Tag: NCAAB

Graduate guard Tramon Mark made the game-winning layup with 3.7 seconds remaining, giving Texas (14-6, 3-4 SEC) a thrilling 70-69 victory over No. 13/13 Texas A&M (15-5, 4-3 SEC) in the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown at Moody Center on Saturday.

The Longhorns made a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 22-point deficit with 17:07 left in the second half, matching the program’s largest comeback since the 1998-99 season.

Mark contributed 11 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 three-pointers, 1-1 FT), two assists, two rebounds, and one block in 24 minutes.

Freshman guard Tre Johnson led the team with a career-high 30 points (8-18 FG, 4-10 three-pointers, 10-10 FT), four assists, and two blocked shots in 37 minutes.

Texas secured the win despite missing two key players, Arthur Kaluma (left knee) and Chendall Weaver (left groin), due to injury.

The comeback tied a record set during the 2012-13 season, when Texas rallied from a 22-point deficit against Oklahoma to win 92-86 in overtime on Feb. 27, 2013.

Texas A&M started strong, taking a 7-2 lead after a three-point play by Manny Obaseki at the 15:33 mark.

Texas closed the gap to 17-13 with a three-pointer from Jordan Pope at 10:35, but the Aggies went on a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 26-13 by 9:12.

Texas A&M’s lead grew to 41-20 after a three-pointer by Zhuric Phelps with 2:45 remaining, and they went into halftime leading 43-25. The Aggies made 8-of-15 three-pointers in the first half.

The Aggies’ biggest lead came at 51-29 with 17:07 remaining, but Texas mounted a 13-1 run to cut the deficit to 56-50 by 9:16.

Texas A&M responded with an 8-0 run, pushing the lead to 64-50 with 6:43 left. Texas then went on a 10-0 run, pulling within 64-60 with 3:48 remaining.

Texas A&M went up 69-63 after a put-back by Andersson Garcia at 1:46, but Texas responded with a quick rally.

Mark made a layup to make it 69-65, and after a defensive stop, Johnson hit a three-pointer to make it 69-68 with 46 seconds left. Julian Larry then blocked a layup by Taylor IV, and Kadin Shedrick grabbed the rebound to set up the final possession.

On Texas’ last possession, Larry found Mark open at the top of the key. Mark dribbled toward the basket and made a left-handed layup, giving Texas its first lead of the game. Texas A&M’s last-second three-pointer from Taylor IV missed, securing the victory for Texas.

Texas will next play at No. 16/16 Ole Miss on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m.

Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill scored 51 points and made 10 three-pointers combined in a dominant performance on Saturday, leading No. 22 Missouri to an 83-75 win over No. 16 Ole Miss at Columbia, Mo.

Bates scored 26 points, hitting four 3-pointers, while Grill added 25, including six from behind the arc. Missouri (16-4, 5-2 SEC) held the lead for most of the game, taking control midway through the first half.

Anthony Robinson II contributed seven points, seven rebounds, and two steals for the Tigers, who remain undefeated at home with a 15-0 record. Malik Dia led Ole Miss (15-5, 4-3) with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.

The Rebels started strong, scoring the first eight points of the game, but Missouri answered with 12 straight points.

Sean Pedulla added 15 points and six assists for Ole Miss, while Jaemyn Brakefield and Matthew Murrell scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Missouri went to the free-throw line 39 times, making 28 of them (71.8 percent), while Ole Miss made 13 of 18 (72.2 percent). Despite shooting 48 percent from the field in the first half, Ole Miss trailed 38-31 at halftime, with Bates and Grill scoring 12 points each.

Missouri also made 6 of 15 three-pointers (40 percent) in the first half, half of which came from Grill, and led by a 20-12 rebounding margin.

In the second half, Ole Miss cut Missouri’s lead to 54-51, but a four-minute stretch without a field goal allowed Missouri to extend the lead to 66-56 with 6:12 remaining, thanks to a 3-pointer by Bates.

On a day when NC State men’s basketball controlled the turnover battle and limited the highest-scoring offense in the ACC to just 63 points, the Wolfpack played solid defense.

However, their struggles on offense led to a 63-57 loss to SMU at Lenovo Center on Saturday afternoon, making it their fourth consecutive loss.

