College Basketball: Villanova will face Purdue in semifinals

Villanova will take on Purdue in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project on Thursday night at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The game, scheduled to start about 9:30 p.m., is the nightcap of a doubleheader that features Alabama and Oregon State in the opener.

The Wildcats (2-0) won their first two games in the tournament, defeating District of Columbia, 78-58, and Marshall, 80-68. Freshman Ryan Arcidiacono had 25 points against Marshall, the first 'Nova freshman to score 25 in a game since Scottie Reynolds did it during the 2006-07 season.

The Boilermakers are 1-1, losing to Bucknell and defeating Hofstra.

The winners of Thursday night's games will meet for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Garden. A consolation game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

- Joe Juliano

Florida 74, Wisconsin 56 - Erik Murphy tied a career high with 24 points just days after dealing with an illness, and No. 10 Florida beat 22d-ranked Wisconsin in Gainesville, Fla.

Mike Rosario added 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists for Florida (2-0), and Kenny Boynton chipped in 10.

Sam Dekker and Jared Berggren had 11 points apiece for Wisconsin (1-1).

Creighton 77, UAB 60 - Josh Jones scored 18 points and Gregory Echenique and Grant Gibbs added 13 apiece as the 15th-ranked Blue Jays pulled away at the end against the Blazers in Omaha, Neb.

For the Kentucky Wildcats, these are the necessary growing pains.

The Duke Blue Devils provided the schooling Tuesday night in Atlanta.

Senior guard Seth Curry scored 23 points and No. 9 Duke held off a furious comeback by the third-ranked Wildcats, preserving a 75-68 victory at the Georgia Dome.

- Inquirer wire reports