Bridges’ hot start ignites Spartans’ rout of Gophers
Miles Bridges scored all 16 of his points in the first half, helping Michigan State build a huge lead it used to cruise to a 65-47 victory over No. 24 Minnesota on Wednesday night in East Lansing, Mich.
The Spartans (12-6, 4-1 Big Ten) started the night in a five-way tie atop the conference with the Golden Gophers (15-3, 3-2) and moved a halfgame ahead of No. 19 Purdue, Maryland and Nebraska.
Michigan State led the entire game, went ahead by 22 points at halftime and kept a comfortable lead.
Minnesota has four players averaging at least 10 points a game, but just two scored in double digits against Michigan State; Nate Mason had 14 and Dupree McBrayer added 11.
Illinois 85, Michigan 69: Maverick Morgan scored 16 points, leading the Fighting Illini to a dominating win over Michigan in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois (12-5, 2-2) changed up its lineup after its 96-80 loss to Indiana on Saturday and the improvements showed as six different players finished in double figures.
DJ Wilson led Michigan (11-6, 1-3) with 19 points and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman added 14 points.
BIG EAST
(8) Creighton 75, (13) Butler 64: Maurice Watson Jr. scored 21 points and Creighton matched its best start in program history with a victory over the Bulldogs in Indianapolis.
The Bluejays (16-1, 4-2) rode hot shooting in the first half to build a big lead that Butler (14-3, 3-2) couldn’t overcome with its star Kelan Martin still struggling with his shot.
Watson made 9 of 14 shots and had seven assists but committed a season-high eight turnovers.
TOP 25
(12) North Carolina 93, Wake Forest 87: Justin Jackson hit a huge three-pointer with 1:03 left and North Carolina did just enough to hold off Wake Forest.
Jackson finished with 19 points for the Tar Heels (15-3, 3-1 ACC), while Kennedy Meeks added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Bryant Crawford scored 22 points for the Demon Deacons (10-7, 1-4), while freshman Brandon Childress scored all of his seasonhigh 16 points after halftime.
(15) Louisville 85, Pittsburgh 80: Quentin Snider scored 22 points, including two free throws with 25.3 seconds remaining, and Deng Adel added a free throw 8 seconds later as Louisville survived Jamel Artis’ career-high 43 points.
The Cardinals (14-3, 2-2 ACC) appeared in good shape with a 59-35 lead midway through the second half before Artis’ 32-point second half rallied the Panthers (12-5, 1-3) within 81-76 with 45 seconds remaining. Donovan Mitchell made one of two from the line before Snider and Adel added critical free throws to provide a cushion as Louisville won its second straight.
WOMEN
UW-Green Bay 60, Detroit 55: UW-Green Bay (14-2, 5-0 Horizon) held off Detroit Mercy (7-8, 3-1) at the Kress Events Center to win its sixth-straight game and hand the Titans their first loss in Horizon play.
UW-Green Bay led, 32-18, at halftime after closing the second quarter on a 12-4 run.