Arizona Tribune - Virginia overwhelms Arkansas 91-72 behind balanced scoring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thijs De Ridder scored 16 points, one of five players in double figures for No. 9 Virginia as the Cavaliers routed No. 12 Arkansas 91-72 on Sunday. This marquee nonconference matchup marked the first time the Razorbacks (1-1) had ever played in Washington — a 1985 game against Georgetown took place in Landover, Maryland — and although there were enough Arkansas fans to create a split crowd against the more local Cavaliers, only one group of spectators had much to cheer about.

Sam Lewis added 16 points for Virginia, Johann Grunloh and Chance Mallory had 15 each and Nolan Adekunle contributed 13. Jordan Smith Jr. led Arkansas with 19. Virginia (3-0) was up 46-27 at halftime and led by as many as 27 in the second. The most interesting moment of the second half may have been when a couple of birds, which were somehow inside the arena, landed on the court during a stoppage before being chased away by some of the players.

NO. 10 HOUSTON 86, CALIFORNIA 68 STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 20 points and had eight assists, Joseph Tugler added 16 points and four blocked shots and Houston beat California in the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.

Delrecco Gillespie added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars (2-0), who shot 52% from the field and outscored the Golden Bears 50-24 in the paint. Chase McCarty had 11 points, making three 3-pointers. Mady Cooper led California (2-1) with 19 points, making five 3-pointers. Jordan Ross added 15 points and five assists for the Golden Bears, who made nine of 26 attempts from beyond the arc.

Houston turned an 11-point halftime advantage into a 23-point lead midway through the second half. California answered with a 14-4 run to pull within 13, but the Cougars maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way behind efficient shooting and a dominant inside game. Houston forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 22 points. The Cougars finished with 14 steals and seven blocked shots while holding California to 44% shooting.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tounde Yessoufou scored 23 points and St. John’s overwhelmed Iona on both ends in a victory in the Red Storm’s season debut at Madison Square Garden. Yessoufou shot 9 of 14 on a number of crafty moves to the rim along with four 3-pointers. The Baylor transfer finished with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks in his first start for St. John’s (2-0).

Ian Jackson added 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Jackson hit three 3s in the opening minutes and scored the Red Storm’s first nine points as St. John’s dominated from the outset and scored at least 100 points for the third time under Rick Pitino. Keyshawn Hall contributed 13 while Quinn Ellis had 11 assists to go along with seven points. Lefteris Zsombo Maronka chipped in 12 and Lefteris Liotoupoulos had 10.

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — Rodney Rice had 32 points and nine assists, Alijah Arenas added 30 points and Southern California beat hot-shooting Wichita State in the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic. The Trojans (2-0) prevailed despite making just two 3-pointers, relying on their stars, free-throw shooting and a decisive advantage in turnovers.

Michael Gray Jr. led Wichita State (1-1) with 18 points, while Jordan Frison and William Berg each added 17. Wichita State led 45-43 at halftime after hitting seven of its first 12 attempts from beyond the arc. The Shockers built an 11-point lead late in the first half before USC rallied to tie it at 43.

The teams traded baskets throughout much of the second half before Arenas helped USC gain separation. He scored three baskets during a key stretch, including a jumper following a Wichita State turnover, to support the Trojans build a 75-69 advantage with 6:22 remaining. Wichita State continued to battle, pulling to 86-83 on Frison’s layup with 58 seconds left. But Rice sank two free throws, and the Shockers missed several late 3-point attempts.

W.Nelson--AT