Collegiate hoops showcase a slam dunk for fellowship

Pac-12's annual season opener in China forging strong ties on and off the court

The thunderous sound of cheering at Shanghai's Baoshan Sport Center on Saturday provided yet more proof that the Pac-12's annual Chinese showcase is a trip well worth making for the US college basketball program.

The Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 81-71 in the fifth edition of the event. It's the fifth straight year that the conference has staged an opening-week contest in China, with the Pac-12 still the only American sports league, collegiate or professional, to host a regular-season contest here.