Hodge Stirs N.C. State

Julius Hodge had fun comparing himself to Terrell Owens, declaring that he should be the Heisman Trophy winner of college basketball and then quickly reminding all that he was just joking.

“I don’t need any controversy,� the senior said.

Simply being himself was good enough.

Hodge had 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead No. 16-ranked North Carolina State over Purdue, 60-53, Monday in the Atlantic Coast Conference-Big 10 Challenge at Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina State (5-0) missed its first eight three-point shots and shot 33% overall in each half, even though Hodge was eight for 15.

“That’s going to happen,� Hodge said. “I’m going to keep going to my guys, though.�

It was too much for Purdue (1-3), which is off to its worst start since the 1962-63 season.

In other men’s top 25 games:

No. 2 Kansas never trailed in its 85-52 victory over Nevada at Lawrence, Kan. ... No. 6 Oklahoma State, led by John Lucas’ 24 points, beat Southern Methodist, 76-57, at Dallas. ... Daniel Gibson’s 17 points lifted No. 18 Texas over Coppin State, 86-50, at Austin, Texas.

WOMEN

Arizona, which dropped out of the top 25 Monday, routed Texas El Paso, 79-47, at Tucson.