Category: NCAA Basketball

Kansas coach Bill Self said freshman star Darryn Peterson “was getting tight” in his hamstring and checked out late in regulation during the 19th-ranked Jayhawks' 77-76 overtime win at N.C. State. The 6-foot-6 guard who could be the top pick in the NBA draft if he goes one-and-done had recently returned from a seven-game absence due to a hamstring strain. He exited abruptly at the 2:15 mark Saturday with Kansas up two and watched the rest of the game from the bench.

Melvin Council Jr. had career highs of 36 points and nine made 3-pointers to help No. 19 Kansas edge N.C. State 77-76 in overtime. Council had made just 5 of 27 3s.

The undefeated Huskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are off to the best start in program history.

Jaxon Kohler posted his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Carson Cooper added 10 points for the Spartans (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who committed a season-high 17 turnovers and trailed for long stretches in both halves. They were able to bear down, however, and avoid a second-straight loss after falling to No. Duke on Monday.

Ryan Conwell had 17 points and reserve Adrian Wooley scored 15 as he and Kasean Pryor alternated making six of Louisville's seven consecutive 3-pointers during a first-half surge that rocketed the No. 11 Cardinals past Memphis 99-73 on Saturday. The Cardinals (9-1) converted 18 of 35 attempts from long range, second to their 20 made 3s against NJIT on Nov. 26.

Michigan State basketball inserted Divine Ugochukwu into the starting lineup and he saved the day. But it also caused some new problems.

Michigan State basketball inserted Divine Ugochukwu into the starting lineup and he saved the day. But it also caused some new problems.

Xaivian Lee scored 24 points to lead No. Florida to an 80-70 victory over George Washington in the second game of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic on Saturday. Lee scored a season high on 6-of-11 shooting, including making 4 of 8 from 3-point range.

Kingston Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr., Chase McCarty and Mercy Miller each scored 15 points, and No. Houston won its fourth straight, 99-57 over New Orleans on Saturday. Flemings and Cenac, both freshmen, combined to shoot 11 of 19 from the field for Houston (10-1), which won its tenth straight at home and has won 22 straight nonconference home games.

Oscar Cluff made all nine of his shots and finished with a season-high 22 points.

Caleb Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 14 North Carolina to an 80-62 win against USC Upstate on Saturday. The Tar Heels (9-1) also got a boost from Jonathan Powell's 17 points, which tied a career high. Luka Bogavac added 15 points and five assists, and Henri Veesaar scored 14.

Trevon Brazile scored 18 of his 24 points after halftime and finished with 10 rebounds as No. 17 Arkansas overcame No. 16 Texas Tech 93-86 on Saturday.

Daniel Hankins-Sanford scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, K'Jei Parker added a career-high 24 points, and UMass rolled past Florida State, 103-95 on Saturday in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Hankins-Sanford scored 18 of his points in the second half as the Minutemen (8-3) rallied from a 47-43 halftime deficit to lead by as many as 18 points. Leonardo Bettiol added 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds for UMass, and Marcus Banks also had 18 points.

Oziyah Sellers scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Zuby Ejiofor tied a career-high by blocking eight shots for the second straight game and No. 22 St. John’s survived a difficult start and pulled away for a 91-64 victory over Iona on Saturday. Sellers made four 3s in the second half and shot 7 of 13. Ian Jackson added 14 points in his return to the starting lineup.

Indiana and Kentucky play each other tonight for the first time in the regular season since 2011. It's a rivalry college basketball needs.