SMU didn’t score for the first four minutes of the game, allowing NC State to go on an 8-0 run and forcing the Mustangs’ inside-focused offense out of rhythm. Despite this defensive effort, NC State’s inability to score kept them from capitalizing.

“Defense is keeping us in every game that we’ve had,” said head coach Kevin Keatts. “When you hold a team to 63 points, you know you have a chance to win. The unfortunate thing is we scored 57.”

After senior forward Dontrez Styles scored a tough and-one in the first half, the game shifted dramatically. SMU went on an 18-1 run, which included a six-minute stretch where NC State failed to score and missed 11 shots in a row.

Ten of these were jumpers, most taken off the dribble, showing a reluctance to attack SMU’s seven-foot-two center, Samet Yigitoglu, and a tendency to force shots.

Senior forwards Ben Middlebrooks and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield combined for just six points, while Yigitoglu anchored the Mustangs’ 2-3 zone defense. Keatts defended his big men when asked about the team’s jump-shot-heavy offense.

“Both Brandon and Ben are not traditional back-to-the-basket guys,” Keatts explained.

“They would much rather face up, and we’re not alone in that. The majority of college basketball doesn’t have those guys, most of the post guys are pick-and-pop situations, so that’s not deliberate. Those were just the shots that we got.”

After halftime, SMU made a clear effort to get the ball to Yigitoglu, and his involvement helped extend their lead to 15 points.

The Mustangs finished off the run with a dunk that quieted the NC State crowd. The Wolfpack became frustrated on defense, struggling to spark their offense.

A late push led by senior guard Marcus Hill wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, and the Wolfpack’s losing streak extended to four games. With a quick turnaround to face No. 2 Duke on Monday, the focus turned to getting back to work.

“We can’t dwell on this loss,” said freshman guard Paul McNeil. “We’ve got a big game coming up, but we’re going to practice and stay focused. We’re going to watch film and do what we got to do.”

The loss marked NC State’s fourth straight defeat and their sixth loss in the last seven games, dropping them below .500 and putting their hopes of making the ACC Tournament in doubt. Despite the tough stretch, Coach Keatts found a positive note.

“We have to understand that everybody in the program is frustrated,” Keatts said. “But the great thing about it is not because we’re not playing hard. That’s a different issue.

Our issue is that we’re not scoring the basketball enough to win these games. If we can figure out how to get over the hump and make some shots, then we’re there.”

McNeil, who played a season-high 15 minutes, agreed and backed his teammates.

“It’s bigger than scoring,” McNeil said. “We have to find a way to stay focused. It was hard for us not hitting shots tonight, but we stayed focused and kept the energy high, we just came up a little short.”

With this loss, NC State faces a tough stretch ahead, with six consecutive games against top-ranked opponents, including the Blue Devils on Monday.

“I learned this early in my career here at NC State: don’t prepare for the next six games,” Keatts said.

“You have to prepare them for the next game. We came into this game prepared for SMU and we’ll turn the page tomorrow. We have to prepare for Duke. They don’t know what’s going on at six o’clock tonight as opposed to six games down the road.”

As February nears, every game in the Atlantic Coast Conference becomes important. With only ACC games left, every match offers another chance to secure a spot in the conference tournament.

Syracuse still has games against teams like Miami, Boston College, and Virginia, who are at the bottom of the standings.

However, it’s the teams slightly ahead of them that are most important to beat, as these games will affect seeding in March.

Despite Syracuse holding a one-point lead at halftime, Jaland Lowe’s 17 second-half points helped Pittsburgh win 77-73 on Saturday.

Syracuse (9-11, 3-6 ACC) lost to Pittsburgh (13-6, 4-4 ACC), missing the chance to beat a team with a similar record, which would have helped their position. This marked their sixth loss in the ACC.

Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry felt that it wasn’t the 11 turnovers or 40 missed shots that caused the loss. Instead, it was the timing of Syracuse’s effort.

“Toughness at the time that plays need to be made, they made them, and we didn’t. And that was the difference in the game,” Autry said after the game.

Down by five with three minutes left, Lucas Taylor went to the free throw line and made two points, cutting Syracuse’s deficit to three. Pittsburgh’s Zack Austin hit a 3-pointer, but Petar Majstorovic answered with a floater, bringing the lead back to four.

