SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015 No 3 Michigan State rout Boston College No 18 UConn fall 79-76 to Syracuse at Battle 4 Atlantis

FULLERTON: took his Michigan State shot 62 percent in the game to another level, scoring, - game’s opening minutes and built a 19-10 ing and dishing off. His teammates fol- lead before Valentine even made his first lowed his lead, making third-ranked basket. The Eagles answered with a 10-4 Michigan State too much to handle. run to close to 23-20 before Valentine’s Valentine had a triple-double of 29 points, offensive outburst gave the Spartans a 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and the cushion. Spartans beat Boston College 99-68 Thursday in an opening-round game at No 18 UConn fall the DirectTV Wooden Legacy to give Connecticut has had plenty of experi- coach his 500th career victory. ence playing in tough, physical games “It’s Thanksgiving, when you’re supposed with Syracuse. In this latest meeting with to give thanks,” Izzo said. “I’m thankful for its former Big East rival, it was the the guys I got, the guys I have and all the Orange’s offense that was too much for people who have helped me have this the Huskies to handle. and special win.” Valentine helped the Trevor Cooney each had 17 points and Spartans expand their 13-point halftime Syracuse beat No 18 Connecticut 79-76 on lead to 27 midway through the second Thursday to advance to the championship half and they eventually led by 34. His sec- game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Tyler Lydon ond triple-double of the season was the added 16 points off the bench. Gbinije first in the event’s nine-year history. also had seven assists. Valentine’s six 3-pointers were one off The Huskies (4-1) will face Gonzaga in his career high, and his points total was a the third-place game on Friday. “The sec- career best. Tum Tum Nairn added 13 ond half they really just took it to us offen- points and eight assists for the Spartans, sively,” Huskies coach Kevin Ollie said. who shot 63 percent and dominated the “We were in a drought in the first half and boards 38-20. They hit 69 percent from the the second half and really allowed them to field in the second half. “We were clicking take over the game, and in transition they on all cylinders,” forward Matt Costello really hurt us with the 3’s.” The teams trad- said. After the final buzzer, Izzo’s players ed the lead at the start of the second half, gathered around him at midcourt, holding with neither able to get much separation. up “Izzo 500” signs and posing for photos. That changed around the 13-minute Eli Carter, a graduate transfer from mark when the Orange (5-0) tightened Florida, led the Eagles with 22 points - one their zone on defense and started an 18-8 off his career high at BC. The Spartans (5-0) spurt that gave Syracuse a 65-55 lead with next play Boise State (3-2). The Broncos 7:45 remaining. The Orange then fought beat UC Irvine 71-64 in the day’s first game off several pushes by the Huskies to pre- at cozy Titan Gym on the campus of Cal serve the win. Daniel Hamilton led UConn State Fullerton. Boston College (3-1) with 18 points. Sterling Gibbs and Rodney played Irvine (4-1) yesterday. After hitting Purvis each added 12. “We learned a lot consecutive 3-pointers, Valentine from it, and we just have to recover,” backpedaled up the court smiling at Hamilton said. “We didn’t get back on star Draymond defense. I think that’s a thing we gotta key Green sitting courtside. Valentine convert- in on. And finishing off at the rim. We were ed a one-handed jam off a turnover and getting there we just gotta wind up finish- dashed over to high-five Green, clearly ing.” UConn’s Amida Brimah was forced to delighted by his alma mater’s theatrics. the bench during Syracuse’s big run, pick- Green stopped over in Fullerton on his way ing up his fourth foul. to Phoenix for the Warriors’ next game. But the Huskies kept picking away at “Draymond being here is really special the lead and closed to 73-71 on a 3-point- to me. I look up to a guy like him,” er by Purvis. The Orange strung together Valentine said. “When he’s in the gym I some free throws to push the lead back to have to play well. I was really focused. My seven. UConn rallied again and trimmed teammates wanted to play well. It was a that lead to 79-76 with 36.8 seconds left. special day.” Valentine scored 14 points in Syracuse was forced into a wild shot with Michigan State’s 25-11 run to open the the shot clock winding down. But it found second half. The Spartans made four the ball in a scramble for the rebound and CALIFORNIA: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo (right) gets a hug from guard Denzel straight 3-pointers in the spurt, with Valentine, who is next to forward Matt Costello, after Izzo’s 500th career win, during an was able to run out the final seconds. Valentine hitting three in a row and pass- NCAA college game in Fullerton, Calif on Thursday, Nov 26, 2015. — AP UConn raced out to a 10-point lead, but ing to for the other. The Syracuse fought back to tie it at halftime. Eagles tried rallying from the perimeter, “If there’s a better team in the country, I halftime, getting 13 straight points from Both teams shot well in the half and getting three straight 3s while closing to haven’t seen them play,” Eagles coach Jim Valentine in a 23-13 run to close the half. shared with ball while doing it. Syracuse 80-59. It didn’t help. Valentine sparked a Christian said. “They have no bad posses- He had eight points as the Spartans rattled had five assists on its 10 baskets, and the 10-0 burst with a basket and an that sions. They’re very unselfish. They make off 10 in a row to launch the spurt that Huskies had seven on their 11 made field pushed Michigan State’s lead to 88-59. the extra play.” The Spartans led 46-33 at produced their largest lead of 15. goals. — Agencies

No 19 Northwestern women thump Eastern Washington

Texas: Christen Inman scored a Showcase. Maggie Lyon added 10 Washington (3-2) within three, 70- shots and committed three of their career-high 28 points, Nia Coffey points, 10 rebounds and three 67, with 3:19 remaining but a buck- season-high 25 turnovers in the added 17 and Ashley Deary scored blocked shots for Northwestern (4- et by Inman and two free throws final three minutes. Hodgins 13 with 10 steals and seven assists 0). Deary’s 10 steals were the sec- by Jordan Hankins made it 74-67 scored 24 for Eastern Washington. to lead the No 19 Northwestern ond most in a women’s Division I with 23 seconds left and the Ashli Payne added 17 and Tisha women past Eastern Washington game this season. Hayley Hodgins Wildcats held on from there. The Phillips scored 15, both career 74-70 Thursday at the Lone Star hit a 3-pointer to pull Eastern Eagles missed four of their final five highs. — AP