The Associated Press

LAHAINA, Hawaii - Ramod Marshall scored 17 points, including three free throws with 1:50 left that broke the game's final tie, and Dayton beat San Diego State 76-71 Tuesday in a semifinal of the Maui Invitational.

The Flyers (3-0) will play Hawaii in tonight's championship game. It will be Dayton's best finish in the eight-team tournament, topping the third place it took in 2000.

Marshall was fouled by Wesley Stokes as he attempted a 3-pointer with the score tied at 64 in a game in which neither team led by more than six points.

The senior guard made all three free throws to give the Flyers the lead for good.

Warren Williams had 15 points for Dayton, 11 in the first half on 4-for-4 shooting including three 3s, and Keith Waleskowski had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

DAYTON (3-0)-Scott 4-6 0-0 10, Waleskowski 6-10 2-2 14, Finn 3-4 2-3 8, Marshall 4-13 6-7 17, Jones 3-10 2-2 9, Williams 5-8 1-2 15, White 0-0 0-0 0, Iguodala 1-3 0-0 2, Cripe 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 26-54 14-18 76.

SAN DIEGO STATE (2-1)-Walton 4-13 1-2 9, Sanders 8-9 5-8 21, Johnson 5-12 3-5 15, Heath 4-12 5-6 13, Stokes 3-16 3-4 10, Sharper 1-1 0-0 3, Manker 0-2 0-0 0, Slaughter 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-66 17-25 71.

Halftime-Dayton 39-33. 3-Point goals-Dayton 10-25 (Williams 4-6, Marshall 3-7, Scott 2-4, Jones 1-7, Waleskowski 0-1), San Diego State 4-22 (Johnson 2-6, Sharper 1-1, Stokes 1-7, Walton 0-3, Heath 0-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Dayton 35 (Waleskowski 11), San Diego State 39 (Sanders 18). Assists-Dayton 20 (Waleskowski, Williams 5), San Diego State 10 (Walton, Stokes 3). Total fouls-Dayton 20, San Diego State 17.

Ohio State 77,

Central Michigan 71

LAHAINA, Hawaii - Terence Dials had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Ohio State avoided its first 0-3 start in 46 years with a victory over Central Michigan in the consolation round of the Maui Invitational. The Buckeyes (1-2) play Villanova, which beat Santa Clara 53-51 in overtime, for fifth place today.

Ohio State used a spread offense to go up by as many as 10 points in the second half, 68-58 with 4:46 to play.

A dunk by J.J. Sullinger had the Buckeyes ahead 71-63 with 3:19 left, but that was their last field goal of the game. Tony Bowne scored five straight points for the Chippewas (0-2), and his 3-pointer with 1:43 left made it 71-68.

Tony Stockman had 14 points for the Buckeyes, and Ricardo Billings had 13, including four of the closing free throws. Gerrit Brigitha had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Central Michigan, which lost to Dayton in the opening round.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (0-2)-Voorhees 3-9 2-2 10, Brigitha 5-12 3-5 13, Bowne 3-6 2-2 9, Meerman 3-5 0-0 8, Nelson 4-10 0-0 10, Barrett 1-1 1-1 3, Sevalia 3-6 1-2 9, Carr 0-3 0-0 0, Hoskins 0-2 4-6 4, Dentlinger 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 24-58 14-20 71.

OHIO STATE (1-2)-Harris 1-5 0-0 3, Dials 3-9 8-12 14, Sullinger 3-6 2-6 8, Fuss-Cheatham 2-5 2-4 6, Billings 3-6 6-6 13, Bass 0-0 0-0 0, Stockman 3-7 6-6 14, Radinovic 2-3 3-5 7, Sylvester 3-7 0-0 8, Jenkins 2-2 0-2 4. Totals 22-50 27-41 77.

Halftime-Ohio State 42-38. 3-Point goals-Central Michigan 9-22 (Meerman 2-3, Sevalia 2-4, Voorhees 2-4, Nelson 2-5, Bowne 1-3, Hoskins 0-1, Carr 0-2), Ohio State 6-12 (Sylvester 2-3, Stockman 2-4, Billings 1-1, Harris 1-2, Sullinger 0-2). Fouled out-Barrett, Dentlinger. Rebounds-Central Michigan 34 (Brigitha 12), Ohio State 42 (Dials 14). Assists-Central Michigan 13 (Bowne 3, Meerman 3), Ohio State 16 (Stockman 7). Total fouls-Central Michigan 31, Ohio State 21. A-2,500.