Villanova beats Ewing, Georgetown
Top-ranked Villanova led by as many as 44 points and gave Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing a rude welcome back to the schools’ rivalry, handing the Hoyas their worst loss in more than 40 years, 88-56 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 18 points and seven assists for Villanova (17-1, 5-1 Big East), which finished 17 for 33 on 3s, while Georgetown went 4 for 15.
Mikal Bridges scored 17 for the Wildcats, winners of seven consecutive games against the Hoyas, Villanova’s longest streak in a series that dates to 1922.
The last time Ewing faced Villanova in any capacity was in the last game of his college playing career at Georgetown, a surprising 66-64 victory for the underdog Wildcats in the 1985 NCAA championship game.
It was quite clear, quite quickly, on Wednesday that there would be no such tight outcome —nor any chance of an upset by Georgetown (12-6, 2-5).
It was 42-20 at halftime, and Georgetown to that point had more turnovers (nine) than made baskets, shooting 8 for 26, including 0 for 8 on 3s.
SMU upsets No. 7 Wichita State
Shake Milton hit five 3-pointers en route to a career-best 33 points and SMU beat No. 7 Wichita State 83-78 on Wednesday night.
Wichita State (15-3, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) had won 27 straight and 67 of 68 at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
The Mustangs (13-6, 3-3) snapped a three-game skid with their first victory since Dec. 31. It was their first road win against a top-10 team since Jan. 16, 1982 at No. 10 Houston.
Milton was 11 of 14 from the floor and 5 of 6 from deep while playing 40 minutes. Jahmal McMurray scored 16 points for the Mustangs, who shot 63.8 percent. Ethan Chargois had 12 points, and Ben Emelogu added 10.
Alabama downs No. 17 Auburn
John Petty scored 27 points, Dazon Ingram added 16, and short-handed Alabama defeated No. 17 Auburn 76-71 on Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Alabama played without its starting point guard and leading scorer, Collin Sexton, who sat out with an abdominal injury. But Petty more than made up for the loss.
The freshman guard made eight of 13 3-point attempts and helped the Crimson Tide (12-6, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) surge ahead of Auburn with a 15-5 run in the second half.
Temple nips Tulsa
Quinton Rose scored 19 points with four 3-pointers, Josh Brown hit the winning basket with 28 seconds left, and Temple beat Tulsa 59-58 on Wednesday night.
Temple closed to 58-57 on Obi Enechionyia’s 3 with 1:24 to go and Brown’s layup off of J.P. Moorman II’s offensive rebound put the Owls up 59-58. Shizz Alston Jr. stole the ball on Tulsa’s final possession.
Enechionyia scored 15 points with four 3-pointers and three blocks and the Owls (9-9, 2-5 American Conference) made 11 3-pointers and forced 18 Tulsa turnovers.