Temple routed Richmond, 80-59, to stay out of last place in the A-10. Dionte Christmas did play, combining with Mark Tyndale for 48 points. Tyndale said the win afterwards "might have been our biggest game of the season."
La Salle blew a 14-point lead and lost to Charlotte, 87-80. The collapse began when Explorers guard Ruben elbowed Charlotte's Carlos Williams after they roughhoused it a bit on an inbounds play. That drew a technical foul and down it went from there. But Darnell Harris shook off his ankle injury and got 13 points to easily pass the 1,000 career points mark.
Daily News writer Bill Fleischmann profiles Army coach Dave Magarity, who replaced Maggie Dixon as Black Knights coach after Dixon died last spring. Magarity attended Cardinal Dougherty and Episcopal Academy, and his family still lives in Mount Airy.
Elsewhere in the Daily News, Ted Silary offers his 30th annual list of the top high school players in the city, some of whom have already committed but all of whom are surely worth watching.
In the Inquirer, Marc Narducci previews what could be a record-breaking night for Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee. He goes for the all-time Division II wins record against Wilmington College at 7 p.m.
The St. Joe's student paper previews tonight's game between the Hawks and Saint Louis at the Fieldhouse; watch it at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Penn student paper got to the Penn-St. Joe's game later than I did, but reflects on a successful campaign to get students in the house before tipoff.
And the folks up in Providence get ready for Quakers coach Glen Miller's return to Brown, including praise for Philadelphia as "the best college basketball city in the country."
National news after the jump.
Indiana upset Wisconsin, 71-66, whether claustrophobe A.J. Ratliff liked it or not. ESPN.com's Pat Forde says it is time to give Kelvin Sampson "full credit" for the Hoosiers' success this season. Yeah, that and... oh never mind.
Washington State got Arizona into its current funk, and the Wildcats will try to snap out of it against the Cougars tonight in Tuscon.
In what might be his only ever trip to Texas Tech, Kevin Durant had what the Dallas Morning News says might be "the best game in Texas history" as the Longhorns beat the Red Raiders, 76-64.
Kentucky fans are split over what to wear to Saturday's game against Florida. No jokes about the Wildcats' most famous fan, please.
N.C. State upset Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, while North Carolina put a Bojangling on Miami.
And out in Lawrence, the hype begins for Saturday's big game between Kansas and Texas A&M.
