El Dorado News-Times

Mustangs, Crimson Tide pull off upsets.

-

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Shake Milton hit five 3-pointers en route to a career-best 33 points and SMU beat No. 7 Wichita State 83-78 on Wednesday night.

Wichita State (15-3, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) had won 27 straight and 67 of 68 at Koch Arena.

The Mustangs (13-6, 3-3) snapped a three-game skid with their first victory since Dec. 31. It was their first road win against a top-10 team since Jan. 16, 1982 at No. 10 Houston.

Milton was 11 of 14 from the floor and 5 of 6 from deep while playing 40 minutes. Jahmal McMurray scored 16 points for the Mustangs, who shot 63.8 percent. Ethan Chargois had 12 points, and Ben Emelogu added 10.

Landry Shamet led the Shockers with 20 points, and Shaquille Morris scored 17. Darral Willis scored 12 points off the bench, and Conner Frankamp added 11.

SMU led 35-32 at halftime after shooting 58.3 percent and 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. Milton led all scorers with 12 first-half points.

ALABAMA 76, NO. 17 AUBURN 71

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — John Petty scored 27 points, Dazon Ingram added 16, and short-handed Alabama defeated No. 17 Auburn.

Alabama played without its starting point guard and leading scorer, Collin Sexton, who sat out with an abdominal injury. But Petty more than made up for the loss. The freshman guard made eight of 13 3-point attempts and helped the Crimson Tide (12-6, 4-2 Southeaste­rn Conference) surge ahead of Auburn with a 15-5 run in the second half.

It wasn't always easy for Alabama.

Coach Avery Johnson's team struggled to take care of the basketball without its primary ball handler. The Crimson Tide turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, just two shy of its average per game this season. On defense, it was Auburn guards Jared Harper and Mustapha Heron who forced the turnovers, generating four steals.

Despite the sloppy play, Alabama's 3-point shooting helped hide some of the mistakes. Petty, who took Sexton's place in the starting lineup, knocked down three of his 3-point baskets in the first half to help Alabama keep the game close.

Auburn (16-2, 4-1) was the better of the teams in the first half from long range, sinking seven of 15 shots from behind the arc, including a fader from Chuma Okeke at the first-half buzzer that gave the Tigers a three-point advantage into halftime.

Bryce Brown scored a team-high 12 points for the Tigers.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States