Dosunmu’s shot lifts Illinois over Michigan
No. 21Illinois 64, Michigan 62
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ayo Dosunmu hit a contested jumper from the freethrow line with 0.5 seconds remaining Saturday to give Illinois a victory over Michigan.
The Illini (15-5, 7-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten for the moment, and they extended their winning streak to six with a hard-fought victory over the Wolverines. Michigan (11-8, 2-6) has dropped four in a row and may have lost forward Isaiah Livers again to an injury.
With the score tied at 62, Illinois was able to run the clock down and isolate Dosunmu against Michigan’s Zavier Simpson. Although the tenacious Simpson is one of the Big Ten’s top defensive players, he is 5 inches shorter than Dosunmu, who was able to shoot over him.
Michigan had one more possession with under a second left, but the Wolverines didn’t get a shot off.
No. 3 Kansas 74, Tennessee 68
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Devon Dotson scored 22 points, Udoka Azubuike added 18 and Kansas beat Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Azubuike was the lone big man for the Jayhawks (16-3) after Silvio De Sousa was suspended12 games and David McCormack banned five for their roles in a brawl Tuesday against Kansas State.
After Azubuike went to the bench with two fouls early, Yves Pons hit consecutive 3-pointers to put the Volunteers (12-7) on a 14-2 run for a 20-13 lead. Kansas answered when Azubuike checked back in, stringing together a 12-0 run en route to a 37-30 lead at halftime.
No. 9 Villanova 64, Providence 60
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Collin Gillespie grabbed a rebound and found Jeremiah Robinson-Earl on the fast break for a dunk to turn back a Providence rally with 55 seconds left and Villanova held on to beat the Friars.
Gillespie, who also hit a pair of free throws with 28 seconds to play, scored18 with eight rebounds for the Wildcats (16-3, 6-1 Big East). Robinson-Earl finished with 17 points, making one of two foul shots with 13 seconds left to keep it a two-possession game.
Nate Watson scored18 points with nine rebounds and David Duke had11and10 for Providence (11-10, 4-4).
No.14 West Virginia 74, Missouri 51
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jermaine Haley had15 points and nine rebounds,
Miles McBride scored15 points and West Virginia broke open a close game with a huge run early in the second half to beat cold-shooting Missouri in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
West Virginia’s Bob Huggins earned his 876th win to tie Adolph Rupp for seventh place on the NCAA Division I coaching list.
Oscar Tshiebwe added14 pounds and eight rebounds, Gabe Osabuohien grabbed12 rebounds and Derek Culver had11rebounds for the Mountaineers (16-3).
Torrence Watson scored19 points to lead Missouri (9-10).
No.16 Auburn 80, Iowa State 76
AUBURN, Ala. — Isaac Okoro scored19 points, Samir Doughty had18 and Auburn held off Iowa State in the opening game of the Big12/SEC Challenge.
Okoro had 10 straight points to help the Tigers (17-2) take a 76-62 lead with under six minutes to play. The Cyclones (9-10) responded with10 points in a row.
Okoro, a true freshman, hit two foul shots with nine seconds left to seal it.
SMU 74, No. 20 Memphis 70
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kendric Davis had 20 points and five assists, Emmanuel Bandoumel added14 and SMU used a late run to upset Memphis.
Isiaha Mike scored 13 points, all in the second half, and Tyson Jolly finished with 10 as the Mustangs (15-4, 5-2 American Athletic Conference) won their third straight.
D.J. Jeffries led Memphis (14-5, 3-3) with18 points while Precious Achiuwa had15 points and nine rebounds. The loss was the Tigers’ second in a row and fourth in the last six.
No. 24 Rutgers 75, Nebraska 72
PISCATAWAY, NJ — Geo Baker hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to send Rutgers past Nebraska to raise the Scarlet Knights’ home record to 14-0.
Rutgers had four double-digit scorers, with Akwaski Yeboah leading the way with 20 points. Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young each had12 and Montez Mathis 10.
Rutgers (15-5, 6-3 Big Ten) was up by14 early in the second half before Nebraska (7-13, 2-7 Big Ten) went on a 22-7 run over seven minutes to lead 63-62 on two foul shots by Charlie Easely with 7:49 to go. Nebraska went ahead by six with just more than three minutes left before Baker and Yeboah hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to tie it at 72 with 1:59 to go.