UConn Whups Richmond; Cincy Blasts Rhode Island

No. 2 UConn 77, Richmond 57

STORRS, Conn.--Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and fueled a key first-half run as No. 2 Connecticut beat Richmond 77-57 last night.

Hamilton was 10-of-16 from the field and made all seven of his free throws. He also hit five 3-pointers and had six assists.

Scott Ungerer's basket put Richmond up 21-18 in the first half, but Hamilton then scored nine points during a 12-0 UConn run that helped the Huskies take a 41-25 halftime lead.

No. 17 Cincinnati 70, No. 25 Rhode Island 53

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The 17th-ranked Bearcats won their 19th straight season opener Thursday night by using their strength to dominate inside and their speed to cause problems all over the court.

Kenyon Martin had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Bearcats and Pete Mickeal added 15 points and 10 rebounds and also did a fine defensive job on Rhode Island's star sophomore Lamar Odom.

No. 22 Syracuse 74, Coppin St. 56

SYRACUSE, N.Y.--Jason Hart scored 17 points and Preston Shumpert added 12 as No. 22 Syracuse breezed to a 74-56 win Tuesday night over Coppin State.

The Eagles (0-3), who play most of their games on the road because nobody wants to play at the 3,000-seat Coppin Center in Baltimore, were hounded by the Syracuse press from the opening tap.

They fell behind by as many as 16 in the first half and never recovered against Syracuse (2-0)

No. 24 Clemson 82, W. Carolina 56

CLEMSON, S.C.--Terrell McIntyre scored 25 points and became Clemson's career leader in 3-pointers as the No. 24 Tigers beat Western Carolina 82-56 Thursday night.

The Tigers (3-0) took control with a 13-3 run for a 60-41 lead with 9:14 to play. McIntyre and Johnny Miller each hit 3-pointers during the spurt.