Fansided

Day one: Maui Invitational recap

By Bernie D'Amato

facebooktwitterreddit
Nov 25, 2013; Maui, HI, USA; Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (5) dunks against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Austin Hollins (20) during the first round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2013; Maui, HI, USA; Syracuse forward C.J. Fair (5) dunks against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Austin Hollins (20) during the first round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 Syracuse beat Minnesota 75-67 in game two of opening round play at the EA Sports Maui Invitational.  Syracuse was led by senior forward C.J. Fair who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and an awesome dunk in 38 minutes of play.  Freshman guard Tyler Ennis had a tough time shooting from the field, but made 10 of 11 from the free throw line along with 5 assists and 5 steals.  Sophomore guard Trevor Cooney had 15 points shooting 5 of 11 from beyond the arc.  The leading scorer for the Golden Gophers was Malik Smith with 16 points on 5 of 8 shooting including 4 of 7 from three point range.

Syracuse moves on to play California in the semifinals at 7 pm ET on ESPN.  California beat Arkansas 85-77 in the first game of opening round play to advance.  Minnesota plays Arkansas in the consolation bracket at 2 pm ET on ESPN 2.

No. 18 Baylor beat Chaminade 93-77 in the third game of the opening round.  Chaminade played Baylor tough in the first half, only down by three at halftime.  Baylor turned it on to open the second half, and Chaminade could not fight back.  Chaminade was led by senior guard Christophe Varidel who scored 42 points, which included 10 of 16 from three point range.  No other player on Chaminade scored in the double digits.  Baylor had a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in the double digits.  Baylor senior guard Gary Franklin made 6 of 10 three pointers to lead Baylor in scoring with 22 points.  Baylor shot 50 percent from the field, and if the Bears continue shooting well, they will be a tough team to beat.

In the final game of the opening round Dayton stunned No. 11 Gonzaga 84-79.  Dayton iced the game at the line making six of six in the final 22 seconds.  The Dayton Flyers were led by Jordan Sibert, a sharp shooting freshman guard.  Sibert finished with 23 points shooting 8 of 11 from the field.  The Bulldogs were led by junior guard Kevin Pangos who had 27 points including 13 of 14 from the free throw line.  Gonzaga’s strategy of starting two centers did not go as planned.  They were outrebounded 42-32.

The Dayton Flyers will play the Baylor Bears at 9:30 pm ET on ESPN in the second semifinal matchup.  Both teams will need to defend the hot shooting guards on both squads.  Chaminade plays Gonzaga in the consolation bracket at 4:30 pm ET on ESPN 2.

Link to updated bracket.

Please follow us on Twitter @fansided, and “like” our page on Facebook.