However, J.J. Starling missed a jumper, and Lowe finished the game at the free throw line, even though Chris Bell’s last-minute 3-pointer attempt didn’t go in.

It was Pittsburgh’s game from the start and to the finish. After winning the opening tip, Pittsburgh moved the ball around quickly, with Cameron Corhen finishing a layup. After a missed floater on the next possession, Corhen finished a lob pass from Guillermo Diaz Graham.

Syracuse had a strong start

Syracuse started strong, jumping out to a 13-4 lead in the first four minutes thanks to several 3-pointers. Starling hit a three from the top of the key to open the game, followed by a three from Jyáre Davis and a left-corner 3 from Elijah Moore.

Pittsburgh responded with their star players, Lowe and Ishmael Leggett, getting going. Leggett hit a 3-pointer, followed by a Lowe and-one play.

The duo came into the game averaging a combined 33.9 points per game, and on Saturday, they were the key players for Pittsburgh’s offense. Syracuse, however, used its rebounding advantage to fuel their offense.

Syracuse is ranked fifth in the ACC for rebounding, and with Eddie Lampkin Jr. dominating inside, they outrebounded Pittsburgh 8-4 early. This helped Syracuse take an 18-15 lead despite five turnovers.

As the first half went on, Pittsburgh’s press became more effective, and they regained the lead with a fast break to the basket. But Majstorovic hit a 3-pointer, and later converted a tip-in to give Syracuse a 23-21 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Starling picked up two quick fouls and had to sit out, with Jaquan Carlos and Taylor taking over. The team built a 28-23 lead, and Starling stayed on the bench for the rest of the half.

Pittsburgh’s head coach Jeff Capel said the best way to defend Starling was by keeping him on the bench. Despite Starling’s absence, Syracuse ended the half with a 33-32 lead.

“We knew Pittsburgh would play a better first half, holding it to 32 points, we knew the second half would be a little bit more challenging,” Autry said. “But for the most part, it wasn’t good enough.”

Corhen came out strong in the second half, starting with a dunk to give Pittsburgh a 34-33 lead.

Starling quickly returned to the game and hit a three-pointer, but Diaz Graham answered with a 3-pointer to put Pittsburgh up 41-38 with 16:54 remaining. Lampkin responded with a basket inside.

Lampkin set a career-high with 23 rebounds, surpassing his previous record of 14 from his time at TCU.

It was the most rebounds by a Syracuse player in a single game this season. Despite this achievement, Lampkin wasn’t celebrating the performance.

Lampkin Jr. was not happy about the rebounds

“I don’t really care about 23 rebounds, but I lost, so it ain’t like I can go be happy and cheer about it, but I feel like I can go get more,” Lampkin Jr. said.

Syracuse tied the game at 43-43 with a 3-pointer from Moore, but Pittsburgh regained the lead with a floater from Lowe. Starling reentered in place of Carlos and quickly tied the game with a layup.

The game turned into a battle between Lowe and Starling. Lowe hit a left-handed floater, and after a Pittsburgh defensive stop, he followed up with another floater and added a free throw for an and-one.

Autry saw Lowe’s 17 second-half points as a result of his off-ball movement, which made it harder for Syracuse’s defense to keep up. Capel said it was mainly due to the other players around Lowe stepping up and making shots.

Lowe scored again, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 53-45, their largest of the game. Syracuse responded with a 5-0 run, capped by a 3 from Bell. But Pittsburgh answered with a 5-0 run of their own to push the lead back to eight with eight minutes remaining.

With contributions from Starling, Lampkin, and a few 3-pointers from Bell, Syracuse fought to stay in the game. However, Lowe led Pittsburgh to victory, pushing Syracuse further down in the ACC standings.

After the game, Autry stood at the podium, gripping the sides of the desk. He spoke with a grim expression, rarely looking up from his stat sheet for over a minute.

Autry closed his eyes, rubbed his head with his left hand, and reflected on another tough loss. In his second season as head coach, he finds himself with more questions than answers, but knows he has to keep going.

“This is part of this journey. This is part of our season, and we gotta keep picking ourselves back up,” Autry said.

North Carolina held Boston College scoreless for the last 2:10 of overtime, finishing the game on a 6-0 run to narrowly win 102-96 and end a two-game losing streak on Saturday at the Smith Center.

