Thursday's Shootaround: The Big Ten wins their first ACC/Big Ten Challenge in a great night of college hoops

College basketball is finally here. Throughout the night, there were multiple games with exciting finishes happening all across the country and all over your cable package. If you are like me, and don't get the West Coast games (yet ... I hate cable companies), then you missed some fantastic basketball.

ACC/Big Ten Challenge

• Wisconsin 73, Duke 69: The Badgers jumped on the Blue Devils early, and never allowed Duke to regain the lead as the Blue Devils lost their first ever game in the challenge. Every time that Duke seemed to be getting ready to make a run and seemed poised to take control of the game, the Badgers would respond with a couple defensive stops in a row to regain momentum. The best player on the floor was Trevon Hughes. Duke could not keep him out of the paint, as he went for 26 points on 9-16 shooting to carry Wisconsin.
  
  The biggest issue for the Blue Devils was the play of their front line. After thoroughly dominating UConn in the paint, Duke struggled inside against the equally-big Badgers. It was defensively that Duke was exposed. Duke's big men, outside of Kyle Singler, are long, they can jump, and they are as physical as any post the Devils have had since Shelden Williams graduated. But where they struggle is with lateral quickness. When Duke faces teams where to four and five men can step out on the perimeter, knocking down jumpers and putting the ball on the floor, the Dukies are going to be in trouble.
• Illinois 76, Clemson 74: Demetri McCamey picked up his third foul with eight minutes to go in the first half. Without their back court leader on the floor, freshman guards DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul really struggled handling the Clemson pressure, as the Tigers opened up a 51-28 lead early in the first half. With McCamey steadying the Illini against the pressure, it allowed Paul and Richardson to do what they do best - score. The duo combined for six threes in the comeback. Mike Davis was instrumental inside, going for 22 and 9 boards to help offset the Trevor-Booker-effect. Mike Tisdale scored the go-ahead bucket with 41 seconds left, and Demontez Stitt missed a tough, but makeable, lay-up at the buzzer.
• Miami 63, Minnesota 58: How many people expected Miami to be the last undefeated team in the ACC? Miami got 47 of their 63 points from Durand Scott, Malcolm Grant, and James Dews, but it was a basket by Dwayne Collins with just under two minutes left that would give the Canes their final lead. Scott scored on breakaways twice in the next minute as the Canes held on for the win. It was the third consecutive loss for the Gophers, who didn't have an answer on the perimeter. Lawrence Westbrook had 14 in the loss to lead the Gophers. Minnesota will be fine defensively this season, but until they can get consistent on the offensive end, the Gophers are going to have some trouble.
  
• Ohio State 77, Florida State 64: Florida State was the bigger, more athletic team last night, but it was the Buckeyes that took advantage of the mismatches. Playing some lockdown defense, OSU got 22 from Jon Diebler, including five first half threes, as the Buckeyes opened up a 31-20 lead at the break. Evan Turner was sensational once again, as he went for 25, 13, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. One thing to note was Solomon Alabi going for 21 and 10 boards. OSU is not big inside, and if Alabi, a raw seven footer, can get 20 and 10, whats going to happen when OSU faces a strong, skilled post player?
• BC 62, Michigan 58: This game wasn't really as close as the final score indicated. The Eagles got 17 first half points from Corey Raji as they opened up a 34-24 halftime lead. Manny Harris had 19, 7 boards, and 6 assists, but looked frustrated offensively as the Wolverines couldn't buy a three ball until late in the game, finishing just 9-34 from deep. Michigan is struggling defending in the paint right now (expected), but the Wolverines usually counter act that with their ability from three. Until they start shooting well, Michigan is going to continue struggling.
  

Gonzaga 74, Washington State 69: The Cougars jumped out to a 13 point lead early in the second half, but they had no answer for Matt Bouldin and Elias Harris. Bouldin finished with 28 points while Elias Harris had 24 (21 in the second half) and 12 boards as the Zags held Wazzu without a field goal for 10 minutes in the second half during a 26-6 run that turned a 58-46 deficit into a 72-64 lead.

UNLV 74, Arizona 72 2OT: The Runnin' Rebels picked up their first road win as they knocked off the young Wildcats. Both teams had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and the first OT, but missed. In the second OT, Derrick Jasper drilled a three to tie the game at 70 with under two minutes left. After Kyle Fogg missed a lay-up, Trevon Willis hit two free throws to give UNLV the lead. After another free throw, UNLV fouled Nic Wise, who finished with 19 points, 7 boards, and 6 assists, to avoid a three to tie it. After UNLV again went 1-2 from the line, Wise had a last second shot blocked. Derrick Williams scored 28 for Zona, but 25 from Trevon Willis and a solid all around game from Jasper (12 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals) was too much.

