Mark Sears scored 24 points and No. Alabama defeated Rutgers 95-90 on Wednesday night in the Players Era Festival at MGM Grand Garden. Rutgers pulled within two with 1:28 left, but five free throws down the stretch sealed the win for the Crimson Tide (6-1).
Michigan State holds off No. 12 North Carolina 94-91 in overtime for 3rd at Maui Invitational
Tre Holloman and Xavier Booker combined for eight points in overtime and Michigan State held off No. North Carolina 94-91 on Wednesday night for third place in the Maui Invitational. Holloman made his first start of the season and led six scorers in double figures with a career-best 19 points for the Spartans (6-2).
Jeremiah Wilkinson scores 25 points and Cal drops Mercyhurst 81-55
Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson increased his season highs to 25 points and six 3-pointers to lead California to an 81-55 victory over Mercyhurst on Wednesday night in the final game of the Cal Classic. Wilkinson, a backup guard, made 9 of 12 shots overall and 6 of 8 3-pointers. His previous highs were 23 points and two 3-pointers, both against Air Force.
SMU pulls away in the second half to beat Washington State 77-60
Boopie Miller scored 16 points, Samet Yigitoglu added 12 points and 11 rebounds and SMU pulled away late to beat Washington State 77-60 Wednesday night in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational title game. Chuck Harris added 14 points, B.J. Edwards 13 points and Kario Oquendo 11 for the Mustangs (6-2), who shot 42% — 50% in the second half — and dominated the boards 51-25 with Matt Cross pulling down 10 to go with seven points. SMU had 22 offensive rebounds, outscoring the Cougars 21-6 on second-chance points and 44-18 in the paint.
Michigan basketball’s 7-foot duo lead to Fort Myers Tip-Off Championship over Xavier, 78-53
Michigan's 7-footers both scored new Michigan career highs to help the Wolverines win the Fort Myers Tip-Off Championship on Wednesday.
Camper scores 19 as UTEP beats UNC Greensboro 64-58
Corey Camper Jr. scored 19 points as UTEP beat UNC Greensboro 64-58 on Wednesday night. Camper shot 7 for 15 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Miners (5-2). Devon Barnes shot 3 for 5, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to add 10 points.
McLaughlin’s 3-pointers lifts Northern Arizona over Houston Christian 74-71
Trenton McLaughlin had 20 points including a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining in Northern Arizona's 74-71 win over Houston Christian on Wednesday night. McLaughlin also contributed five rebounds for the Lumberjacks (6-2). Carson Towt scored 14 points and added eight rebounds.
Dell’Orso, Love lead the way as No. 24 Arizona beats Davidson 104-71 at Battle 4 Atlantis
Anthony Dell’Orso hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points, Caleb Love added three 3s and 20 points and No. 24 Arizona pulled away for a 104-71 victory over Davidson at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday night to snap a two-game skid. Trey Townsend added 17 points, Tobe Awaka had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Motiejus Krivas scored 10 points for Arizona (3-2), which shot 57% and made 11 of 22 from 3-point range. Connor Kochera scored 20 points and Bobby Durkin hit five 3s and added 15 points for Davidson (4-1), which shot 38% and made just 11 of 34 3-point tries.
George and Ndongo each score 17 points, Georgia Tech defeats Charleston Southern 91-67
Naithan George and Baye Ndongo each scored 17 points and Georgia Tech breezed past Charleston Southern 91-67 on Wednesday night. Jaeden Mustaf added 16 points and Lance Terry scored 15 for the Yellow Jackets (3-3). Ndongo had eight rebounds and George added seven assists.
Freshmen Donnie Freeman and Elijah Moore combine for 42 points, Syracuse beat Cornell 82-72
Donnie Freeman scored 23 points and fellow freshman Elijah Moore added 19 points — both career highs — as Syracuse beat Cornell 82-72 on Wednesday night for its 44th straight win in the series. Freeman also had 12 rebounds for his third career double-double, while Moore grabbed a season-high seven rebounds. Syracuse trailed 20-11 early before closing the first half on a 33-9 run to take a 39-28 lead.
No. 20 Texas A&M beats No. 21 Creighton 77-73, hands Bluejays third-straight loss
Wade Taylor IV scored 18 points to lead No. 20 Texas A&M past No. 21 Creighton, 77-73, in the Players Era Festival on Wednesday.
Darius Johnson scores 28, drains 8 3-pointers in UCF’s 84-76 win over Milwaukee
Darius Johnson made a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points to lead UCF to an 84-76 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Jordan Ivy-Curry added 14 points for UCF (5-2). Kentrell Pullian had 15 points for Milwaukee (5-3) and Jamichael Stillwell had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Villanova earns 72-48 win against Rider
Eric Dixon's 16 points helped Villanova defeat Rider 72-48 on Wednesday night. Dixon added five assists and three steals for the Wildcats (4-4). Jhamir Brickus shot 5 for 9, including 5 for 7 from beyond the arc to add 15 points.
No. 20 Texas A&M beats No. 21 Creighton 77-73, hands Bluejays third straight loss
Wade Taylor IV scored 18 points to lead No. 20 Texas A&M past No. 21 Creighton, 77-73, in the Players Era Festival on Wednesday. Henry Coleman added 17 points, and Andersson Garcia and Solomon Washington each scored 10 for the Aggies (5-2). Pop Isaacs led all scorers with 25 points with five 3-pointers as the Bluejays (4-3) dropped their third straight game.
Simas Lukosius scores 16 and No. 16 Cincinnati improves to 6-0 with a 77-59 win over Alabama State
Simas Lukosius scored 16 points to lead No. 16 Cincinnati to a 77-59 win over Alabama State on Wednesday night. Jizzle James had 13 points and five assists for the Bearcats who have started 6-0 for the second time in coach Wes Miller's four seasons. Dillon Mitchell, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in the Bearcats' win at Georgia Tech on Saturday, scored 10 points with eight boards before leaving the game with an injury with 11 minutes remaining.