PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Michigan coach Juwan Howard is preaching a bit of baseball mentality to his new team: just hit singles instead of going for so many home-run plays.
If the Wolverines follow that advice, they’ll clean up the turnover problems that plagued them to start the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Lima Senior graduate Xavier Simpson had 10 points to go with a tournament-record 13 assists and Michigan shot 58% for the game to overcome a turnover-heavy performance and beat Iowa State 83-76 in Wednesday’s opening game for the eight-team tournament. Simpson also had seven rebounds and a steal.
The Wolverines (5-0) committed 22 turnovers, including several coming down the stretch as the Cyclones (3-2) tried to claw their way back from a 15-point deficit in the final 8 minutes. Those turnovers led to 29 points for the Cyclones, who pulled within 80-74 in the final minute but got no closer.
No. 6 North Carolina 76,
Alabama 67
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Garrison Brooks scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and North Carolina (5-0) overwhelmed Alabama (2-3) on the glass to win in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
No. 3 Michigan St. 75,
UCLA 62
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Cassius Winston scored 20 points, Xavier Tillman had 14 and Michigan State (5-2) knocked off UCLA (5-3) in the Maui Invitational fifth-place game on Wednesday.
No. 7 Virginia 46,
Maine 26
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Mamadi Diakite scored 15 points and Jay Huff had 13 as Virginia (7-0) beat Maine (2-4).
Wright State 71,
Miami (Ohio) 66
ESTERO, Fla. — Grant Basile recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double to lift Wright State (6-2) to a 71-66 win over Miami (4-3) in the Gulf Coast Showcase.
No. 4 Kansas 90,
Dayton 84 (OT)
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Devon Dotson scored 31 points, Udoka Azubuike had seven of his 29 in overtime and Kansas (6-1) outlasted Dayton (5-1) to win its third Maui Invitational title.
St. Henry grad Ryan Mikesell led Dayton with 19 points but missed two free throws with 11.5 seconds left and the Flyers down five. Obi Toppin scored 18 points.
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