Purdue loses second in row
Terrapins blow out Boilermakers
Third- ranked Purdue men’s basketball is slumping at the wrong time of the year. The Boilermakers endured their second consecutive loss Thursday night, an 80-60 blowout at Maryland.
The Terrapins (18-8, 9-6 Big Ten) took a 41-40 lead on Julian Reese’s layup with 12:38 to play and never surrendered the lead.
Jahmir Young scored 20 points to lead Maryland, which won its second consecutive game to move into a tie with Indiana for third place in the conference.
Purdue ( 23- 4, 12- 4), which fell from the No. 1 ranking after its loss Sunday at Northwestern, was led by junior center Zach Edey’s 18 points and 8 rebounds as the Boilermakers’ lead in the Big Ten slipped to a game and a half ahead of Northwestern.
The Boilermakers took an eight-point lead in the second half, but that was erased by Maryland’s 10-0 run that eventually became a 21-4 spurt.
The victory was Maryland’s first against a topthree team since toppling then-No. 3 Iowa, 74-68, on Jan. 28, 2016.
Other Top 25 men Houston 80, SMU 65:
The second-ranked Cougars (24-2, 12-1 American Athletic) won their sixth in a row behind Marcus Sasser’s 20 points and freshman Jarace Walker’s 14. Houston seems poised to ascend to the No. 1 ranking for the third time this season after losses by No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Purdue.
Middle Tennessee 74, FAU 70:
The Blue Raiders put a damper on the 25thranked Owls’ season as Camryn Weston registered team highs with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. FAU fell to 24-3 overall, 142 in Conference USA.
Top 25 women South Carolina 87, Florida 56:
The unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Gamecocks rolled against the visiting Gators as Zia Cooke scored 22 points. South Carolina (26-0, 13-0 SEC) showed no hangover from their 88-64 victory Sunday after thenNo. 3 LSU and moved closer to its seventh regularseason conference title under coach Dawn Staley.
Virginia Tech 61, Duke 45:
Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore each scored 20 points as the 11th ranked Hokies (21-4, 11-4 ACC) upset the No. 9 Blue Devils (22-4, 12-3). Virginia Tech has won five in a row, including three consecutive victories against ranked teams.
Notre Dame 78, Louisville 76:
Olivia Miles’ buzzerbeater fadeaway jumper lifted the host 10th-ranked Irish (21-4, 12-3 ACC) past the Cardinals in overtime. Miles had 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
N.C. State 77, North Carolina 66:
Aziaha James’ layup with 13 seconds left forced overtime and the Wolfpack outscored the 19th-ranked Tar Heels, 154, in the extra period.
Florida State 78. Syracuse 65:
Ta’niya Lawson scored 19 points to lead the 24th-ranked Seminoles (21-7, 10-5 ACC) past Syracuse. Florida State ended up closing the game on an 11-0 run.
District men Robert Morris 71, Green Bay 56:
The Colonials took control in the second half to defeat the visiting Phoenix. Robert Morris (13-15, 8-9 Horizon) led 30-29 at halftime, but outscored Green Bay by 14 points in the second half. Enoch Cheeks scored 18 points and Kahliel Spear added 12 points and 9 rebounds to pace RMU.
District women Pitt 75, Boston College 64:
Chanisse Lewis had 15 points and a team-leading 6 assists to pace the Panthers (10-16, 3-12 ACC) to a win at home. The win was Pitt’s second in a row.
Ohio State 67, Penn State 55:
Makenna Marisa scored 22 points and Leilani pulled down 11 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Nittany Lions (13-13, 4-11) lost to the 13th-ranked Buckeyes (22-5, 11-5).
Notes
A felony domestic violence case against fired Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard will not move forward, a Texas prosecutor said, partly at the urging of the alleged victim.