COLLEGE BASKETBALL / PRESEASON NIT : Williams Leads North Carolina, 101-87

At the beginning of his career, Donald Williams might have let a slow start get him down.

But after being held in check early Wednesday night against Western Kentucky, the junior guard scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half as No. 1-ranked North Carolina held off the Hilltoppers, 101-87, at Chapel Hill, N.C., in the first round of the Preseason NIT.

“I felt very confident with the ball,” said Williams, who was the most valuable player in the Final Four last season. “I carried the end of last year over to this summer and the beginning of this year. I carried that confidence over and I think I am a very confident basketball player out there, not only offensively but defensively.”

The Tar Heels looked like anything but defending NCAA champions in the first half, committing 17 fouls and 15 turnovers.

No. 9 Kansas 69, Western Michigan 50--Richard Scott scored 14 points to lead four Jayhawks in double figures at Lawrence, Kan.

Kansas, which has never lost a November home game, won its 21st consecutive home opener.

Kansas took control with an 18-5 run late in the first half. Freshman center Scot Pollard had two rebound baskets and Sean Pearson scored six points in the spurt as Kansas built a 36-19 lead with 1:25 to play in the half.

Steve Woodberry and Pearson scored 13 points each for Kansas and Pollard scored 12.

Leon McGee led Western Michigan with 17 points.

No. 19 Cincinnati 90, Butler 72--Dontonio Wingfield had one of the best debuts in Cincinnati history, scoring 30 points and taking 12 rebounds at Cincinnati.

Wingfield, a 6-foot-8 center, put the Bearcats in control with 18 first-half points.

Jermaine Guice, Butler’s only senior starter, scored a career-high 37 points.