LAHAINA, Hawaii — Terrence Jones dominated inside on his way to 29 points and 13 rebounds, helping eighth- ranked Kentucky hold off scrappy Oklahoma 76-64 in the first round of the Maui Invitational on Monday.
“He’s not used to playing this hard; he’s not used to competing,” Wildcats coach John Calipari said of the freshman. “As the game gets more physical, that’s when we’ll find out is he ready to be that guy. Today was terrific.”
It sure was, and the Wildcats (3-0) needed all of it.
Kentucky and its fabulous freshmen were dominant at times, racing out to what seemed to be rout-starting leads. They also let their inexperience show, nearly blowing an 18-point lead as Oklahoma (3-1) fought its way back into the game.
Jones wouldn’t let the Sooners get there, blocking a 3-point attempt by Cade Davis then sealing the victory with a breakaway dunk that made it 70-62 with just more than a minute left. He finished 12-of-17 from the field, blocked four shots, had three assists — one a nifty no-looker while leading the break — and had two steals.
No. 1 Duke 82, Marquette 77
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Golden Eagles (4-1) tied it three times before the Blue Devils (4-0) went on a 9-0 run on the way to Mike Krzyzewski’s 972nd victory overall, four behind Adolph Rupp on the all-time list.
No. 12 Baylor 72, Lipscomb 60
WACO, Texas — LaceDarius Dunn scored 24 points in his season debut, making four of his seven 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the second half to give the Bears (4-0) a 47-30 lead.
Dunn, the team’s leading scorer last season when Baylor made it an NCAA regional final and had a school- record 28 wins, was suspended for the first three games after a domestic dispute charge involving his girlfriend.
No. 18 San Diego State 77, Miami (Ohio) 56
OXFORD, Ohio — Kawhi Leonard recorded his eighth consecutive double-double, with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and the Aztecs put it away with a 25-point run in the second half, holding the RedHawks (2-3) scoreless for 12 minutes, 35 seconds to improve to 5-0 for the first time in three years.
Women
No. 11 Oklahoma 84, Fresno State 66
NORMAN, Okla. — Danielle Robinson had 17 points and eight assists while the Sooners (3-0) led by 20 less than 11 minutes into the game and were never threatened, continuing a strong start to the season despite losing three starters from last year’s team that made it to Final Four for a second straight season.
The Bulldogs (3-2), who were undefeated in conference play last season on their way to a third straight Western Athletic Conference title, never again were within single digits.
The Associated Press
