FULLERTON, Calif. — Denzel Valentine had a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and No. 3 Michigan State beat Boston College 99-68 Thursday in an opening-round game at the DirectTV Wooden Legacy, giving Coach Tom Izzo his 500th career victory.

Valentine helped the Spartans expand their 13-point halftime lead to 27 midway through the second half.

Valentine’s six 3-pointers were one off his career high, and his points total was a career best.

After the final buzzer, Izzo’s players gathered around him at midcourt, holding up “Izzo 500” signs and posing for photos.

Eli Carter, a graduate transfer from Florida, led the Eagles with 22 points – one off his career high at BC.

The Spartans (5-0) next play Boise State (3-2) on Friday. Boston College (3-1) plays UC Irvine (4-1) on Friday.

(8) VILLANOVA 59, STANFORD 45: Jalen Brunson scored 18 points and Villanova survived a poor shooting performance in a victory in the semifinals of the NIT Season Tipoff in New York.

The Wildcats (5-0) advance to the championship game Friday against Georgia Tech, which beat Arkansas 83-73 earlier Thursday.

Marcus Allen scored 12 for Stanford (2-3).

(25) TEXAS A&M 62, (10) GONZAGA 61: Danuel House scored 19 points, and Texas A&M advanced to the title game of the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Tonny Trocha-Morelos added 14 points for the Aggies (6-0). Gonzaga is 3-1.

MONMOUTH 70, (17) NOTRE DAME 68: Justin Robinson scored 22 points, including two free throws with 3.6 seconds left, and Monmouth upset Notre Dame in the first round of the AdvoCare Invitational in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Both teams are 3-1.

SYRACUSE 79, (18) UCONN. 76: Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney each had 17 points and Syracuse advanced to the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The teams traded the lead at the start of the second half, with neither able to get much separation.

That changed around the 13-minute mark when the Orange (5-0) tightened their defense, and started an 18-8 spurt that gave Syracuse a 65-55 lead with 7:45 remaining. The Orange then fought off spurts by the Huskies (4-1).

SOUTHERN CAL 72, (20) WICHITA STATE 69: Freshman Bennie Boatright had a career-high 22 points and USC advanced at the AdvoCare Invitational.

Wichita State (2-2) played without senior guard Fred VanVleet, who missed his second consecutive game with leg injuries.

USC (5-0) also got 15 points from Jordan McLaughlin.

(23) XAVIER 64, ALABAMA 45: Trevon Bluiett scored 15 points, J.P. Macura added 14, and Xavier (5-0) won in the first round of the AdvoCare Invitational.

Macura helped the Musketeers (5-0) overcome an early first-half deficit.

Shannon Hale and Justin Coleman had 10 points each for Alabama (2-2).

WOMEN’S TOP 25

(5) BAYLOR 72, CINCINNATI 34: Kalani Brown scored 13 points and Baylor played stifling defense to win the opening game of the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas.

Nina Davis added 10 points for the Lady Bears (5-0).

(15) DUKE 74, IDAHO 68: Azura Stevens scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Duke at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico.

Rebecca Greenwell added 17 points for the Blue Devils (4-1).

The Vandals are 3-1.

NOTES

OBITUARY: Former University of Houston Coach Guy V. Lewis died Thanksgiving morning at his Texas home. He was 93.

Lewis reached five Final Fours. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

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