No. 1 Villanova cruises to win against Providence
PHILADELPHIA — With Philadelphia swept up in a Super Bowl frenzy, No. 1 Villanova showed again why city sports fans can also brag about having the top team in college basketball. Just across the street from where the Eagles clinched a Super Bowl berth, the Wildcats used a 22-2 run in the first half to cruise to their sixth straight win 89-69 over Providence on Tuesday night
The Wildcats (19-1, 6-1 Big East) are the only program in the AP Top 25 that plays in the shadow of four major pro teams that share a sports complex.
Eric Paschall led six Wildcats in double figures with 17 points, Omari Spellman had 16 and Jalen Brunson scored 15.
The Wildcats rallied from a nine-point hole in the first half to lead 39-30 at halftime. Donte DiVincenzo and Mikal Bridges hit consecutive 3-pointers to spark the decisive run. Spellman, the preseason Big East freshman of the year, had a three-point play when he tossed the ball up in the lane and it rolled around the rim before falling through the net.
NO. 2 VIRGINIA 61, NO. 18 CLEMSON 36
In Charlottesville, Va., Devon Hall scored 14 points, Kyle Guy had 12 and Virginia broke open a close game with a 22-2 run in the second half.
The Cavaliers (19-1, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) allowed their fewest points of the season. They lead the nation in scoring defense.
Gabe DeVoe scored 11 points, all in the first 12 minutes, and was the only player in double figures for the Tigers (16-4, 5-3). They managed just 13 points in the second half.
NO. 12 OKLAHOMA 85, NO. 5 KANSAS 80
In Norman, Okla., Trae Young had 26 points and nine assists, helping Oklahoma rally for the win.
Young, the nation’s leader in scoring and assists, struggled in losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State last week. Against Kansas, the freshman point guard made 7 of 9 field goals and 10 of 12 free throws.
Christian James scored 15 points and Brady Manek added 14 for the Sooners (15-4, 5-3 Big 12), who won their 13th straight at home.
Svi Mykhailiuk scored 24 points and Malik Newman added 20 for Kansas (16-4, 6-2), which had won five straight. Devonte’ Graham, Kansas’ leading scorer, finished with 11 points on 4-of-19 shooting.
NO. 14 TEXAS TECH 75, OKLAHOMA STATE 70
In Lubbock, Texas, Keenan Evans scored 26 points, and Texas Tech rallied from a 15-point deficit.
Evans hit a 3-pointer with 3:52 left that put the Red Raiders ahead to stay. That came only 40 seconds after his rebound and assist to Jarrett Culver, whose breakaway dunk gave Texas Tech (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) its first lead since the first half.
Culver finished with 25 points, including four 3-pointers. The Red Raiders had lost two in a row.
Jeffrey Carroll had 16 points for Oklahoma State (13-7, 3-5), which was coming off an overtime win over then-No. 4 Oklahoma.
NO. 4 DUKE 84, WAKE FOREST 70
In Winston-Salem, N.C., Wendell Carter Jr. had 23 points and 12 rebounds, powering Duke to the road win.
Marvin Bagley III had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils (18-2, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who built a 20-point lead with their defense and kept Wake Forest at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Duke matched a season high by forcing 21 turnovers — 15 in the first half — and turned them into 34 points.
Doral Moore had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Wake Forest (8-12, 1-7), which has lost six in a row and eight of nine. Brandon Childress scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half.
NO. 22 TENNESSEE 67, VANDERBILT 62
In Knoxville, Tenn., Jordan Bowden scored 19 points, Lamonte’ Turner hit a huge 3-pointer and Tennessee held on for its fifth win in six games.
Tennessee (14-5, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) withstood a brilliant performance from Vanderbilt’s Riley LaChance, who scored each of his 25 points in the second half.
After trailing 41-21 with 14½ minutes left, Vanderbilt (7-13, 2-6) cut Tennessee’s lead to 60-58 when Jeff Roberson made one of two free throws with 1:19 remaining. Turner answered by sinking a 3-pointer with 1:03 left.