(21) Davidson 99, James Madison 64

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Most everyone else is talking about Stephen Curry's switch to point guard this season. Davidson coach Bob McKillop wants to discuss the Wildcats' defense. Curry had 33 points and nine assists Monday night and the 21st-ranked Wildcats beat James Madison 99-64 in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off, a rout that began with an 11-0 start fueled by defense.

"Our defense set the tone for this night," McKillop said. "The defensive capacity of this team grows day by day, practice by practice, and I think it can become a major foundation upon which we build this season. What particularly impressed me most was our communication on defense."

Curry made the move from shooting guard to point guard for his junior season, but so far it hasn't affected his scoring. His outing against James Madison (0-1) marked the 16th time in his career he's scored 30 or more points in a game for Davidson (2-0).

He left the game for good with five minutes left, missing what would have been his fourth career double-double by one assist. Curry was 14-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and committed four turnovers.

"Every game we try to get better as a team, and I'm getting more comfortable with the ball in my hands," Curry said.

"It's a different challenge. I enjoy challenges and I enjoy playing this game. Me and my teammates try to have fun every time we step on the court as a team," he said.

Somewhat lost in Curry's usual slew of points is that he also contributed four steals to Davidson's total of 10, the second time in as many games this season the Wildcats have reached double figures in that statistical category.

Davidson, which was ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since the 1969-70 season, has won 27 of its last 28 games, the only loss coming to eventual national champion Kansas in the round of eight in last season's NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats cruised against James Madison, which was playing its first game under Brady, who coached the last four seasons at Marist.

James Madison started with a hiccup, as after Davidson's first basket -- 23 seconds into the game -- Juwann James had to call a timeout because all of his teammates had already run downcourt, leaving him no one to throw the inbounds pass to.

It didn't improve much for the Dukes, who missed their first five shots while Davidson hit its first five and took the 11-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Bryant Barr less than three minutes into the game.

The Wildcats led by as many as 23 points before settling for a 50-30 halftime lead. James Madison came no closer than 18 points in the second half as Davidson extended the lead to as many as 35 points.

Andrew Lovedale had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats, while Barr scored 12 points and Brendan McKillop and Steve Rossiter had 10 each. Davidson committed only 10 turnovers.

Julius Wells had 21 points to lead the Dukes, who shot 35 percent from the field. Kyle Swanston went 4-of-6 from 3-point range and scored 12 points for James Madison and James added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC Greensboro 90, Webber International 78

GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro got a career-high 26 points from sophomore guard Landon Clement as the Spartans held off a late charge to defeat Webber International, 90-78, in the home-opener at Fleming Gymnasium on Monday night.

Clement, who recorded his first career double-figure scoring game in Friday’s loss at Charlotte, shot 10-for-17 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from behind the three-point arc. He also added three steals.

Mikko Koivisto added 18 points and four assists for UNCG (1-1). Brandon Streeter had 14 points to lead five Warriors (2-2) in double-figures.

Holding a 10-point lead at the break, the Spartans scored nine of the first 12 points to open up a 52-36. Clement and freshman Damien Eargle each scored four in the spurt. The Warriors cut it to 11 at 59-48, but UNCG went on a 15-2 run to take a 74-52 lead with 7:01 to play. The Warriors had just one field goal in a 5:36 span during that time.

UNCG’s lead was 26 with 4:24 to play when Webber International made a late run. An 11-2 spurt, capped off by two Streeter free throws, pulled the Warriors within 83-66. Consecutive three-pointers by Luke Marlar and Jordan Scholl cut it to 84-72 with 45 seconds to play, but Koivsito knocked down four free throws in the final 27 seconds to end the threat.

The Spartans hit their first four shots from the floor to jump out to a quick 11-2 lead. Kovisto, Toney and Clement each knocked down treys in the early spurt, Koivisto’s extending his streak to 26 straight games with at least one three-pointer.

But the Warriors slowly climbed back in it as the Spartans got a little sloppy with the basketball. Converting six turnovers into eight points, Webber closed to within three with 12:11 left in the half, 18-15.

An up and down pace continued to lend to sloppy play. The teams combined for 27 turnovers in the first half ? 14 by UNCG and 13 by Webber International. The Spartans opened the lead back up to 10 a couple of times, only to see Webber International close back to within three. The Spartans managed to forge a 43-33 advantage at the break.

Unlike the first half, though, UNCG was able to maintain that double-digit advantage in the second half as the turnovers seemed to lessen at the outset and the lead started to stretch.

UNCG returns to action on Saturday night when they travel to Central Arkansas for an 8:30 pm eastern time (7:30 pm local) tip.