After Boston College made 14 three-pointers, a season-high, North Carolina’s defense tightened up in the final minute of regulation and overtime to secure the victory in a high-scoring game.

Seth Trimble scored four points in the final 18.6 seconds of regulation to force overtime, and RJ Davis scored seven points in the extra period (matching BC’s seven points in overtime). The Tar Heels made all four of their field goals in overtime.

“We were locked in defensively for the last 18.6 seconds and in overtime,” said head coach Hubert Davis. “We got the stops, deflections, and steals we needed to get back in the game and win.”

Davis led the team with 22 points, shooting 6 for 11 from the field and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds and recorded five assists without any turnovers.

Trimble achieved his second career double-double, finishing with 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in 43 minutes, which was also a career-high.

“We were fortunate to get into overtime,” Trimble said. “We committed to winning. We were on our home court, and we don’t want to lose at home or in overtime. We locked in and got the stops we needed.”

Ian Jackson scored 19 points, including 15 in the second half. He made 8 of 13 shots, bouncing back after shooting just 4 for 18 in the previous two games. Jackson also hit 2 of 3 three-pointers.

Jalen Washington scored 18 points

Jalen Washington scored 12 points in the first half and finished with 18 points, matching his career high. He also had six rebounds (four offensive) and three assists. Washington’s performance helped the Tar Heels score a season-high 58 points in the paint.

North Carolina played well in the first half, shooting 58 percent from the field as a team, but they couldn’t shake off Boston College, who had lost five straight games before this matchup. UNC finished the game shooting 55.6 percent overall.

Boston College shot 55 percent in the first half, took its first lead in the final six minutes, and stretched it to a five-point lead after halftime. The Eagles made a season-high 14 three-pointers, shooting 58.3 percent (14 for 24).

“It took everybody on the court and on the bench,” RJ Davis said. “We persevered and fought until the end. We made crucial defensive stops and executed on offense. It was big for us.”

The win brought UNC’s record to 13-8, 6-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Boston College lost its sixth straight game, dropping to 9-11, 1-8.

UNC now holds a 24-9 all-time record against Boston College, including 22-5 since BC joined the ACC in 2005-06. The Tar Heels have won six straight and 18 of the last 19 games in the series.

Donald Hand Jr. scored 26 points for the Eagles, while Dion Brown added 20 before fouling out in the final minute of regulation.

UNC scored 100 points in an overtime game against an ACC opponent for the first time since beating Clemson 103-93 on February 19, 2008. Carolina is 6-1 all-time when scoring 100 points in overtime against ACC teams.

Nate Oats wanted to see his team’s maturity in Saturday night’s game against LSU, especially since Alabama was aiming for an SEC title.

The Crimson Tide had to prove themselves without their top scorer for the second half, and after some early turnovers and mistakes, they managed to pull away in the final minutes to win 80-73 at Coleman Coliseum.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys in the second half,” Oats said.

Mark Sears, who has been averaging nearly 19 points per game this season, was scoreless in the first half and didn’t play at all in the second half.

Oats didn’t give a specific reason but said the coaching staff chose to play the players who gave the team the best chance to win.

Forward Clifford Omoruyi also didn’t start the second half, though Oats was happy with his performance after he grabbed four points and seven rebounds in the second half.

The game was close, with 13 lead changes and eight ties. Alabama led by five or six points for most of the second half, but they went on an 8-0 run after the last media timeout to lead by 13 with just over two minutes left. LSU fought back and cut the lead to six with less than a minute to go.

In the first half, Alabama struggled with turnovers and allowed LSU to get 13 offensive rebounds. That kept LSU in the game, and the score was tied 40-40 at halftime.

In the second half, Alabama improved, allowing just four offensive rebounds and only four second-chance points. Guard Aden Holloway said the team focused on rebounding at halftime.

“In the first half, we were playing–– not bad ––but they would just give that little extra effort to go get the offensive rebound,” Holloway said. “And we just made it a super key to just give that little bit of extra umph to just finish the possession, give us extra possessions on offense.”

The Crimson Tide also improved their free throw shooting, hitting 79 percent and making crucial free throws in the final minutes.

