Times wires
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Notre Dame appeared to be in control but suddenly got lucky time ran out on Marshon Brooks.
Ben Hansbrough had a career-high 32 points and Tim Abromaitis a season-high 28 as No. 9 Notre Dame hung on for a 94-93 win over Providence on Wednesday night despite Brooks' Big East-record 52 points.
The Irish (22-5, 11-4 Big East) are off to their best start in 11 seasons under coach Mike Brey.
"I'm thrilled that we escaped with a win," Brey said. "I don't know if I've ever seen a performance like that by a young man."
Brooks had the most points ever against Notre Dame, which hadn't allowed a 40-point scorer since Kansas' Danny Manning in 1987. Brooks topped the Big East mark of 45 by Michigan State's Julius McCoy on Dec. 21, 1955.
"It really hasn't hit me yet. Fifty-two against Notre Dame is a nice game," Brooks said. "I was feeling it. It was going to be tough to stop me."
NO. 1 DUKE 78, NO. 24 TEMPLE 61: Kyle Singler broke out of a slump with 28 points for the host Blue Devils (26-2), who snapped an eight-game winning streak by the Owls (21-6).
NO. 7 BYU 84, COLO. ST. 76: Jimmer Fredette had 34 points to lead the host Cougars (26-2, 12-1 Mountain West).
NO. 8 PURDUE 72, INDIANA 61: JaJuan Johnson had 20 points and nine rebounds as the visiting Boilermakers (23-5, 12-3 Big Ten) won their fifth straight.
UC 58, NO. 11 G'TOWN 46: The Bearcats beat a ranked team on the road for the first time in seven years, and the Hoyas (21-7, 10-6 Big East) lost point guard Chris Wright to a broken left hand.
NO. 12 WIS. 53, MICHIGAN 52: Josh Gasser banked in a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to rescue the visiting Badgers (21-6, 11-4 Big Ten).
NO. 19 UNC 75, N.C. STATE 63: Harrison Barnes scored 14 of his 16 in the second half to help the visiting Tar Heels (21-6, 11-2 ACC) pull away late.
NO. 20 MISSOURI 77, BAYLOR 59: Ricardo Ratliffe narrowly missed a double double in the first half for the Tigers (22-6, 8-5 Big 12), who are 17-0 at home.
NO. 21 TEXAS A&M 61, OKLA. 47: Khris Middleton had 13 points and the host Aggies (22-5, 9-4 Big 12) blew it open midway through the second half.
ARKANSAS 77, NO. 22 KENTUCKY 76, OT: Marcus Britt's last-minute layup helped the host Razorbacks stun the Wildcats (19-8, 7-6 SEC).
NO. 23 ST. JOHN'S 76, DEPAUL 51: Dwight Hardy had 21 points for the host Red Storm (18-9, 10-5 Big East), playing as a ranked team for the first time in more than 10 years.
NO. 14 UCONN: Coach Jim Calhoun will skip tonight's game to attend a memorial service for his sister-in-law, Eileen McDevitt Fucile, who died Monday.
NO. 18 VANDY: School officials are investigating how their mascot left a young man with a bloodied nose while crowd surfing Tuesday night.
State
MIAMI 73, BC 64: Reggie Johnson scored 12 of his 15 in the second half to help the visiting Hurricanes (17-11, 5-8 ACC) hold off an Eagles charge.
FLA. SOUTHERN 86, TAMPA 75: The host Moccasins led the entire game to sweep the season series with the Spartans (20-6, 9-6 Sunshine State).
ECKERD 87, SAINT LEO 73: John Harper had 17 points as the host Tritons (20-6, 11-5 SSC) beat the Lions (11-16, 1-14) for their fifth straight win.