Nov. 10, 2012

Four Atlantic 10 teams were in action Sautrday to to open their seasons. Butler, Dayton and La Salle all picked up wins, bringing the total number of A-10 teams to start the year at 1-0 to nine. Three teams, UMass, Saint Joseph's and Temple have yet to play. SJU will tip-off the season Monday while Massachusetts and Temple both begin the season Tuesday as part of the ESPN Marathon.

Dayton 74, Arkansas St. 61

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Vee Sanford scored 18 points and Kevin Dillard recorded a double-double as Dayton defeated Arkansas State 74-61 in a nonconference season opener for both teams.

The Flyers had three starters in double figures. Forward Josh Benson scored 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Dillard, Sanford's backcourt partner, scored 12 points and had 10 assists, half his team's total.

With Dayton leading 34-27 at halftime, Sanford and Jalen Robinson keyed an early second-half run as the Flyers opened up a 44-29 advantage. Their lead never dipped back into single-digits until the last 2 minutes.

Dayton had a decisive edge in shooting. The Flyers hit 52.8 percent from the floor (28 of 53). Arkansas State, meanwhile, shot just 39.3 percent from the field (22 of 56). The Red Wolves were 6-for-22 on 3-pointers.

Kendrick Washington led Arkansas State with 15 points and nine rebounds. Ed Townsell scored 14 points off the bench.


La Salle 73, Delaware 66

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Steve Zack scored a career-high 19 points and La Salle rallied to defeat Delaware 73-66 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

The Explorers, who led by 15 in the first half, fell behind by a point five times in the second.

Down 57-56 with 6:01 remaining, La Salle used a 9-3 run, with Zack scoring seven points, to lead by five with 2:59 left.

The Blue Hens could get no closer than three the rest of the way.

The Explorers hit 8 of 8 free throws in the final 53 seconds, finishing 23 of 25 from the line to make up for shooting 36.5 percent from the field (23 of 63). Delaware shot 45.2 percent (28 of 62).

La Salle's Jerrell Wright finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Delaware's Jarvis Threatt scored 17 points and Devon Saddler scored 14. Jamelle Hagins added 12 points and 14 rebounds.


Butler 74, Elon 59

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Rotnei Clarke scored 21 points and Butler won its season debut on Saturday, beating Elon 74-59.

The Bulldogs scored the game's first seven points and never trailed. Clarke, a transfer from Arkansas playing his first game for Butler, scored 12 of his points in the first half as the Bulldogs built a 43-26 lead.

Khyle Marshall added 14 points and Roosevelt Jones contributed nine rebounds and six assists for the winners.

Ryley Beaumont and Austin Hamilton each scored 13 points to lead Elon. Butler outrebounded the Phoenix 39-20 with the Bulldogs grabbing 12 offensive boards.

The game was part of the Maui Invitational opening round played at campus sites.


Youngstown State 80, George Washington 73

WASHINGTON (AP) - Damian Eargle's three-point play with 40 seconds left snapped a 71-all tie and Youngstown State pulled out an 80-73 victory over George Washington Saturday in each team's season opener.

Eargle was fouled by Lasan Kromah as he made a layup and converted the free throw to put the Penguins ahead 74-71. Youngstown State made six free throws in the final 25 seconds, and the Penguins escaped victorious after nearly blowing a late lead.

Blake Allen's 3-pointer with 2:40 left put Youngstown State ahead 71-65, but the Colonials charged back with six straight points, the last of which was an Isaiah Armwood dunk following a Penguins' turnover. Armwood led George Washington with 18 points.

Allen finished with 19 points, including four 3-pointers, while Eargle had 11 points.

The win was coach Jerry Slocum's 75th at Youngstown State, tying him for third on the program's all-time list with Mike Rice.