Subscribe
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Apts
Classifieds
Shop
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Paul Williams’ summer of work paid off for No. 18 Dayton.
The sophomore guard hit the go-ahead three-pointer and went 4 for 4 from the free throw line in the last minute to seal the Flyers’ 63-59 comeback win over No. 21 Georgia Tech in the opening game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Thursday.
“All summer we were working out shooting free three throws, a thousand after a thousand, and that shows you I can hit it,” Williams said.
Dayton coach Brian Gregory was not surprised by his reserve guard’s performance.
“He’s going to be an impact guy for us, which is what we thought from the beginning,” Gregory said.
Williams finished with 13 points for Dayton (2-0), which got 47 points from its backups, including 19 from Chris Johnson.
“I just come in and play my role,” said Johnson, who shot 4 for 8 from behind the three-point line as the Flyers’ outside shooting countered the Yellow Jackets’ inside game. “I try to bring energy to the team.”
The Yellow Jackets (1-1) trailed the Flyers 31-22 at the half but rallied with a string of dunks and layups by Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal.
No. 1 KANSAS 94, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 44: Tyrel Reed hit four three-pointers for 12 points and the host Jayhawks (3-0) scored 23 consecutive points in the first half to run away.
Spreading the ball around on offense, the Jayhawks shot 57 percent and had four players score 12 points for their 43rd consecutive home win.
No. 4 KENTUCKY 102, SAM HOUSTON ST. 92: DeMarcus Cousins had 27 points and 18 rebounds to help the host Wildcats hang on in the Cancun Challenge.
Patrick Patterson had 20 points and nine boards and John Wall added 21 points and six assists for the Wildcats (3-0).
No. 5 VILLANOVA 69, GEORGE MASON 68: Freshman Isaiah Armwood hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to rally the Wildcats in San Juan.
No. 6 NORTH CAROLINA 77, No. 15 OHIO ST. 73: Deon Thompson had 15 points and 12 rebounds and the Tar Heels managed to hold on in the 2K Sports Classic semifinals in New York.
The Tar Heels (4-0), who led by 19 points with 10:23 to play, will face Syracuse in tonight’s title game of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.
SYRACUSE 95, No. 13 CALIFORNIA 73: Scoop Jardine scored a career-high 22 points, Wes Johnson had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the Orange rolled in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic.
No. 24 MINNESOTA 76, UTAH VALLEY 51: Freshman Rodney Williams had 17 points, six rebounds and four steals in his first start to pace the host Gophers.
WASHINGTON STATE 89, IPFW 70: At Pullman, Wash., Klay Thompson scored 37 points as the Cougars (3-0) stayed undefeated. The Mastodons (1-2) were led by Dealviz Yearby’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Zach Plackemeier and Nick Daniels added 13 apiece for IPFW, which plays at Gonzaga today.
