Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. The loss ended a 17-game winning streak dating back to last season for the Huskies (4-1), the two-time defending national champions. It was 92-92 when UConn’s Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis will play Michigan State in the semifinals on Tuesday. UConn will face Colorado, which fell 72-56 to the Spartans on Monday. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn before he fouled out. No. 4 Auburn 83, No. 5 Iowa State 81 Johni Broome made a tip-in with 1.2 seconds left to give the Tigers a come-from-behind victory over the Cyclones in the opening round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Broome finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Auburn (5-0) while Chad Baker-Mazara led the Tigers’ surge by scoring 16 of his 18 points in the second half. Keshon Gilbert scored 23 points for Iowa State (3-1). Next up for Auburn is a Tuesday semifinal against No. 12 North Carolina. Iowa State will oppose Dayton on Tuesday in the consolation bracket.
No. 12 North Carolina 92, Dayton 90 RJ Davis scored 30 points, including four key free throws down the stretch to help the Tar Heels complete a comeback from 21 points down to beat the Flyers in the nightcap of opening-round play at Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Davis shot 10-for-11 at the foul line and 4-for-10 from 3-point range en route to his game-high scoring performance. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists. Seth Trimble shot 10-for-14 from the floor and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line in a 27-point effort for the Tar Heels (4-1). He pulled down 10 rebounds. Nate Santos led six Dayton scorers in double figures with 15 points. Amael L’Etang added 13 points, Malachi Smith had 12 points, and Enoch Cheeks scored 11 points. All four made at least two 3-pointers, as the Flyers went 14-for-32 (43.8 percent) from deep as a team.
No. 19 Arkansas 109, Maryland-Eastern Shore 35 Karter Knox scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and Johnell Davis and Boogie Fland added 16 points apiece as the Razorbacks beat the Hawks in Fayetteville, Ark. Billy Richmond III and Zvonimir Ivisic chipped in 14 points each for Arkansas (5-1), which won its fourth game in a row. Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-7) shot 23 percent from the floor and 15.4 percent (4 of 26) from 3-point range. Ketron Shaw and Jose Cuello topped the Hawks with seven points apiece.
No. 22 Xavier 75, South Carolina 66 Zach Freemantle scored 16 points as the Musketeers kept their perfect record intact, holding off the Gamecocks for a victory at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida. Freemantle knocked down 6 of 8 shots and also had nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the Musketeers (6-0), who appeared in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll this week for the first time this season. Dailyn Swain bundled 14 points, six rebounds and five steals for Xavier. Ryan Conwell added 13 points, Dayvion McKnight scored 11 and Jerome Hunter had 10. Collin Murray-Boyles led the Gamecocks (3-3) with 13 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals before fouling out with 14 seconds left. Jamarii Thomas added 11 points and six rebounds.
