Category: Basketball

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks as the Memphis Grizzlies erased a 19-point first-half deficit and defeated the Indiana Pacers 136-121 on Sunday. Ja Morant finished with 19 points and eight assists, and Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane added 16 points each as Memphis won its sixth straight. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 19 points and nine rebounds, part of six Indiana players finishing in double figures.

Connor Essegian knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers for the second-straight game and Nebraska rolled to a 103-72 win over North Florida on Sunday in the Cornhuskers' final tune-up before opening Big 10 Conference play. Essegian scored a career-high 29-points and knocked down 6 of 15 from beyond the arc in a 96-79 win over South Dakota on Wednesday. Nate Lliteras knocked down a 3 in the opening minute to put North Florida in front, but Brice Williams answered with a 3 and Essegian added a layup and his first 3 to start a 20-1 run that put the Cornhuskers firmly in charge.

Dawson Garcia scored 23 points and Minnesota bounced back from back-to-back tournament losses to post a 79-62 win over Bethune-Cookman on Sunday in its final tune-up before the start of Big 10 Conference play. Minnesota lost both of its games at the ESPN Events Invitational in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, falling 68-66 to Wichita State and 57-51 to Wake Forest last week. The Golden Gophers open Big 10 Conference play when they play host to Michigan State on Wednesday.

Jackie Johnson III's 16 points helped Fordham defeat New Hampshire 83-61 on Sunday. Johnson went 6 of 14 from the field (4 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Rams (4-5). Japhet Medor added 12 points while going 3 of 4 and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line while they also had six rebounds and three steals.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser matched his career high with 27 points and Ace Baldwin triggered the offense with 10 assists as Penn State cruised to an 87-64 win over Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. Baldwin hit a 3 with a minute left, then fed Niederhauser for a dunk to put Penn State up by 12 before Ryan Sabol hit to late free throws to make it 38-28 at halftime. Freddie Dilione Jr. and Niederhauser hit back-to-back 3-pointers three minutes into the second half to push the lead to 44-31 and after Nick Kern Jr. scored at the basket and Zach Hicks knocked down a 3 to make it 50-36 with under 14 minutes left the Nittany Lions maintained their double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Achor Achor scored 21 points to lead six in double figures and a late flurry of 3-pointers gave Kansas State the school scoring record in a 120-73 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday. The Wildcats scored their last 21 points on seven 3-pointers and finished with 21 3-pointers — the second most in school history — in 40 attempts. A 3-pointer by Taj Manning gave K-State 117 points with 2 minutes to go, breaking the school record of 116 points set in a win over Texas last season.

Brian Moore Jr. scored 18 points and Norfolk State beat Stony Brook 77-66 on Sunday. Moore shot 6 of 7 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Spartans (6-3). Jalen Myers scored 15 points while going 7 of 11 from the field.

Daniel Rivera scored 16 points as UMass rode a strong first half to beat NJIT 80-68 on Sunday. Rivera also had 11 rebounds for the Minutemen (3-5). Marqui Worthy scored 12 points, finishing 5 of 9 from the floor.

Derik Queen scored 20 points, snared nine rebounds and dished five assists as Maryland shot its way past winless Alcorn State, 96-58 in a nonconference game on Sunday afternoon. The Terrapins put on an offensive display by topping 57% shooting from the floor (hitting 32 of 56), knocked down 11 of 23 shots from behind the three-point arc and converted 21 of 24 shots from the free throw line. Maryland (7-1) posted 25 assists on 32 made baskets and outrebounded Alcorn State 44-31.

The Cougars only had seven points from their bench and had only two players score in double-figures.

Keeshawn Barthelemy scored 22 points off the bench to lead the Ducks (8-0), and Bittle had 19 on the night.