Basketball roundup: No. 10 Tennessee utilizes Smith's rare triple-double

12/4/2008
ASSOCIATED PRESS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tyler Smith had the first triple-double in school history, helping No. 10 Tennessee romp to an 87-69 win over UNC-Ashville last night.

Smith finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, helping the Vols give coach Bruce Pearl career victory No. 400.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, got his 10th assist on Scotty Hopson's 3-pointer with 7:47 left. A minute later, Smith got a standing ovation when the feat was announced to the crowd.

Pearl, in his fourth season at Tennessee and 17th overall, joined some legendary company by winning his 400th after coaching 509 games. Only Adolph Rupp, Clair Bee, Jerry Tarkanian, Roy Williams and Henry Iba reached the 400-victory plateau in fewer games.

No. 1 North Carolina 98,

No. 13 Michigan State 63

DETROIT - Tyler Hansbrough scored the first basket of both halves and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, leading the top-ranked Tar Heels past the Spartans in what North Carolina hopes will be the first of three games at Ford Field.

The Tar Heels (8-0) took control with an 11-3 run late in the first half, led by 14 at halftime, then built a 30-plus cushion at the home of the Detroit Lions and the 2009 Final Four.

No. 3 Pittsburgh 78,

Duquesne 51

PITTSBURGH - Sam Young scored 23 points and DeJuan Blair had 14 points and 17 rebounds to help the Panthers overcome a sluggish start and beat their city rival.

No. 14 Xavier 81, Auburn 74

CINCINNATI - B.J. Raymond scored a career-high 32 points and the Musketeers remained undefeated in Sean Miller's 100th as coach.

Xavier (7-0) matched the third-best start in its history and the best since 1996-97, when it won its first 10 for the school record.

Raymond and the rest of the Musketeers kept it going by firing away from outside against the Tigers (3-4).

No. 15 Wake Forest 83, Indiana 58

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - James Johnson scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half, and the Demon Decons overcame a sloppy start in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

No. 16 Syracuse 88,

Cornell 78

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Jonny Flynn had 24 points, Paul Harris added 21 points and nine rebounds and the Orange rallied to its 31st straight win over the Big Red.