Friday's college basketball tournament

Last update: March 22, 2008 - 12:06 AM

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Calathes has triple-double as Florida tops Creighton

• FLORIDA 82, CREIGHTON 54: Nick Calathes had a triple double -- 11 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the Gators (23-11) crushed the Blue Jays in Gainesville, Fla., to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament.

Florida used a 14-0 spurt midway through the first half to take a 29-12 lead on its way to a 39-19 halftime advantage that soared to 49-21 with a 10-2 spree in the second half.

Walter Hodge led Florida with 15 points and Marreese Speights added 14 points and Jai Lucas 10.

Calathes got the triple-double -- only the second in Florida basketball history -- with a layup that gave the Gators a 72-39 lead.

Calathes, a 6-6 freshman, became the first player in Gators history to collect 200 assists in a season when he dished out his second early in the game.

It was the second consecutive impressive NIT victory for Florida, which routed San Diego State 73-49 in a first-round game Wednesday. The Gators have won 20 of their past 21 postseason games as they head for Arizona State and a Tuesday quarterfinal game.

Florida played one of its best halves of the season, forcing Creighton into a dozen turnovers while committing only four turnovers on its way to the 20-point halftime lead.

Cavel Witter scored 13 points and Dane Watts 10 for Creighton (22-11).

• AMHERST 84, URSINUS 58: Andrew Olson even surprised himself Friday. Olson had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to help the defending champion Lord Jeffs beat the Bears in the Division III semifinals at Salem, Va.

"I was a little thrown back," Olson said. "I don't think I have had a triple-double."

Fletcher Walters finished with 18 points and eight rebounds and Brian Baskauskas scored 17 for Amherst (27-3). Brandon Jones added 11 points.

The Lord Jeffs will face Washington-St. Louis today for the championship.

• WASHINGTON-ST. LOUIS 89, HOPE (MICH.) COLLEGE 74: Troy Ruths scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half as the Bears (24-6) beat the Flying Dutchmen (27-4). Aaron Thompson scored all of his 15 points -- including 13 in a row -- in the second half for Washington-St. Louis (24-6). Tyler Nading also had 15 points, and Danny O'Boyle added 12. Derek VanSolkema led Hope (27-4) with 19 points. Jesse Reimink added 15 and Marcus Vanderheide had 10. The Bears went ahead for good when Thompson's three-pointer made it 49-46 with 13:19 left.

Ruths was 11-for-15 from the field and 8-for-9 at the line.

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