Every number on the scoreboard and every line on the stat sheet indicated No. 19 Texas Tech was in serious trouble. LeJuan Watts had already fouled out, JT Toppin was one whistle away and the Red Raiders were trying to climb all the way out of a 17-point hole against undefeated Duke, the third-ranked team in the country.
Awaka grabs 15 rebounds as No. 1 Arizona shuts down San Diego State for 68-45 win in Phoenix
Koa Peat scored 11 points, Tobe Awaka grabbed 15 rebounds and top-ranked Arizona smothered San Diego State for a 68-45 win Saturday night in the Naismith Hall of Fame Series. Arizona held San Diego State to 26% shooting from the floor and 1 of 14 from 3-point distance, turning a tight game into a runaway after halftime at the home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. Reese Dixon-Waters led San Diego State with eight points.
No. 19 Texas Tech rallies from 17 down in 2nd half to stun No. 3 Duke 82-81 at MSG
Christian Anderson scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half, including the tiebreaking free throw with 3.4 seconds left, and No. 19 Texas Tech rallied from 17 down to beat third-ranked Duke 82-81 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Isaiah Evans grabbed the rebound with 1.6 seconds remaining, and Duke called a timeout to set up a play. Foster inbounded near the Texas Tech bench, but Cameron Boozer’s 3-point try bounced off the rim — and the shot might have come just after the final horn, anyway.
No. 19 Texas Tech rallies from 17-point second-half deficit to knock off No. 3 Duke despite injuries and foul trouble
The Blue Devils came into the night undefeated and with four wins over ranked opponents this season.
Emanuel Sharp scores 22 points to lead No. 8 Houston over No. 14 Arkansas 94-85
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas (9-3) with 27 points and seven assists. Malique Ewin added 20 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Razorbacks, who had won four in a row.
Kaufman-Renn scores 18, Smith has 14 assists as No. 6 Purdue routs No. 21 Auburn 88-60
Trey Kaufman-Renn had 18 points and six rebounds, and Braden Smith added 11 points and a season-high 14 assists to help No. 6 Purdue blow out No. 21 Auburn 88-60 on Saturday.
Kaufman-Renn scores 18 points and Smith has 14 assists as No. 6 Purdue routs No. 21 Auburn, 88-60
Trey Kaufman-Renn had 18 points and six rebounds, and Braden Smith added 11 points and a season-high 14 assists to help No. 6 Purdue blow out No. 21 Auburn 88-60 on Saturday. C.J. Cox scored 14 points, making four 3-pointers, as the Boilermakers (11-1) won their third straight game since getting routed at home by then-No. 10 Iowa State two weeks ago. Purdue improved to 3-1 in the annual Indy Classic by shooting 55.9% from the field.
Dallin Hall, Jacari White lead No. 23 Virginia to 80-72 win over former ACC rival Maryland
Dallin Hall scored a season-high 20 points, Jacari White had a spectacular dunk and scored 15, and No. 23 Virginia beat Maryland 80-72 on Saturday night in the first meeting since 2018 between the former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals. Hall went 8 of 8 from the field for the Cavaliers (10-1). Devin Tillis added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting on a night when Virginia's leading scorer, Thijs De Ridder, went 1 of 8 from the field and scored five points.
Sharp scores 22 points to lead No. 8 Houston over No. 14 Arkansas, 94-85
Emanuel Sharp scored 22 points, Kingston Flemings added 21 and No. 8 Houston used some excellent long-range shooting to beat No. 14 Arkansas 94-85 on Saturday. The Cougars (11-1) shot 44% from 3-point distance (11 for 25) and 52% from the field overall in winning their fifth straight game. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led Arkansas (9-3) with 27 points and seven assists.
Alijah Arenas returns to practice with USC after car crash and knee injury
Alijah Arenas has practiced for the first time with Southern California’s basketball team as he continues recovering from a knee injury he sustained last summer.
Seth Trimble returns to lead No. 12 North Carolina past Ohio State 71-70
Henri Veesaar scored the winning basket on a dunk with 7.2 seconds remaining off a pass from a stumbling Seth Trimble, and No. 12 North Carolina held off Ohio State 71-70 on Saturday.
No. 9 Michigan State beats Oakland in annual holiday matchup
Coen Carr scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half to help No. Michigan State hold off Oakland for a 79-80 win on Saturday. The Spartans (11-1) have won three straight since losing their only game this season, a six-point setback to No.
Rick Pitino feel no special emotions going against Kentucky and his former team captain
Rick Pitino felt like it was just another game, even though he was going against his former school and a captain from his 1996 national championship team. For the first time in nearly a decade, Pitino faced the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday in the opening game of a college basketball doubleheader in Atlanta. It was no big deal, said the 73-year-old Pitino, who is in his third season as St. John's coach.
Christian Gurdak scores last and Virginia Tech edges Elon 82-81 in overtime
Christian Gurdak made the go-ahead layup with 10 seconds remaining in overtime and Virginia Tech overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Elon 82-81 on Saturday. There were seven lead changes in overtime, the last on Gurdak's layup. A steal by Ben Hammond gave the Hokies the ball with five seconds left and Elon fouled Izaiah Pasha, who missed two free throws with four seconds remaining.
No. 3 South Carolina overpowers Florida Gulf Coast 105-43
Joyce Edwards had 29 points, Madina Okot scored 27 and No. South Carolina overpowered Florida Gulf Coast 105-43 on Saturday. Edwards had 10 rebounds and Okot 12 as the Gamecocks' wrapped up a two-game road trip to Florida.