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Mayo, Trojans Lose Season Opener

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The Associated Press

Published: November 11, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Give it up for the Atlantic Sun.

Mercer capped a sensational week for the low-major conference, stunning No. 18 Southern California 96-81 Saturday and spoiling O.J. Mayo's college debut.

The Atlantic Sun's dream week began Thursday, when Gardner-Webb shook things up with a 16-point victory over No. 20 Kentucky on the Wildcats' home court, then Belmont won at Cincinnati on Friday.

"The Kentucky result was on our mind," USC's Taj Gibson said. "We knew this was a dangerous team."

James Florence scored 30 points and the small-school Bears from Macon, Ga., shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in their season opener.

"There's no way to describe it," Florence said.

Watch out Alabama, Harvard and Boston College. Mercer comes your way next.

"They'll come a lot harder at us," said Calvin Henry, who added 14 points.

Mayo, one of the nation's most prized recruits, led the Trojans with 32 points, but he couldn't help them overcome 19 turnovers and 18 of 32 free-throw shooting. His points were a school record by a freshman in his debut.

"It was tough, but they did a great job," Mayo said. "We need to come out and respect our opponent and play hard. We came out nonchalantly."

GEORGETOWN 68, WILLIAM & MARY 53: It took Roy Hibbert and his Hoyas a while to get going in their opener.

After unveiling a banner commemorating last season's Final Four appearance, No. 5 Georgetown and its star center started slowly before Hibbert came alive to finish with 23 points and eight rebounds in a victory over William & Mary.

The final score doesn't indicate how tight this game was.

William & Mary led for long stretches in the first half, by as many as five points, and Georgetown only pulled away late. The Hoyas never held a double-digit lead until Jonathan Wallace's 3-pointer with under 4 1/2 minutes left made it 58-48.

MARQUETTE 76, IUPUI 68: Jerel McNeal scored 20 points to lead No. 11 Marquette to victory over IUPUI.

Marquette trailed 48-43 with 13 minutes left after IUPUI used a 17-2 run to erase a 10-point lead for the Golden Eagles shortly after halftime.

Marquette responded with a 23-8 run over the next 9 minutes to seal the victory.

OREGON 100, PEPPERDINE 70: Bryce Taylor, Tajuan Porter and Malik Hairston each scored 17 points to lead No. 12 Oregon over Pepperdine in the World Vision International tournament.

LeKendric Longmire added 12 points for the Ducks, who lost in the NCAA Tournament regional finals last season. Maarty Leunen added nine points and 14 rebounds.

PITTSBURGH 88, N.C. A&T 61: Sam Young proved too much for North Carolina A&T to handle outside or inside and No. 22 Pittsburgh romped to its second victory in as many days.

Young showed off a previously unseen outside shooting touch while making four 3-pointers and scoring a career-high 24 points.

No. 13 California Women Edge Fresno State 83-79

FRESNO, Calif. - Ashley Walker had 31 points and a career-high 23 rebounds in No. 13 California's 83-79 victory over Fresno State on Saturday in both schools' season opener.

Alexis Gray-Lawson scored 15 points and Kelsey Adrian had 13 for the Golden Bears, who finished the game with an 11-3 rally.

PITTSBURGH 81, ARIZONA 58: Mallorie Winn scored 17 points and Marcedes Walker added 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 20 Pittsburgh to victory over Arizona in the WBCA Classic.

Winn, sidelined all of last season by a knee injury, had five 3-pointers. Jania Sims also had 12 points and Taneisha Harrison added 11.

Pittsburgh (2-0) used two 15-0 runs in the first half to take a 40-15 lead.

LOUISVILLE 81, BALL STATE 62: Candyce Bingham scored 20 points and Angel McCoughtry added 19 to lead No. 21 Louisville over Ball State.

Brandie Radde had 16 points and Chauntise Wright 15 for Louisville, which jumped out to a 24-11 lead. But Ball State (0-1) rallied to it at 36 with 1:50 left in the half and took the lead before halftime, 39-36.

DePAUL 78, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 63: Allie Quigley scored 25 points and Deirdre Naughton added 23 to help No. 25 DePaul beat Southern Illinois in the season opener for both teams.

Natasha Williams added 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Blue Demons.

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