Pitt 67, Duquesne 58 2 OT: The last time that this rivalry was played in Mellon Arena was a dandy. Ashton Gibbs shook off a horrid shooting night to score six straight points in the second OT as the Panthers came back from a 40-24 second half deficit to bet the depleted Dukes. Pitt's defense really took control in this one, as Duquesne scored just five points in the overtimes, and two points in the final seven minutes of regulation. Pitt never led until Brad Wanamaker scored to open the first OT.

Other notable games:

• Kansas 98, Alcorn State 31: This one was just unfair.
• Villanova 77, Drexel 58: Villanova held Drexel scoreless for the first 10 minutes of the game, but they struggled mightily on the offensive end, as they were up just 11-0. But a 19-8 run at the end of the first half, combined with 19 and 11 from Antonio Pena, was enough to give the Wildcats the win.
• Tennessee 78, East Tennessee State 66: The Vols slowed down the game against the run-and-gun Bucs as they improved to 6-1 on the season. ETSU trailed throughout, but UT was never able to put the game out of reach. Tyler Smith had 15 to lead the Vols.
• Vanderbilt 89, Missouri 83: AJ Ogilvy scored 25 points as the Commodores held off a late rally from Missouri. The Tigers forced 23 turnovers and scored 29 points off of them, but until Mizzou learns how to score in the half court, the Tigers are going to be a middle of the pack Big XII team.
  
• UConn 92, Boston U. 64: Jerome Dyson twice went down in this one, grabbing his knee, but luckily for the Huskies it wasn't too serious as he finished the game with 22 points to help UConn rebound from the debacle in the Garden. And rebound they did, as the Huskies finished with 17 offensive boards and out rebounded BU 50-25.
• Louisville 80, Stetson 48: The Cards got a season high 17 points from Jerry Smith as they bounced back from a loss at UNLV with an easy win.
  
• Butler 59, Ball State 38: This is the Butler we know. Ball State was held to just 11 first half points as the Bulldogs opened up an early lead with five straight threes.
• Texas A&M 84, Prairie View A&M 59: The Aggies shook off a slow start as Khris Middleton sparked a first half run with back-to-back threes as the Aggies pulled away. Middleton finished with 17 and 7 boards.
  
• Georgia Tech 74, Siena 61: Mfon Udofia scored 26 points and Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors combined for 31 and 17 and the Yellow Jackets led this one throughout.
• New Mexico 86, Cal 78: UNM got 22 and 15 from Darington Hobson, and Roman Martinez hit a three with three minutes left to break a 74-all tie to give New Mexico their final lead.
• George Washington 66, George Mason 49: Damien Hollis scored 25 points for the Colonials as GW won the Battle of the Orange Line.
• Dayton 65, Miami OH 58: Chris Wright scored 14 and Chris Johnson added 13 and 8 boards as the Flyers overcame a slow start to knock off the Redhawks.
• Richmond 67, Old Dominion 60: Richmond used a 15-2 spurt early in the second half to overcome a nine point halftime deficit and held on late as the Spiders upended the Monarchs at home.
• South Carolina 74, Western Kentucky 56: The beat-up Gamecocks got 15 from Devan Downey to lead five players in double figues as USC went up big early.
• South Florida 74, Hampton 55: The Bulls got 16 and 10 from Jarrid Famous as they improved to 6-1 on the season.
• St. John's 63, Stony Brook 55: DJ Kennedy scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half as the Johnnies stayed undefeated with a win over the Seawolves.
• Cornell 104, Bucknell 98: Darryl Shazier hit a 30 footer to force OT, but Louis Dale was too much in the extra period as the Big Red picked up the win. Jeff Foote had 28 and 18 boards while Ryan Wittman added 25 for Cornell.
• VCU 82, Rhode Island 80: VCU got 19 and 11 boards from Larry Sanders, but the Rams missed three front ends down the stretch to keep this one close.
• Northern Iowa 63, Iowa State 60: Ali Faroukmanesh hit a three with 36 seconds left to give the Panthers the win. NIU held Craig Brackins to just 13 points on 4-10 shooting.
• Oklahoma 67, Arkansas 47: The Sooners got 16 and 16 from Tony Crocker as they bounced back from three straight losses. Willie Warren played, but was largely ineffective.
  
• Tulsa 86, Oklahoma State 65: Tulsa won despite getting just 22 points combined fro Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan. Justin Hurtt led the Golden Hurricanes with 21.
• Ole Miss 79, Arkansas State 57: Terrico White scored 19 points as the Rebels cruised to the win.
• Portland State 86, Portland 82: The Vikings hit 15-25 from three and got 21 of Dominic Waters 23 points as they knocked off the Pilots. Portland was ranked for the first time in 50 years before the loss.