A little more than half of the D3hoops.com Top 25 men's teams took advantage of the early start to the basketball season and most did so in a successful manner.

Sean Wallis' return from a broken leg was successful as he scored 22 points to lead No. 1 Washington University past North Park, 81-64. Jordan Delp also returned from an injury to hit a jumper with 23 seconds left, lifting No. 2 Augustana over Simpson 82-79. No. 8 Buena Vista survived a scare, beating UW-Stout 68-61 in OT. After ending Franklin's season in the tournament last year, No. 13 Centre handed the Grizzlies a 67-65 loss to start the 2008-2009 campaign.

Not all ranked teams escaped close games unscathed. Edgewood surprised No. 22 Chicago 101-93 at the Midway Classic. The Eagles were 13-13 last season and didn't score more than 84 points against anyone, but cracked triple digits against the Maroons. Saturday's men's scores.

&&g-boxr&&The most impressive wins of opening day came from teams outside the Top 25. There's talk that unranked Middlebury may be the best team in the NESCAC and the Panthers' 60-59 win over Division II Bloomsburg should keep that conversation going. Aaron Smith led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kean is nowhere near the Top 25 after finishing 9-17 last year. But the Cougars also beat a Division II foe, topping Clarion 68-59 behind Vinnie Darpino's 21 points.

Every Top 25 women's team in action won and most by very comfortable margins. No. 2 Oglethorpe started five seniors and used a 38-9 run to crush Ferrum, 83-65. Cardiss Jackman had a huge game as No. 4 Kean rolled Delaware Valley 94-51. Other ranked winners included No. 6 Washington U. by 39, No. 9 DeSales by 51 and No. 12 Baldwin-Wallace by 39.

Meagun Tubbs' free throw with seven seconds left gave long time St. John Fisher assistant coach Marianne O'Connor-Ermi her first win as a head coach 56-55 over Geneseo St. Likewise Stefano Trompeo got his first win replacing Janice Quinn at NYU, beating Mount St. Mary 61-45. Saturday's women's scores.

Among the intriguing men's matchups on Sunday is a rematch of last year's NCAA second-round game in which Coast Guard won at Mass-Dartmouth (audio and video available). Kean and Baldwin-Wallace meet in a nice early-season test on the women's side.