No. 3 Oklahoma State Is Upset by Gonzaga

Backup forward J.P. Batista made eight of nine shots from the field for a career-high 18 points, and Adam Morrison scored 19 to help 12th-ranked Gonzaga defeat third-ranked Oklahoma State, 78-75, Tuesday night at Oklahoma City.

Batista, who had never scored more than 10 points in a game, received more playing time because Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga’s leading scorer, was hampered by an ankle injury and was in foul trouble.

“I knew that Ronny was kind of doubtful for tonight, and I had to prepare myself mentally to step up at the right times,� Batista said.

Batista, a junior college transfer, made his first eight shots and the Bulldogs (10-1), who are 2-1 against top-five teams, used a strong shooting performance to build a big lead before holding on for the victory.

Gonzaga led by as many as 16 points early in the second half but needed a strong finish to hold off the charging Cowboys.

Oklahoma State (9-1) rallied with a 21-8 run that John Lucas III capped with a three-point basket from the left corner to make it 65-62 with 9 1/2 minutes to play.

After a 9-2 run by Gonzaga, the Cowboys drew to within a point on two occasions but could not take the lead.

Backup guard Stephen Graham scored 22 points to lead the Cowboys, and Lucas finished with 19.

Turiaf, who was averaging 20 points, had 10 points in 18 minutes. Coach Mark Few said he believed Turiaf’s ankle was about 50% and he was using the senior only to fill minutes off the bench.

No. 4 North Carolina 96, North Carolina Wilmington 75 -- Jawad Williams scored a season-high 25 points at Chapel Hill, N.C. and the Tar Heels (10-1) won their 10th in a row.

Ed Spencer had 19 points for Wilmington (5-4), which played without leading scorer John Goldsberry, who is out because of a shoulder injury.

No. 7 Syracuse 72, Albany 55 -- Hakim Warrick had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Demetris Nichols scored 10 points in his return after sitting out three games because of a sore back to lift the host Orange (12-1).

Levi Levine scored 15 points for Albany (4-5).

No. 9 Georgia Tech 92, Lafayette 58 -- Freshman Anthony Morrow scored a career-high 20 points, including 11 in a late 27-3 surge by the Yellow Jackets (9-1) at Atlanta.

Lafayette (3-7) trailed, 55-47, when Isma’il Muhammad dunked to begin the big spurt for Georgia Tech with 10:55 left.

No. 11 Connecticut 73, Sacred Heart 55 -- Josh Boone had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double this season for the host Huskies (7-1), who trailed by three points at halftime.

Luke Granato had 19 points for the Pioneers (1-8).

No. 16 Iowa 73, Air Force 63 -- Pierre Pierce scored 19 points at Iowa City, but the Hawkeyes (11-1) had to hold on as the Falcons (6-5) rallied from a 61-37 deficit with 6:36 to play.

No. 17 North Carolina State 84, Columbia 74 -- Cameron Bennerman had a career-high 24 points, leading the Wolfpack (10-1) in the Holiday Festival at New York, where Jeremiah Boswell had 23 points for the Lions (6-3).

No. 24 Maryland 112, Liberty 68 -- John Gilchrist scored a season-high 29 points and Nik Caner-Medley had 20, and the Terrapins (8-2) improved their nonconference home record to 106-2 since 1989-90.

Larry Blair scored 30 points for Liberty (1-8), which has lost five consecutive games.