’Bama uses 4 OTs to halt S. Carolina
UConn women’s streak reaches 98
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Riley Norris scored six of his 11 points in the fourth and final overtime, including the go-ahead free throws with 56 seconds left, and Alabama finally put away No. 19 South Carolina 90-86 on Tuesday night, overcoming a career night by Gamecocks star Sindarius Thornwell.
“We’ll probably be watching this game 10 years from now,” an exhausted Alabama coach Avery Johnson said.
Thornwell finished with career highs of 44 points and 21 rebounds. He made 25 free throws, surpassing LSU great “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s mark of 21 in a Southeastern Conference game. But it was not enough for South Carolina (195, 9-2).
Alabama (14-9, 7-4) had a 17-point lead in the first half and a 12-point edge with less than 5 minutes to go, watching the Gamecocks rally back to force the extra periods.
Avery Johnson Jr. and Ar’Mond Davis had career highs of 23 points and 19 points for Alabama. (2) VILLANOVA 75, GEORGETOWN 64: In Villanova, Pa., Josh Hart scored 25 points and the Wildcats (23-2, 10-2 Big East) held off the Hoyas (13-12, 4-8).
Hart scored 17 points in the first half and missed his first seven shots in the second. But he buried a 3 to make it a sevenpoint lead and turned a steal into a layup that made it 70-60. (15) KENTUCKY 92, LSU
85: In Lexington, Ky., Wenyen Gabriel scored a career-high 23 points, Malik Monk also had 23 and the Wildcats (19-5, 9-2 SEC) withstood a late rally to beat the Tigers (9-14, 1-10). LSU as lost 10 straight for the first time since 2011. (17) FLORIDA 72, GEORGIA
60: In Athens, Ga., Chris Chiozza scored 15 points and the Gators (19-5, 9-2 SEC) recovered after blowing a 16-point lead to beat the Bulldogs (13-11, 4-7). PENN STATE 70, (21) MARYLAND 64: In State College, Pa., Lamar Stevens scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and the Nittany Lions (13-12, 5-7 Big Ten) beat the Terrapins (20-4, 8-3). (22) BUTLER 68, MARQUETTE 65: In Milwaukee, Andrew Chrabascz scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half and the Bulldogs (19-5, 8-4 Big East) held off the Golden Eagles (15-9, 6-6).
MWC
COLORADO STATE 69, UTAH STATE 52: In Fort Collins, Colo., Gian Clavell scored 24 points with six 3-pointers and the Rams (16-9, 8-4) beat the Aggies (10-13, 14-8). State men ENMU 83, WNMU 77: In Portales, Joe Clarke had 18 points and Lemarquis Thompson added 17 as the Greyhounds (1014, 4-10 Lone Star) defeated the Mustangs (2-20, 0-14). Jordan Enriquez led Western with 18 points. CSU-PUEBLO 97, NMHU 81: In Pueblo, Colo., the ThunderWolves (16-7, 14-4 RMAC) went on a 17-8 run to start the second half and stopped the Cowboys (9-14, 7-11). Ron Lawton delivered 24 points for Highlands which was outscored 52-36 in the paint.
Top 25 women
(1) UCONN 96, CINCINNATI
49: In Cincinnati, Napheesa Collier made all of her 10 shots while piling up 24 points, and the Huskies (23-0, 11-0 American) rolled over the Bearcats (14-9, 5-5) for their 98th straight win. The Huskies made quick work of former UConn star Jamelle Elliott’s team, pulling ahead 49-22 at halftime. (19) OKLAHOMA 90, WEST VIRGINIA 87 (2 OT): In Norman, Okla., Vionise Pierre-Louis scored a career-high 33 points and the Sooners (19-6, 10-3 Big 12) rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Mountaineers (16-8, 4-8). State women CSU-PUEBLO 69, NMHU 45: In Pueblo, Colo., Jaszmyn Johnson scored 19 points and had seven boards to lead the ThunderWolves (23-0, 17-0 RMAC and ranked third in NCAA Division II) past the Cowgirls (2-19, 1-16). Kaelin Shaffer had 11 points for Highlands. ENMU 76, WNMU 71: In Portales, the Greyhounds, ranked 24th in D-II, made five of six free throws in the final 20 seconds to turn back the Mustangs (4-18, 0-15 Lone Star). Eastern (17-5, 13-2) got 15 points from Johna McClelland, while Jordan Gutierrez scored 23 for Western.