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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 28, 2008

No. 15 Ohio St. suffers first loss

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Alex Ruoff

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Ruoff scored 17 points, leading West Virginia and coach Bob Huggins to a 76-48 victory over No. 15 Ohio State yesterday.

Da'Sean Butler had 16 points — all but two in the first half — with Darryl Bryant adding 11 and Devin Ebanks 10 for the Mountaineers (10-2), who handed Ohio State its first defeat of the season. West Virginia has won four in a row since a 68-65 loss to Davidson in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9.

"It's always fun to play well in front of friends and family," Huggins said, looking drained after the game. "I had a lot of friends and family here: four sisters, two brothers, their spouses and (kids) and tons of friends. I've spent the majority of my life here. Probably three-fourths of my life here."

Up by seven at halftime, the Mountaineers extended the lead to more than 20 midway through the second half and then poured it on the rest of the way.

William Buford and Jeremie Simmons each scored 11 points, and Evan Turner had 10 for Ohio State (9-1).

The loss not only ended Ohio State's perfect start, it wiped out a 14-game winning streak overall, including last season's five-game run to the NIT title. The Buckeyes had also won their last 54 games in Columbus against unranked teams.

"A start to a bad day ended in a horrible day," said Turner, who finished nearly seven points below his average.

Ohio State, which doesn't have a senior on its roster, wilted when it faced the Mountaineers' physical defensive pressure.

"We were not that tough," Simmons said. "But we'll get back in the gym and work on it, I guarantee."

NO. 11 MICHIGAN STATE 82, OAKLAND (MICH.) 66

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Goran Suton had 16 points and nine rebounds, Kalin Lucas hit a 3-pointer to break a 28-all tie and the visiting Spartans (9-2) ended the first half with a 16-2 run and never looked back in beating the Grizzlies (8-7).

Michigan State's biggest scare came with 2:41 left, as freshman forward Delvin Roe fell to the court holding his left knee, but he quickly walked off the court under his own power.

NO. 19 LOUISVILLE 82, UAB 62

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Terrence Williams had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Samardo Samuels added 17 points and 11 boards, and the Cardinals (8-2) used a 10-2 run to close out the first half for a 37-28 lead they never lost in routing the Blazers (8-4).

UAB hung around for a while before the Cardinals took control late in the first half. Samuels hit a layup to start a 10-2 run that was capped by an emphatic dunk by Williams, who faked a 3-pointer then drove down the middle of the lane for the jam to help Louisville take a 37-28 lead at the break.

NO. 25 MISSOURI 107, SIU-EDWARDSVILLE 57

COLUMBIA, Mo. — DeMarre Carroll had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and five teammates scored in double figures as the Tigers (10-2) cruised past the Cougars (2-11).

For the game, Missouri shot 54 percent from the floor and 8-of-19 from 3-point range. The Tigers entered the top 25 for the first time in five years last Monday, but will likely drop out of this week's rankings following the loss to Illinois.

WAC

SAINT MARY'S 87, SAN JOSE STATE 78

MORAGA, Calif. — Patty Mills scored 11 of his 17 points during an early second-half run, leading the Gaels (11-1) past the Spartans (5-4) and into the championship game of the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic.

Saint Mary's will play Morgan State, a 70-68 winner over William Jessup.

Diamon Simpson added 20 points and 13 rebounds and now needs only 19 boards to break the school record of 916 set by Tom Meschery from 1958-62. Simpson already holds the Gaels' mark for blocked shots.

NEVADA 68, IDAHO STATE 63

RENO, Nev. — Freshman Luke Babbitt scored 16 points, including two key baskets down the stretch, to help the Wolf Pack (7-5) hold off the Bengals (2-10).

Babbitt connected on a 15-foot jumper from the right side to give Nevada a 62-57 lead with 1:30 to play. The 6-foot-9 freshman also drained an 18-footer from the top of the key for a 64-60 lead with 53 seconds to go.

DIVISION II WOMEN

HAWAI'I PACIFIC 78, FONTBONNE (MO.) 54

Mana Hopkins scored 25 points and the Sea Warriors (3-7) raced to a 40-23 halftime lead and never looked back in beating the Griffins (3-8) at McKinley High gym.

Tiffany Wilson added 11 for HPU. Katheryn Kirby scored 13 points and Julie Brown had 10 to lead the Griffins, who are from St. Louis.

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