Hurricanes continue hot streak, hold off Hokies for seventh win in a row
Norchad Omier had 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Miami Hurricanes to their seventh consecutive win, 76-70 over Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, Virginia.
Nijel Pack added 16 points for the Canes (23-5, 14-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) who came into the contest a half-game behind first-place Virginia in the conference.
UM has been the hottest team in the ACC with victories over Clemson, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and Wake Forest prior to Tuesday. They have two games remaining in the regular season after Tuesday’s win.
Miami’s surge began in late January with a 92-83 home win against the Hokies. There were 17 lead changes in that game. Miami trailed with under seven minutes to go, and then guard Pack went on a 17-point, five-minute flurry that left the Hokies’ heads spinning and sent the Watsco Center into pandemonium.
Tuesday brought another tight contest on the Hokies’ home court, but the Canes closed it out with free throws down the stretch.
Villanova 64, No. 16 ● Xavier 63:
Justin Moore scored 25 points to lead the Wildcats to their biggest victory under firstyear head coach Kyle Neptune.
Cam Whitmore added 11 points for the Wildcats (14-14, 8-9 Big East) who dealt a big blow to the Musketeers’ Big East title hopes. Souley Boum led the Musketeers (20-8, 12-5 Big East) with 17 points.
Two free throws by Boum got the Musketeers within one point with 36 seconds left. Eric Dixon was called for traveling, giving Xavier possession with 11 seconds left, but the Musketeers committed their 14th turnover.
ALABAMA STAR DELIVERED GUN IN SHOOTING
University of Alabama basketball star Brandon Miller brought a teammate the gun that was used in a fatal January shooting near campus, an investigator testified Tuesday.
Miller, a freshman standout, brought Darius Miles’ gun to him on the night of the shooting after Miles texted him and asked him to do so, Tuscaloosa Police investigator Brandon Culpepper testified, according to news outlets.
The allegation of Miller’s involvement on the night of the Jan. 15 shooting came during a preliminary hearing for Miles and Michael Davis, who face capital murder charges for the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.
The ex-Alabama player Miles is accused of providing his gun to Davis, who fired it and killed Harris, prosecutors say.
Alabama coach Nate Oats told reporters Tuesday the team has been aware that Miller allegedly brought Miles the gun, but the team’s leading scorer is not in “any type of trouble.” He has started every game since the shooting.
Miller was just in “the wrong spot at the wrong time,” Oats said.
“We’ve known the situation,” Oats said. “We’ve been fully cooperating with law enforcement the entire time. I mean, the whole situation is just sad. The team closed practice with a prayer for the situation today, knowing that we had this trial today. You think of Jamea and her family,” Oats said.
Miller has not been criminally charged. A team representative did not immediately know if Miller had an attorney.
LATE MONDAY No. 3 Kansas 63, No. 24 TCU 58.
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Gradey Dick scored 19 points, Kevin McCullar Jr. had 15 and the Jayhawks won their fifth in a row.
Jalen Wilson, the Big 12 scoring leader held to seven points, did have 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (23-5, 11-4 Big 12), who began the night tied with idle eighth-ranked Texas for the conference lead. They have won seven of eight games since a threegame losing streak that included a 23-point home loss to the Horned Frogs.
Damion Baugh missed a potential tying threepointer with five seconds left for TCU (18-10, 7-8). Shahada Wells then missed a follow-up layup before McCullar was fouled and made two free throws.
Not even an appearance from Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan could get the Horned Frogs over the hump.
They were within 56-53 with 6:07 left when the four-year starting quarterback, still in his tuxedo after receiving the Davey O’Brien Award in a ceremony about four miles from campus, waved the crowd into a frenzy while going to a courtside seat.
Duke 79, Louisville
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62: Jeremy Roach had 14 points and six assists, Kyle Filipowski added 13 points and seven rebounds, and the host Blue Devils won their third in a row.
Duke trailed by nine points early before scoring 13 unanswered points to go ahead for good at 2218. Jacob Grandison made two 3-pointers during the run and Tyrese Proctor added another. Roach capped the first-half scoring with a long jumper before the buzzer to give Duke a 42-33 lead.
WOMEN’S TOP 25
No. 16 Ohio State 74, ●
No. 12 Michigan 61: Rikki Harris scored a careerhigh
23 points with five assists and seven steals, Taylor Thierry added 15 points and the Buckeyes completed a season sweep of the Wolverines.
It was Ohio State’s first victory over a ranked team since topping Michigan 66-57 on New Year’s Eve. Taylor Mikesell made four three-pointers and scored 12 for Ohio State (23-5, 12-5 Big Ten). Cotie McMahon had seven points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
McMahon was named the Big Ten freshman of the week for the sixth time this week after averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.