College basketball returned on Monday with a packed opening-night slate that delivered upsets, record-setting offensive displays, and a historic underdog victory. No. 22 UCLA knocked off No. 5 Arizona 84-75 behind 21 points from point guard Trent Perry, while No. 3 Illinois erupted for a 120-45 rout of FDU that included a program-best 19 three-pointers and a 75-point margin of victory, the largest at State Farm Center since its opening in 1963.
Winners
Florida, the new No. 1, opened with a convincing win over Miami as forward Thomas Haugh posted 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal, strengthening his Player of the Year case. BYU's revamped offense exploded for 60 second-half points in a 94-83 win over Ohio State, with Rob Wright III scoring 33. Gonzaga sophomore Davis Fogle announced himself with 22 points in a 78-72 victory over Purdue. High Point and Murray State also impressed with dominant defensive performances in wins over Liberty and Tennessee State, respectively.
Losers
Oklahoma suffered a stunning 68-64 loss to East Texas A&M, a 28.5-point underdog, marking the second-largest point-spread upset in Division I over the past 30 years. No. 18 Iowa State fell 80-76 to Memphis, looking far from a top-10 team without injured defender Killyan Toure. Miami's leading scorer from last season, Reneau, fouled out with just five points against Florida's frontcourt. North Carolina survived a scare against Western Carolina, winning 80-72 after a second-half collapse that forced coach Michael Malone to bench his starters.
Other notable results included UCF edging FGCU 96-95 in overtime behind Dior Johnson's 41 points, and Grambling State outlasting Northern Illinois 89-87 in an early-morning thriller.
