Illini shake off Wildcats

Illini shake off Wildcats • ILLINOIS 89, NO. 25 NORTHWESTERN 83 (OT): Mike Tisdale had a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and the host Illini spoiled the Wildcats' return to the national rankings after 40 years with a victory Wednesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Fellow big man Mike Davis had 20 points and 17 rebounds -- his conference-leading seventh double-double -- for the Illini (9-4), who beat Northwestern (10-2) for the 11th straight time.

John Shurna had 27 points, including four three-pointers, for the Wildcats, who committed only three turnovers. The Wildcats are ranked for the first time since January 1969.

The game featured 13 lead changes and six ties.

• NO. 11 MICHIGAN STATE 87, TEXAS-ARLINGTON 68: Durrell Summers and Draymond Green combined for 39 points to lead the host Spartans (10-3).

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo did not start reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas after throwing Lucas out of practice Tuesday, citing leadership issues, among other things.

After the game, Lucas said repeatedly: "Everything's good. The team's good."

"I'm trying to be a better team player and a better teammate," Lucas said. "If I lead better, we win."

Lucas had 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting.

• CINCINNATI 71, NO. 10 CONNECTICUT 69: Freshman Lance Stephenson (21 points) was fouled with less than a second left and made both free throws, rallying the host Bearcats (9-3) over the Huskies (9-3) in the Big East opener for both teams. Cincinnati had lost all five previous games against UConn. "That's not an easy spot for any kid to stand up," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said of Stephenson.

• NOTRE DAME 93, PROVIDENCE 78: Senior Jonathan Peoples made five first-half three-pointers and scored a career-high 23 points as the host Fighting Irish (12-2, 1-0 Big East) beat the Friars (8-5, 0-1). Coach Mike Brey won his 200th game in 10 seasons at Notre Dame (200-103). Overall, Brey is 299-155.

• VIRGINIA 72, NO. 24 ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 63: Sylven Landesberg scored 19 points and had two free throws and two key assists in the final 2:36 as the host Cavaliers (7-4) ended the Blazers' 10-game winning streak. UAB (11-2) got a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds from Elijah Millsap.

• WILLIAM & MARY 83, MARYLAND 77: The Tribe (9-2) claimed another ACC victim and extended its winning streak to nine games, handing the Terrapins (8-4) their first home loss of the season. Quinn McDowell scored a career-high 28 points for William & Mary, which beat Wake Forest in November. It's the first time in school history that the Tribe has beaten two ACC foes on the road in the same season.

• RADFORD 80, GEORGE MASON 53: Art Parakhouski had 34 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for the host Highlanders. Parakhouski, the nation's top rebounder, has nine double-doubles this season.

• NO. 13 NEBRASKA 88, ALBANY 41: Kelsey Griffin made all nine of her shots and finished with 27 points in just 22 minutes, helping the host Cornhuskers (12-0) remain unbeaten. Nebraska is one of seven unbeaten teams left in Division I, and the only one in the Big 12.

• NO. 14 OKLAHOMA 95, CAL STATE FULLERTON 76: Abi Olajuwon scored a career-high 25 points for the host Sooners (10-2), who won their sixth in a row.

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