Glenn Robinson Shines In College Debut For Purdue
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Purdue's Glenn Robinson made believers out of No. 16 Connecticut and a national television audience yesterday.
Robinson scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his collegiate basketball debut to lead the Boilermakers to a 73-69 victory over the Huskies in the Hall of Fame Tip-off Classic.
"He's a great talent," Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun said. "You're going to be writing about him for a number of years."
Just as he did in last Sunday's exhibition game against the Russian national team, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound Robinson virtually willed the Boilermakers back from a second-half deficit.
After leading throughout the first half and being ahead 32-30 at halftime, Purdue trailed 46-38 with 14:03 left.
From there, Robinson scored 15 points and made big play after big play. Connecticut tried to shut him down with different defenses and double-teaming, but to little avail.
Robinson, who missed his freshman season for academic reasons, was simply too athletic and too persistent.
As good as Robinson was, he wasn't the whole story for Purdue (1-0). Cuonzo Martin scored 12 points and held Connecticut star Scott Burrell to seven points on 2 of 12 field-goal shooting.
Guard Kevin Fair led the Huskies with 15 points. Another guard, Covington Cormier, scored 14.
Donny Marshall, Connecticut sophomore from Federal Way, hit five of eight field-goal attempts for 10 points and 4 rebounds.
Northwest men
-- AT SEATTLE PACIFIC 88, SONOMA STATE 71 - SPU point guard Scott Campbell scored 20 points and Tommie Dunham got six of his 11 during a key first-half run as the Falcons pulled away to victory in the final game of the Tip-Off Classic at Brougham Pavilion.
Paul and Campbell, who had eight assists and three steals, were named to the all-tournament team. Joining them were Central Washington's Jason Pepper and Shwan Frank, plus Sonoma's Jeff Polloreno, who led the Cossacks (0-2) with 16. -- CENTRAL WASHINGTON 75, CAL BAPTIST 56 - Shawn Frank scored 17 points as the Wildcats (6-0) remained unbeaten and grabbed a share of their third tournament title this season in the Tip-Off Classic at SPU.
-- AT PACIFIC LUTHERAN 88, FRESNO PACIFIC 81 - Todd Doolittle and Matt Droege each scored 18 points to lede the Lutes to a 3-1 record. William Blue led Fresno Pacific with 21 points.
-- VANDERBILT 83, OREGON 81 - Bill McCaffrey scored 21 points as Vanderbilt beat Oregon for third place in the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.
A McCaffrey jumper with two minutes remaining put Vanderbilt ahead for good. Chet Lawson had 12 points for Vanderbilt and Dan Hall had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
For Oregon, Antoine Stoudamire scored 24 points and Orlando Williams 17.
-- ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 67, TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA 52 - Stanley Jackson scored 25 points, leading Alabama-Birmingham to fourth place in the Great Alaska Shootout.
-- ALASKA-ANCHORAGE 84, DAYTON 70 - Theo Mayhue scored 17 of his 26 points in the first half, leading Alaska-Anchorage to victory over Dayton for seventh place in the Great Alaska Shootout. Alaska-Anchorage (3-2) took charge almost from the opening tap and led 36-19 at halftime.
-- AT MONTANA 76, SIMON FRASER 63 - Senior forward Don Hedge notched 12 of his 13 points in the first half to lead Montana. It was the season opener for defending Big Sky Conference champion Grizzlies, while Simon Fraser of British Columbia dropped to 5-6.