Published: December 01, 2008 06:57 am         

Slaughter helps Western Kentucky upset Louisville

College basketball roundup

A.J. Slaughter and Western Kentucky are quickly establishing themselves as a mid-major powerhouse. Just ask Rick Pitino and No. 3 Louisville.

Slaughter had a career-high 25 points, Steffphon Pettigrew added 17 points and 12 rebounds and the Hilltoppers stunned the Cardinals 68-54 on Sunday for their first victory over a top-three opponent in more than 40 years.

“It shows that we can play with anybody in the country,” Slaughter said.

Terrence Williams had 19 points, and Earl Clark added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (2-1), which shot just 27 percent, including 6-of-30 from 3-point range.

“You don’t like to learn your lessons from losing, but to be quite honest the way we practiced all week, we did not deserve to win,” Pitino said. “You reap what you sow.”

In other Top 25 games Sunday, it was: No. 1 North Carolina 116, UNC-Asheville 48; No. 5 Michigan State 65, Wichita State 57; No. 6 Texas 77, Rice 56; No. 8 Notre Dame 93, Furman 61; No. 9 Gonzaga 83, No. 12 Tennessee 74; No. 14 Arizona State 88, UTEP 58; No. 17 Florida 86, UMKC 65; No. 19 Wake Forest 87, Baylor 74; and No. 21 Georgetown 75, Maryland 48.

In Nashville, Tenn., Western Kentucky (3-2) held Louisville without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes in the second half and rode Slaughter and Pettigrew to the program’s biggest regular-season win since knocking off then-No. 4 Kentucky in 2001.

Slaughter also had nine rebounds to help the Hilltoppers beat a top-three team for the time since knocking off then-No. 3 Indiana in 1967.

It also was a memorable victory for first-year coach Ken McDonald, a former Texas assistant who caught the coaching bug by sneaking into Providence practices in the mid-1980s when Pitino coached the Friars.

No. 1 North Carolina 116, North Carolina-Asheville 48

At Chapel Hill, N.C., Ty Lawson scored 22 points to help North Carolina cruise to the win without national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

Danny Green added 18 points for the Tar Heels (7-0), who had an easy time staying unbeaten heading into their matchup with Michigan State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Jason Ridenhour had eight points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs (3-3), who shot 27 percent for the game, including 3-for-18 from 3-point range.

Hansbrough is sidelined by a shin injury.

No. 5 Michigan State 65, Wichita State 57

At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Marquis Gray scored 12 points and Michigan State (4-1) bounced back after a loss to Maryland to win two straight in the Old Spice Classic.

Clevin Hannah had 19 points for the Shockers (2-2).

No. 6 Texas 77, Rice 56

At Austin, Texas, Justin Mason scored 14 points, and Gary Johnson had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Longhorns (5-1), who arrived back in Texas on Friday after playing in the Maui Invitational.

Lucas Kuipers led Rice (2-4) with 19 points.

No. 8 Notre Dame 93, Furman 61

At South Bend, Ind., Kyle McAlarney scored 32 points and Ryan Ayers had a career-high 19 to lead Notre Dame (5-1) to its school-record 39th straight home win.

Justin Dehm led Furman (1-4) with 14 points.

No. 9 Gonzaga 83, No. 12 Tennessee 74

At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Steven Gray scored 19 points, and Matt Bouldin added 17 to lead Gonzaga (4-0) to the Old Spice Classic championship.

Tyler Smith scored 17 for the Volunteers (5-1). The teams will meet again on Jan. 7 in Knoxville.

No. 14 Arizona State 88, Texas El Paso 58

At Anaheim, Calif., James Harden scored a tournament-record and career-high 40 points for Arizona State (5-1) in the 76 Classic third-place game.

Randy Culpepper scored 24 points for the Miners (3-3).

No. 17 Florida 86, UMKC 65

At Orlando, Fla., Alex Tyus scored 25 points, and reserve Chandler Parsons added 17 to help Florida (5-1) overcome a slow start.

Dane Brumagin led UMKC (3-5) with 16 points.

No. 19 Wake Forest 87, Baylor 74

At Anaheim, Calif., L.D. Williams had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help Wake Forest (6-0) beat Baylor in the 76 Classic championship game.

Henry Dugat scored 19 points for the Bears (6-1).

No. 21 Georgetown 75, Maryland 48

At Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Austin Freeman scored 18 points for Georgetown (4-1). Eric Hayes and Adrian Bowie had 11 points each for Maryland (4-2).