Freshman Tyler Zeller scored 18 points to help top-ranked North Carolina beat Pennsylvania 86-71 yesterday in Chapel Hill, N.C., the season opener for both teams.
Deon Thompson added 17 points for the Tar Heels, who played without reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough. The senior has missed more than two weeks of practice with a shin injury, and this was the first regular-season game he has missed in his career.
Tenn. 114, Chattanooga 75
In Knoxville, Tenn., Tyler Smith had 23 points and five assists and No. 14 Tennessee defeated Chattanooga.
Tennessee (1-0) entered halftime with a 60-37 lead. Vols freshman Scotty Hopson scored 17 points, while junior Wayne Chism had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Miami 96, Fla. Southern 90
In Coral Gables, Fla., Dwyane Collins had 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to help No. 17 Miami open its season with a victory over Division II Florida Southern.
USC 78, UC Irvine 55
In Los Angeles, Taj Gibson scored 17 points, including six straight in a decisive second-half run, and No. 18 Southern California defeated UC Irvine to win its first season opener in four years.
Gonzaga 83, Montana St.-B 52
In Spokane, Wash., Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt scored 15 points apiece and No. 10 Gonzaga cruised past Division II Montana State-Billings. The Bulldogs shot 56.7 percent from the floor in the second half, converting 17-of-30 field-goal attempts.
Memphis 90, Fairfield 63
In Memphis, Tenn., highly touted freshman Tyreke Evans scored 19 points and No. 13 Memphis beat Fairfield in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tip-off Tournament.
LSU 79, Jackson St. 65
In Baton Rouge, La., Bo Spencer scored a career-high 21 points as LSU defeated Jackson State in the season-opener for both teams.
Temple 70, Charleston 65
In Charleston, S.C., Dionte Christmas scored 26 points and Temple made 10 straight free throws down the stretch to beat the College of Charleston in the Charleston Classic.
IU 83, Northwestern St. 65
In Bloomington, Ind., Devan Dumes scored 21 points and freshman Verdell Jones added 18, helping Indiana beat Northwestern State in the debut game for new coach Tom Crean.
Manhattan 56, NJ Tech 32
In Newark, N.J., the New Jersey Institute of Technology lost its NCAA record-tying 34th straight game, falling to Manhattan in coach Jim Engles’ debut.