UConn battled back to overcome a 15-point second-half deficit and complete an overtime win, while Houston and Tulane cruised to victories on Wednesday night. Each American team’s top scorer tallied over 20 points, as UConn’s Christian Vital had 29, Houston’s Rob Gray recorded 23 and Tulane’s Cameron Reynolds totaled 28.
Columbia 73, UConn 77
STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Christian Vital scored 29 points, seven of them to go along with a key steal in overtime as UConn came back from a 15-point second-half deficit Wednesday night to beat Columbia 77-73.
Antwoine Anderson added 14 points for the Huskies (5-2), who trailed for more than 36 minutes.
Lukas Meisner had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead Columbia (1-5).
The Lions led 41-30 at halftime and quickly stretched that to 45-30 on consecutive layups by Quinton Adlesh and Patrick Tape.
New Orleans 66, Houston 75
HOUSTON (AP) -- Rob Gray scored 23 points and Houston went 8 for 8 from the foul line in the final 28 seconds to hold off New Orleans 75-66 on Wednesday night.
New Orleans made its four 3-pointers and shot 54 percent in the second half but the Cougars never faltered. After the Privateers closed within five with 2:17 to play, Armoni Brooks knocked down a 3-pointer and Gray followed with a layup for a 10-point lead at 1:13.
Travin Thibodeaux had 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting for New Orleans with Troy Green adding 16 with eight rebounds and six assists.
Houston (5-1) was more opportunistic, turning 20 New Orleans turnovers into 25 points while the Privateers only got 11 out of 18 Cougar giveaways. New Orleans (1-5) was just 8 of 16 from the foul line to get outscored by 10.
Alcorn State 65, Tulane 81
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Cameron Reynolds tied his career best with 28 points and seven 3-pointers and Tulane beat Alcorn State 81-65 on Wednesday night.
Samir Sehic scored 15 points, Melvin Frazier added 11, Ray Ona Embo had 10 and Jordan Cornish nine with five assists for the Green Wave (6-1).
Reynolds had five rebounds, three assist and three blocks and scored his 1,000th career point.
Reynolds' layup put the Green Wave up for good, 11-10, and Tulane used 20-0 run while the Braves went scoreless for nearly seven minutes to take a 42-29 halftime lead.