Chris Youngblood made his first start for Alabama, scoring seven of the team’s first nine points and finishing with 13 points. Holloway led the team with 19 points.

“It felt good,” Youngblood said after the game. “You know, it’s funny, because at first, my family thought I was going to be mad about not starting, but I was like, ‘Man, this team is wonderful.'”

With the win, Alabama improves to 17-3 (6-1 SEC). They will face No. 14 Mississippi State next on Wednesday.

On January 25, Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball defeated No. 9 Kentucky 74-69 at Memorial Gymnasium, marking their second big win of the season.

After previously beating No. 6 Tennessee on January 18, the Commodores celebrated with another court-storming victory.

Jason Edwards led Vanderbilt in scoring with 18 points. He was supported by Devin McGlockton with 14 points, Tyler Nickel who added 11, and Jaylen Carey with 10 points.

“The way we just bounced back from that loss [Alabama] is really proof that our guys are super tough,” Edwards said after the game. “I feel like we can be one of the best teams in the country. We can compete with anybody.”

Devin McGlockton won the opening tip for Vanderbilt, but Chris Manon missed a corner three-pointer, which allowed Kentucky to score first with a dunk.

Jason Edwards quickly responded with a three-pointer from the top of the key. Kentucky answered with a layup, but Edwards matched that with a layup of his own, putting the Commodores ahead 5-4 early on.

After missed shots on both sides, Manon added an impressive dunk to extend Vanderbilt’s lead to 7-4.

Kentucky then scored another two-pointer in the paint. Both teams had several possessions without scoring, but then the three-point shooting picked up.

Vanderbilt’s Edwards, Kentucky’s Ansley Almonor, and Jaxson Robinson each hit a three-pointer in succession.

The Commodores then scored five unanswered points, with Edwards hitting a mid-range jumper and McGlockton sinking a three-pointer, making the score 15-12. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope called a timeout to regroup.

Kentucky responded with a dunk out of the timeout, and Vanderbilt missed back-to-back three-point attempts from MJ Collins and Tyler Nickel. Vanderbilt’s defense stepped up, forcing four scoreless possessions from Kentucky, and Jaylen Carey hit a three-pointer to make it 18-16 in favor of Vanderbilt before a media timeout.

Vanderbilt’s defense held Kentucky for 25 seconds before Koby Brea drained a deep three-pointer, giving Kentucky its first lead since the game’s opening basket. Nickel answered with a three-pointer for Vanderbilt, but Kentucky hit one right back.

Amari Williams bounced back

A blocked shot attempt by McGlockton put Kentucky’s Amari Williams on the ground, but Williams bounced back and made one of two free throws. Nickel answered with a three-pointer to put Vanderbilt ahead at 24-23. McGlockton and Edwards added layups, increasing the lead to 28-23.

Vanderbilt then had a few sloppy turnovers on fast breaks, but Kentucky only capitalized on one of them with a single bucket.

Manon and Carey each scored layups, and Carey added a huge dunk off a Kentucky turnover, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Kentucky called a timeout with Vanderbilt leading 34-25.

Out of the timeout, Kentucky couldn’t take advantage, and Carey missed two free throws, but he quickly made up for it with a block on defense. Collins then hit a three-pointer, and Kentucky’s Brandon Garrison scored a floater to cut into Vanderbilt’s lead.

But the Commodores played well as a team, and McGlockton scored an easy bucket to make it 39-27.

Vanderbilt forced another turnover, and Collins finished with a layup. The Commodores’ defense remained strong, and they led 41-27 at halftime.

Vanderbilt missed an early chance to score in the second half, and Kentucky took advantage with a three-pointer to shift momentum their way.

Edwards fouled Otega Oweh, sending him to the free-throw line where he made both shots, cutting Vanderbilt’s lead to 41-31.

A defensive mix-up left a Kentucky player wide open for a corner three, which got the Kentucky fans excited.

Chants for Kentucky echoed in Memorial Gymnasium, prompting Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington to call a timeout.

Manon missed a wide-open three-pointer out of the timeout, and then fouled Oweh again, who made both free throws. AJ Hoggard hit a three-pointer to give Vanderbilt some breathing room, with the score now 44-38.

