Sat, Aug 30, 2008
New Orleans players T.J. Worley, left, and James Parlow celebrate after Worley's three-pointer stunned North Carolina State.
Karl DeBlaker / associated press

Mens Basketball

college basketball

New Orleans becomes latest mid-major to pull off surprise

the associated press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.19.2007
RALEIGH, N.C. — T.J. Worley banked in a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left and New Orleans became the latest mid-major to spring an upset by beating No. 21 North Carolina State 65-63 on Sunday night.
In a wild finish that had three lead changes in the final 15 seconds, New Orleans erased a late seven-point deficit by scoring eight straight points in the final 1:48, taking a 62-61 lead with 14.9 seconds left on two free throws by Bo McCalebb.
Gavin Grant hit a layup over Jaroslav Tyrna to put N.C. State (1-1) up 63-62 with 8.3 seconds left, and the Privateers (2-0) frantically inbounded it to McCalebb, who lost control of the ball. Worley picked it up and heaved a three-pointer over defenders from about 25 feet that kissed off the glass.
● No. 1 North Carolina 107, Iona 72: In Chapel Hill, N.C., Tyler Hansbrough had 27 points while Danny Green scored 15 to lead North Carolina in its home opener.
Wayne Ellington added 14 for the Tar Heels (2-0), who never trailed and quickly turned the game into a display of the all-around attack that has made them an early favorite to win the national championship. Five players scored in double figures as North Carolina shot 51 percent in its first game of the Las Vegas Invitational.
● No. 6 Louisville 84, Jackson St. 53: In Louisville, Ky., Earl Clark had 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to lead Louisville.
Andre McGee matched his career-high with 18 points for Louisville (2-0).
● No. 8 Indiana 100, Longwood 49: In Bloomington, Ind., Eric Gordon followed his record-breaking debut with 21 points, Jordan Crawford added 16 and Indiana beat Longwood in the opening round of the Chicago Invitational Challenge.
● No. 16 Texas 100, Ark.-Monticello 52: In Austin, Texas, A.J. Abrams scored a career-high 30 points and Texas cruised past its Division II foe. Texas (3-0) hit 16 three-pointers, two shy of the school record.
● No. 18 Arkansas 70, Virginia Commonwealth 60: In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sonny Weems scored 16 points and Patrick Beverley added 13 to lead Arkansas over Virginia Commonwealth in a consolation game at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
● No. 24 Villanova 70, Bucknell 64: In Villanova, Pa., Shane Clark scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Scottie Reynolds added 15 points and Villanova held off Bucknell.
Reggie Redding had a career-high 12 points for Villanova (2-0), which had a 43-26 rebound edge.
Women
● No. 5 Stanford 81, Utah 77, 2 OT: In Salt Lake City, Jayne Appel scored four of her 30 points early in the second overtime and Stanford avoided an upset.
Appel also had 20 rebounds and six blocks despite drawing her fourth foul with about 6 minutes left in regulation. The Cardinal lost preseason All-American Candice Wiggins when she fouled out with 2:51 left in the first overtime.
● No. 12 California 52, New Mexico 44: In Berkeley, Calif., Alexis Gray-Lawson scored 10 of her 11 points over the final 6:40 and California escaped with a hard-fought victory in its home opener.
● No. 3 Maryland 75, No. 4 LSU 62: In College Park, Md., Kristi Toliver scored 23 and Laura Harper had 14 of her 16 points in the second half to help Maryland beat LSU in the Preseason WNIT championship.
● No. 1 Tennessee 92, No. 21 Texas 67: In Knoxville, Tenn., Candace Parker scored 21 points, including Tennessee's first 11, and grabbed six rebounds and the Lady Vols beat Texas.
● No. 6 Rutgers 67, No. 14 George Washington 42: In Washington, Matee Ajavon made four of five three-pointers and finished with 19 points, and Kia Vaughn had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Rutgers.
● No. 7 North Carolina 97, Syracuse 72: In Chapel Hill, N.C., Rashanda McCants had career highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead North Carolina over Syracuse in the Women's NIT.
● No. 10 Duke 84, UNC Greensboro 39: In Durham, N.C., freshman Krystal Thomas had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Duke won Joanne P. McCallie's coaching debut at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
● No. 19 West Virginia 93, Cornell 52: In Morgantown, W.Va., Yinka Sanni scored 22 points and Meg Bulger added 21 to lead West Virginia over Cornell.
● Minnesota 74, No. 22 Louisville 69: In Minneapolis, Emily Fox scored 23 points and Minnesota overcame a 12-point, second-half deficit to beat Louisville in the final game of the Subway Classic.