No. 11 UConn needs OT to beat Xavier

HARTFORD, Conn.>> Alex Karaban had seven of his 20 points in overtime to lead No. 11 UConn to a 94-89 victory over Xavier on Wednesday night in the Big East opener for both teams.

Solo Ball led the Huskies (9-3) with 22 points and Tarris Reed Jr. had 20, including four in OT. Reed also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Liam McNeeley hit two free throws with 12 seconds to play in regulation after Xavier’s Dante Maddox Jr. tied the game with his fifth 3-pointer of the game. A late foul by UConn allowed Maddox to tie the game again with a pair of foul shots with 9.4 seconds remaining.

Ryan Conwell had 23 points and Maddox finished with 22 for Xavier (8-4).

NO. 6 ALABAMA 97, NORTH DAKOTA 90>> Grant Nelson had 23 points and 10 rebounds in his return to his home state and No. 6 Alabama overcame Treysen Eaglestaff’s big night to hold off North Dakota.

Mark Sears had 23 points and Labaron Philon added 16 for the Crimson Tide (9-2). Alabama coach Nate Oats scheduled the game as a favor to Nelson, who grew up 90 minutes away in Devils Lake and transferred from North Dakota State.

NO. 9 MARQUETTE 80, BUTLER 70>> Kam Jones scored 23 points and Marquette committed just two turnovers in its victory over Butler in the Big East opener for both teams.

Marquette (10-2, 1-0) had its lowest turnover total since Jan. 8, 2011, when it also had two turnovers in an 89-81 loss at Pittsburgh, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

NO. 15 HOUSTON 78, TOLEDO 49>> Terrance Arceneaux had a career-high 16 points and added nine rebounds off the bench, Joseph Tugler scored 13 points and Houston beat Toledo.

Emanuel Sharp scored all 13 of his points in the first half, and Milos Uzan and Mylik Wilson had 10 points apiece for Houston (7-3), which won its 28th straight home game.

NO. 21 MEMPHIS 64, VIRGINIA 62>> PJ Haggety scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half and Memphis shook off a slow start to beat Virginia.

The Tigers (9-2) trailed 30-21 at halftime and took their first lead at 39-37 on a goaltending call in what became a 26-7 burst that gave them a 47-39 lead.

Elijah Saunders scored 15 points and Taine Murray 14 for Virginia (6-5).

No. 9 Duke cruises past Wofford

DURHAM, N.C.>> Freshman Toby Fournier scored 16 of her 23 points before halftime as No. 9 Duke beat Wofford 93-58 on Wednesday night.

Oluchi Okananwa added a season-high 20 points for the Blue Devils (10-2), who jumped to a huge early lead and cruised.

Rachael Rose scored 23 points for the Terriers (6-3).

NO. 13 KANSAS STATE 83, NEW MEXICO STATE 39>> Ayoka Lee scored 19 of her 34 points before halftime and Serena Sundell scored 18 points and No. 13 Kansas State beat New Mexico State.

The 6-foot-6 Lee finished 14-for-18 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. She is now three double-doubles shy of moving into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles.

Molly Kaiser scored 15 points for New Mexico State.

NO. 17 GEORGIA TECH 88, RICE 57>> Rusne Augustinaite scored 23 points and made a career-high seven 3-pointers, Kara Dunn added 17 points and Georgia Tech beat Rice.

NO. 18 TENNESSEE 90, MEMPHIS 75>> Jewel Spear and Zee Spearman both scored 18 points and Tennessee held off Memphis at the FedEx Forum. The Lady Vols (9-0) had six players in double figures.

NO. 19 NORTH CAROLINA 77, FLORIDA 57>> Maria Gakdeng scored 14 points, Lanie Grant added 13 to lead a balanced attack and North Carolina raced past Florida at the Jumpman Invitational.

— The Associated Press