A controversial foul sent Williams to the line for Kentucky, where he made one of his free throws. Nickel responded with a three-pointer, but after both teams traded two-point baskets, Kentucky hit a three-pointer of their own. After a media timeout, the score stood at 49-44 in favor of Vanderbilt.

Edwards missed a tough three-pointer after the break, and Kentucky capitalized with a jumper to cut the deficit.

Vanderbilt struggled with some unproductive possessions, and Kentucky brought the score within one point. Nickel managed a tough layup, making it 51-48.

On the next possession, Kentucky tied the game with a three-pointer, and the crowd went wild. After a media timeout, Kentucky went on a 24-10 run to start the second half.

Manon went to the free-throw line but missed both attempts, and Kentucky capitalized with a layup.

Jaylen Carey took the game close

Vanderbilt allowed four unanswered points, but Jaylen Carey hit his second three-pointer of the night to bring the score to 58-54 in favor of Kentucky.

A block by McGlockton gave Vanderbilt a much-needed defensive spark and got the crowd back into the game.

McGlockton hit a three-pointer out of a timeout to make it 58-57, but Oweh responded with a dunk to give Kentucky a bit of a cushion.

Edwards got two shots from the free-throw line but only made one, continuing Vanderbilt’s struggles from the charity stripe. The Commodores were just 1-for-6 from the line at that point.

Nickel found himself at the line soon after and made both free throws to tie the game at 60.

Oweh responded with a floater to give Kentucky the lead back. Tyler Tanner quickly tied the game again with a layup, but another foul sent Oweh to the line, where he made one shot to put Kentucky ahead 63-62.

Tanner played a key role, assisting McGlockton for a basket before scoring a fast-break layup of his own.

After another free-throw attempt by Oweh, Kentucky regained possession and hit a three-pointer to lead 69-68. Hoggard then scored a layup to keep Kentucky ahead.

With just 1:36 left, Nickel hit a clutch three-pointer to give Vanderbilt the lead at 71-69. Kentucky’s head coach Mark Pope called a timeout, but McGlockton stole the ball, which led Byington to call a timeout with 1:21 left.

McGlockton hit a jumper after the timeout, extending the lead to four points. Oweh turned the ball over, and Edwards was fouled. He made the first free throw to make it 74-69 with 24 seconds left.

Edwards missed the second free throw, and while Manon recovered the ball, he stumbled out of bounds before another timeout was called, giving Kentucky possession.

However, Kentucky missed a three-pointer, and Hoggard went to the free-throw line but missed. With no further scoring attempts from Kentucky, Vanderbilt secured the 74-69 victory.

This win marked Vanderbilt’s second top-10 victory in just seven days, sending the home crowd onto the court in celebration. Byington was pleased with the win but had bigger goals in mind.

“At one point I want it to be where we’re not surprised or don’t feel like the underdog in these games,” Byington said. “We’re not there yet, so let the fans enjoy it. I’m happy for them. What a memory for them.”

Northwestern hasn’t won at Illinois since January 2013, which was two months before Chris Collins became the Wildcats’ head coach. Collins has led Northwestern to its first three NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, but he’s still searching for a victory in Champaign.

The Wildcats have lost all eight of their trips there by an average of 12.4 points. However, could Sunday’s Big Ten game between Northwestern (12-7, 3-5 conference) and 17th-ranked Illinois (13-6, 5-4) be the one where Collins gets his first win?

One reason for hope: When Illinois and Northwestern faced off on December 6 in Evanston, the Wildcats came from behind, erasing a 10-point second-half deficit to win 70-66 in overtime. Nick Martinelli, who finished with 27 points, did most of his scoring after halftime as Northwestern kept giving him the ball and Illinois struggled to defend him one-on-one.

Another factor: Illinois comes into this game on a two-game losing streak, their first since ending last season with losses in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. More troubling is that they’ve lost their last two home games by 10 points to Southern California and by 21 points to Maryland.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood was critical of his team after Thursday’s 91-70 loss to Maryland, saying, “Been a long time since the Illini took a good ol’ ass-kicking like that. Really, no excuses from us.”

However, there’s a twist: Illinois didn’t have freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis, their leading scorer with 16.2 points per game, during the USC loss.

Illinois also announced Saturday that starting center Tomislav Ivisic will miss Sunday’s game due to mononucleosis. Ivisic, who missed the loss to Maryland, leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game and is second in scoring with 13.0 points per game.

