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Gators keep dancing

Joakim Noah relishes the fans' applause during the Gators' season-opening win over Samford. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Joakim Noah relishes the fans' applause during the Gators' season-opening win over Samford. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Top-ranked Florida opened this season much like it finished the last one – running the floor, creating easy baskets and dominating another opponent.

Once again, Joakim Noah was at the center.

Noah scored 11 points, tied a career high with 15 rebounds and added six assists and four blocks as the defending national champions began their bid to repeat with a 79-54 victory over the Samford Bulldogs Friday night in Gainesville, Fla.

(7) Ohio St. 107, VMI 69: At Columbus, Ohio, Daequan Cook scored 22 points and the Buckeyes opened the season with a record-setting victory over the Keydets in the opening round of the BCA Classic. The point total is an Ohio State record at Value City Arena.

Jamar Butler added 18 points, Ivan Harris 17 and Ron Lewis 15 for the Buckeyes.

(11) Alabama 96, Jackson St. 65: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., Alonzo Gee scored on a crushing dunk on a fast break in the opening minute and went on to score 16 points as the Crimson Tide cruised past the Tigers.

(13) Texas A&M 81, Prairie View 49: At College Station, Texas, big men Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliauskas scored 16 points apiece for the Aggies in a victory over the Panthers in the season opener for both teams.

(15) Boston College 86, New Hampshire 47: At Boston, freshman Shamari Spears scored 23 points in his first college game and Jared Dudley added 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eagles to an opening-night victory over the Wildcats.

(16) Marquette 76, Hillsdale 66: At Milwaukee, Jerel McNeal had 19 points and seven rebounds as the Golden Eagles defeated the Chargers.

(18) Connecticut 53, Quinnipiac 46: At Storrs, Conn., Jerome Dyson led UConn with 16 points, 12 of them in the first half. Jeff Adrien added 14 points and 16 rebounds, as the Huskies escaped with a win over the Bobcats in the opener for both teams.

(21) Texas 92, Chicago State 66: At Austin, Texas, A.J. Abrams scored 28 points, including eight 3-pointers, to lead the Longhorns over the Cougars in the Austin regional title game of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.

(20) Syracuse 83, St. Francis, N.Y. 51: At Syracuse, N.Y., Demetris Nichols scored 15 points, Darryl Watkins had 11 and five blocks, and the Orange beat the Terriers in the season opener for both teams.

(23) Georgia Tech 83, Elon 49: At Atlanta, freshmen Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young had impressive debuts for the Yellow Jackets, combining for 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a victory over the Phoenix.

(24) Nevada 85, Alaska Anchorage 62: At Reno, Nev., Nick Fazekas had 29 points and 10 rebounds and the Wolf Pack went on a 17-0 run early in the second half to beat the Seawolves in the Wolf Pack’s season opener.

(25) Tennessee 83, Middle Tennessee 52: At Knoxville, Tenn., JaJuan Smith scored 16 points and freshman reserve Josh Tabb added 13 to help the Volunteers open the season with a victory over the Blue Raiders.