This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Annapolis, Md. • Travis Trice scored a career-high 25 points, and No. 18 Michigan State struggled against pesky Navy before squeezing out a 64-59 victory Friday night in the Veterans Classic.

Though owning a decided height advantage and supposedly a huge edge in talent, the Spartans got all they could handle from the disciplined Midshipmen.

Michigan State led 44-43 with 11 minutes left and 53-50 with 7 minutes remaining before Navy went cold. A 3-pointer by Denzel Valentine, coupled with a layup by Braden Dawson with 5:29 to go, upped the margin to eight points. After the Midshipmen got to 60-57, Trice scored on a drive with 1:46 left.

Fouled with 17.3 seconds left and Michigan State up 62-59, Trice — a senior guard — made one of two shots. Then, after a Navy misfire, Trice added two more free throws.

That was enough to enable the Spartans to improve to 35-3 in their last 38 openers, 17-3 under coach Tom Izzo.

Edward Alade led Navy with 12 points. The Midshipmen were outrebounded 38-30 but stayed close by forcing 15 turnovers and committing only 10.

Each team went 6 for 10 from the foul line, with Michigan State getting most of those attempts in the closing minutes.

A 3-pointer by Trice with 17:55 remaining put the Spartans up 42-29, their biggest lead. But the Midshipmen answered with a 10-0 run, getting points from four different players, and Izzo reluctantly took a timeout. When play resumed, Navy missed a chance to tie it when a 3-pointer by Brandon Venturini rimmed out. Trice scored on the other end, but it was hardly the beginning of the end for the Midshipmen.

No. 17 UConn 66, Bryant 53 • Ryan Boatright scored 24 points as UConn opened up defense of its national championship with a win over Bryant University on Friday in Storrs, Connecticut.

Amida Brimah added 12 points and five blocked shots for the Huskies, who won their 15th consecutive season opener.

Dyami Starks had 18 points for Bryant, which led by six points at halftime.

No. 7 Florida 68, William & Mary 45 • Dorian Finney-Smith scored 15 points, Michael Frazier II added 12 and No. 7 Florida opened the season with a victory over William & Mary in Gainesville on Friday.

Michigan transfer Jon Horford chipped in 11 for the Gators, who won their 24th consecutive season opener and improved to 19-0 on opening night under coach Billy Donovan.

Omar Prewitt led the Tribe with 15 points.

No. 4 Duke 113, Presbyterian 44 • Preseason All-American Jahlil Okafor scored 19 points in his college debut and Duke routed Presbyterian 113-44 on Friday night in Durham, North Carolina.

All four members of a heavily hyped freshman class scored in double figures for the Blue Devils (1-0): Greyson Allen had 18, and Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones had 15 apiece.

Duke shot 61 percent, hit 16 3-pointers and had 30 assists — three shy of the school record — in the third-most lopsided victory in school history. —

Friday's scores

1. Kentucky beat Grand Canyon 85-45.

2. Arizona beat Mount St. Mary's 78-55.

3. Wisconsin beat Northern Kentucky 62-31.

4. Duke beat Presbyterian 113-44.

5. Kansas beat UC Santa Barbara 69-59.

6. North Carolina beat N.C. Central 76-60.

7. Florida beat William & Mary 68-45.

8. Louisville beat Minnesota 81-68.

9. Virginia beat James Madison 79-51.

10. Texas beat North Dakota State 85-50.

11. Wichita State beat New Mexico State 71-54.

12. Villanova beat Lehigh 77-66.

13. Gonzaga beat Sacramento State 104-58.

14. Iowa State beat Oakland 93, 82.

15. VCU beat Tennessee 85-69.

16. San Diego State beat Cal State Northridge 79-58.

17. UConn beat Bryant 66-53.

18. Michigan State beat Navy 64-59.

19. Oklahoma vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Sunday.

20. Ohio State beat UMass-Lowell 92-55.

21. Nebraska vs. Northern Kentucky, Sunday.

22. SMU beat Lamar 93-54.

23. Syracuse beat Kennesaw State 89-42.

24. Michigan vs. Hillsdale, Saturday.

25. Harvard beat MIT 73-52.

25. Utah beat Ball State 90-72.