When Jakucionis or Ivisic aren’t playing, Illinois lacks their main offensive threat, which involves running a high ball screen that usually leads to a Jakucionis drive and kick or an Ivisic pick-and-pop for a 3-pointer.

Underwood discussed the team’s difficulties with illness, saying, “We’ve just got to find a way to get whole again, so guys can settle back into their roles.”

On the other hand, Northwestern has started to find success again with fifth-year senior Ty Berry returning to form as the team’s top 3-point shooter. Earlier this month, Berry went 1-for-10 from 3-point range during a three-game losing streak against Penn State, then-No. 20 Purdue, and then-No. 16 Michigan State. This led Collins to move Berry to the bench and give freshman Angelo Ciaravino a starting role.

In the Wildcats’ last three games — an overtime win over Maryland, an overtime loss at Michigan, and Wednesday’s home win over Indiana — Berry has made 12 of 26 3-pointers, averaging 16.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. His hot shooting includes a career-high 7-of-10 performance against Indiana.

Collins praised Berry’s energy and enthusiasm, saying, “I love feeding off his energy and his enthusiasm and that smile he has when he’s playing with joy.”

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 23 points and grabbed his 1,000th career rebound, leading Creighton to a 79-54 win over Seton Hall in Big East play on Saturday afternoon in Omaha, Nebraska. Kalkbrenner became the third player in Creighton history to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

He was 9 for 10 from the field, dominating inside as Seton Hall struggled to defend him. Steven Ashworth added 17 points with five three-pointers for the Bluejays.

Both Kalkbrenner and Ashworth were pulled out of the game with 5:26 left. Creighton (14-6, 7-2) has won five straight games and seven of its last eight, while Seton Hall (6-14, 1-8) has lost five consecutive games and 10 of the last 11.

Seton Hall, trailing by four at halftime, was held to just 20 points in the second half. Prince Aligbe scored 12 points, and Garwey Duel added 10 points and five assists for the Pirates.

After a close first half, Creighton broke the game open with a 9-0 run to start the second half. Kalkbrenner capped the run with a dunk to give the Bluejays a 47-34 lead. Isaac Traudt made two three-pointers to extend the lead.

Seton Hall played without their top two scorers, Isaiah Coleman (back) and Chaunce Jenkins (knee), but managed to play well in the first half. They used the pick-and-roll effectively to get open shots at the free-throw line.

When Scotty Middleton made a shot from the elbow with 5:25 left in the first half, Seton Hall led 28-20. The home crowd became uneasy, but Creighton responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Ashworth. The Bluejays took a 32-30 lead and finished the half leading 38-34.

There was a moment of concern for Kalkbrenner in the first half when he was fouled hard on the arm and went to the locker room, flexing his left hand. However, he returned to the game shortly after.

Seton Hall received some good news with the return of Dylan Addae-Wusu from a foot injury. He finished with five points, but did not start.

Creighton shot 58.3 percent from the field, while Seton Hall shot 42.6 percent.

Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph each scored 14 points to lead Providence to a 78-68 win over Georgetown on Saturday afternoon, getting some revenge against former coach Ed Cooley.

The Friars (10-10, 4-5 Big East) played with extra energy, as Cooley, who coached Providence from 2011-23, returned to the building as Georgetown’s coach for the 2023-24 season. Providence fans greeted Cooley with boos and chants, celebrating when Corey Floyd Jr. made a jumper to give the Friars a 68-58 lead with 4:05 left.

Georgetown (13-7, 4-5) went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 68-65 with 2:30 remaining, but Jabri Abdur-Rahim responded with a 3-pointer to keep Providence in control. The Friars maintained at least a four-point lead the rest of the way.

Pierre and Joseph were among five Providence players in double figures, alongside Abdur-Rahim (12), Floyd (11), and Oswin Erhunmwunse (10). Joseph and Erhunmwunse each grabbed six rebounds.

Micah Peavy scored a career-high 27 points, and Thomas Sorber added 25 for Georgetown. However, Georgetown’s bench failed to score, while Providence’s bench contributed 26 points.

