pivotal shot from beyond the arc made it 72- 63, the volume of the sellout crowd had already dropped several decibels.

Landon Milbourne scored 19 points for Maryland (17-10, 6-7).

#10 VILLANOVA 74, DEPAUL 72 -- At Rosemont, Ill., Scottie Reynolds and Dante Cunningham both scored 18 points, and Villanova rallied for its ninth win in 10 games.

The Wildcats (23-5, 11-4 Big East) trailed by eight points early in the second half, then went on a 21-5 run to take a 52-44 lead. They were leading 60-48 with about 6 minutes left, but rather than pull away, they had to hang on as DePaul made a late push behind Will Walker's 3-point barrage.

He hit four 3-pointers during a 12-2 run that pulled the Blue Demons (8-20, 0-15) within 62-60 with 2:47 left, but it wasn't enough, and they lost their 15th straight, extending their record losing streak.

#9 MICHIGAN ST. 62, IOWA 54 -- At East Lansing, Mich., Freshman Delvon Roe scored 16 points, and classmate Korie Lucious added 12 to lead Michigan State.

The win gives the Spartans (22-5, 12-3) a 1 1/2-game lead in the Big Ten race over No. 16 Purdue and a two-game lead over No. 20 Illinois.

Michigan State dominated the boards, outrebounding Iowa 33-19.

Jake Kelly had 20 points for the Hawkeyes (14-14, 4-11).

OKLAHOMA STATE 76, COLORADO 55 -- At Boulder, Colo., James Anderson scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, lifting Oklahoma State over reeling Colorado.

The Cowboys (18-9, 7-6 Big 12) are surging with four straight wins.

Byron Eaton finished with five assists, giving him 500 in his career. He is just the ninth player in Big 12 history to reach that mark.

The Buffaloes (9-18, 1-12) continue their downward spiral, losing for the eighth straight time. It is their longest losing streak since the 1995-96 season.

The Associated Press