No. 5 Michigan is nearly upset
Ignas Brazdeikis scored 23 points, 13 in the second half, and Jordan Poole made two big plays in the last 21⁄2 minutes to help No. 5 Michigan hold off Northwestern 62-60 on Tuesday night at Evanston, Ill.
Poole finished with 15 points as the Wolverines (9-0, 2-0 Big Ten Conference) added to their best start since opening the 201213 season with 16 consecutive victories. Zavier Simpson scored 10 points, and Jon Teske had eight points and 10 rebounds.
The score was 58-58 when Poole fed Teske for a dunk with 2:30 left. After Ryan Taylor made a jumper for Northwestern, Poole drove inside for another dunk that made it 62-60 with 1:53 to play.
Michigan had a shotclock violation with 14 seconds to go, giving Northwestern one last chance. Taylor was long on a threepoint shot as time expired.
Dererk Pardon led the Wildcats (6-3, 0-2) with 20 points. Vic Law shook off a slow start and finished with 19.
Michigan appeared to be in control after opening the second half with a 9-0 run to make it 45-30 with 17:19 left.
at No. 2 Kansas 72, Wofford 47: Dedric Lawson had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Jayhawks (7-0), who lost center Udoka Azubuike because of a right high-ankle sprain. Azubuike was injured after landing awkwardly on a block attempt midway through the first half, and coach Bill Self said the 7-footer will be out indefinitely.
The Jayhawks led by only three points at halftime but outscored the Terriers 26-6 in the final 10 minutes. Cameron Jackson led the Terriers (6-3) with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The teams combined for only eight threepoint baskets in 49 shots. Wofford had been tied for No. 12 in the nation in threepoint baskets per game with 11.
at No. 8 Auburn 67, North Carolina Asheville 41: Austin Wiley scored 14 points, Samir Doughty scored 13 and the Tigers (7-1) still cruised despite a season low in points. They forced 25 turnovers and blocked 12 shots. The Bulldogs (1-7) managed to slow down an offense that was averaging 89 points, but they couldn’t score much either.
at No. 22 Mississippi State 90, McNeese State 77: Lamar Peters scored 27 points, Reggie Perry had 15 and the Bulldogs (7-1) used a 19-0 run early in the second half to pull away. Malik Hines had 14 points for the Cowboys (2-6), who led 42-39 after the first half.
No. 25 Furman 98, at Elon 77: Alex Hunter scored all of his 18 points in the second half for the Paladins (9-0) in their first game since the program’s debut in the top 25. Steven Santa Ana had 21 points for the Phoenix (3-6), who trailed 55-52 with 12:22 left.