The Hoyas shot 46.7% from the field, while Providence shot 45.2%. After letting Georgetown take a 45-44 lead early in the second half, Providence responded with a 3-pointer from Christ Essandoko and extended its lead to 60-52 thanks to a three-point play by Joseph and a jumper from Floyd.

Georgetown initially led, with Sorber scoring seven points in a 14-4 run to give the Hoyas a 23-11 advantage. But Providence finished strong, scoring 27 of the last 37 points of the first half to take a 38-33 lead into halftime. Peavy and Sorber combined for 26 of Georgetown’s 33 points in the first half.

Purdue point guard Braden Smith took Tuesday night’s loss personally. So, on Friday, he made sure to take control right from the beginning.

Smith turned a steal on the first possession into an easy layup and finished with 24 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and four steals in 37 minutes as the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers defeated No. 21 Michigan 91-64.

“When Ohio State happened, I was really upset about it,” Smith said, referring to the loss that ended Purdue’s 26-game home win streak. “I felt like I let the team down. I felt like it was my fault and I know they’re going to say it’s not or whatever. But to me, as a competitor and as a person, that’s who I am.”

Smith has been a key player since his first season three years ago. Along with shooting guard Fletcher Loyer, Smith earned a starting spot in their first year, and he’s received all-Big Ten honors in the last two seasons.

However, he’s often been overshadowed by 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, the two-time national player of the year.

This season, though, Smith has been the consistent leader for Purdue (16-5, 8-2 Big Ten). While he didn’t set season highs in any major categories, he made an impact right from the start and was the standout player throughout the game on Friday.

Smith shot 10 of 17 from the field, committed just one turnover, and energized a defense that forced a season-high 22 turnovers, turning them into a 29-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

How good was he? Smith came close to achieving a triple-double, something that has only been done once in school history by Joe Barry Carroll. It’s been almost 50 years since Carroll posted 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 blocks against Arizona.

Smith came close to that feat a couple of times this year.

He looked like the player Michigan’s first-year head coach Dusty May had seen on television Tuesday when Smith struggled with a 3-of-14 shooting performance. But on Friday, Smith was the difference in the game.

“Braden is going to get 10 assists every night and when you have a point guard that’s making the right plays, that’s keeping everyone involved, it’s tough,” May said. “I watched him a couple of possessions and his focus and simply just play the game, helped him make plays on both sides of the ball.”

May had expected a strong performance after seeing Ohio State rally from a 16-point first-half deficit to pull off a 73-70 upset. But Smith was even better than expected. His steal and layup on the opening possession led to another turnover on Michigan’s second possession and three more turnovers in the first 3 1/2 minutes, helping Purdue jump to a 13-2 lead.

Smith wasn’t done yet, and this time he wouldn’t allow a repeat of what happened against Ohio State.

“I thought he was active defensively, he got some steals, got into passing lanes, was just really active on both ends,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “I thought his reads tonight were, he just kept things simple. He kept looking forward, that’s what we need from him.”

WVU’s Javon Small has earned a spot on The Sporting News Midseason All-American second team, which was announced on Wednesday.

Small is the leading scorer in the Big 12, averaging 19.5 points per game, along with 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals.

Mike DeCourcy from The Sporting News explains, “Small took a detour from ECU through OK State on his way to Morgantown, and he averaged better than 15 points in each of his past two years. But nothing suggested he’d rank among the best guards in the Big 12.” He continues, “Small is filling every category with big numbers – and WVU has recovered beautifully from an embarrassing early season loss at Pitt.”

Recognition for Small’s Achievements

This week has been full of recognition for Small. On Monday, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Week and one of the Oscar Robertson Award National Players of the Week.

Small Leads WVU to Big Win Over Iowa State

Small played a key role in leading the No. 23 Mountaineers (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) to a big win over then-No. 2 Iowa State on Saturday. He scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds, made five assists, and had four steals.

After the game, WVU coach Darian DeVries praised Small, saying, “He’s just been incredible all year. I think he’s the best guard in the country right now. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”

With two minutes left in the game and the Mountaineers leading 51-49, Small scored 12 of the team’s final 13 points. This included a three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining to extend the lead to eight, and a dunk with 21 seconds left to seal the win with a 10-point lead.

In WVU’s loss to Arizona State on Tuesday, Small was held to 14 points on 2-11 shooting.