LAHAINA — Michigan State's second game in Hawai'i was a lot better than its first.

Maurice Ager scored 23 points to lead the 12th-ranked Spartans to an 89-67 victory over Chaminade yesterday in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The win came just two days after the then-No. 4 Spartans lost 84-62 at the University of Hawai'i. It also moved them into today's semifinals against No. 8 Gonzaga.

"I didn't sleep very well," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said of the day between games. "We got into the flow better and I feel fortunate to win. It wasn't good enough to pat ourselves on the back."

The Spartans (1-1) weren't bothered by leg cramps against Chaminade (0-1) like they were against Hawai'i when four starters were forced from the game, including Shannon Brown being carried from the court on a stretcher.

"It took courage for these kids coming off something like that," Izzo said. "If you could have seen how people were tightening up after Saturday's game. It's scary."

Izzo said none of the four really practiced Sunday.

"We spent the whole day yesterday getting massages and getting treatment," said Paul Davis, who had 16 points and 13 rebounds. "It was as good as it could have been today."

The Silverswords, the Division II host of the tournament, stayed close for most of the first half and were ahead 32-31 with 4:27 left. But two powerful dunks by freshman Marquise Gray seemed to energize the Spartans and started a 9-2 run to close the half that gave Michigan State a 40-34 lead.

"He's a jumping jack. He jumps and gets rebounds and has those game-changing dunks," Brown said of the 6-foot-8 freshman. "He gets himself and the team going with that momentum."

The Spartans, coming off their fourth Final Four appearance in seven years, took command in the second half by using their size, strength and speed advantage.

A 10-0 run gave Michigan State a 64-46 lead with 13:20 to play, and Brown scored six straight points to make it 73-53 with 8:13 left.

Brown finished with 18 points and five steals for Michigan State, while Gray had nine points and eight rebounds.

The Spartans finished 34 for 68 from the field, including 7 for 9 from 3-point range, and forced 23 turnovers. Ager was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

"We had some spurts when we hit the 3s," Izzo said. "This was an important win for us. I would have been happy if we won by two because I just didn't know what to expect."

Chris Reaves had 18 points for Chaminade, which fell to 4-58 in the tournament.

"I was proud of our guys, especially in the first 20 minutes and then they went off on their runs," Chaminade coach Matt Mahar said. "We were trying to push them off the blocks but they were too big and too strong. Gray is very good. I wish we had him at Chaminade."

NO. 3 CONNECTICUT 77, ARKANSAS 68

LAHAINA — Sophomore forward Rudy Gay scored a career-high 28 points and the Huskies overcame turnover problems to beat the Razorbacks.

The Huskies (2-0) will play No. 9 Arizona in today's semifinals.

Connecticut finished with 23 turnovers and that kept the Huskies from putting away Arkansas (1-1). Connecticut led 55-38 with 11:07 left on the second of Gay's monster dunks.

NO. 8 GONZAGA 88, NO. 23 MARYLAND 76

LAHAINA — Gonzaga's "Big Three" took care of the offense and the Bulldogs' zone took care of the defense in their victory over the Terrapins.

Preseason All-American Adam Morrison scored 25 points, Derek Raivio had 24 and J.P. Batista added 21 for Gonzaga (2-0). The Bulldogs advanced to today's semifinals where they will play No. 12 Michigan State.

The Bulldogs' matchup zone was especially effective over the final 10 minutes of the game, holding Maryland (1-1) to four field goals in that span, three of them coming in the final 1:14.

NO. 9 ARIZONA 61, KANSAS 49

LAHAINA — Arizona had a terrible night shooting and blew a 16-point lead yet the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks (1-1).

Despite shooting 28.3 percent (17 for 60), the Wildcats (1-0) advanced to today's semifinals against Connecticut.

Mustafa Shakur and Kirk Walters each had 13 points for Arizona, with Walters' total a career high for the junior forward. Walters, who was 4 for 6 from the field, and Mohamed Tangara, who hit his only shot of the game, were the only Wildcats to shoot better than 50 percent.

Arizona's Hassan Adams had 10 points on 3-for-16 shooting, Chris Rodgers had 12 on 3-for-10 shooting and Ivan Radenovic was 1 for 9 and had two points.

Sasha Kaun had 12 points for Kansas, which committed 27 turnovers and went 7:40 without a field goal in the second half after tying the game at 41-all with 11:33 to play.