Mccain's record performance earns recognition

It was quite a week for Centennial High product Jared Mccain.

The freshman helped Duke to two conference wins while earning AP national player of the week honorable mention recognition and his second Athletic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week honor.

On Saturday, Mccain, a 6-foot-3 guard, had a career-high 35 points on 12of-20 shooting (8 of 11 on 3-pointers) in a 76-67 victory over Florida State.

His point total tied Zion Williamson for the program’s class record and it tied the sixth highest total by a freshman in ACC history. The eight 3-pointers is a Blue Devils program freshman record.

“A special performance,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said after the game. “That was up there with any of them . ... It was just his grit, his will, his determination to win was special.”

Last Monday, Mccain had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-69 win over Wake Forest.

It was his fourth doubledouble of the season. He also earned his second ACC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week honor.

From the Duke athletic website:

“After averaging 7.6 points per outing in the first eight games of the season, (Mccain) has reached the 20-point mark in seven of the last 17 games, averaging 15.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest during Duke’s 15-2 run.

“Overall, Mccain is averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 boards, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.2 minutes per contest as a starter in all 25 games. He is shooting 46.2% from the field (122264), 41.1% from 3-point range (58-141), and 84.0% from the free-throw line (42-50).”

Mccain, a two-time Gatorade California Player of the Year, as well as twotime Inland POTY, and No. 8 Duke (20-5, 9-3) play today at Miami.

Around the nation

NO. 2 HOUSTON 73, NO. 6 IOWA STATE 65 >> Jamal Shead had 26 points, including 20 in the second half, as the Cougars took sole possession of first place late on Monday night.

Emanuel Sharp added 20 points and four steals for Houston (23-3, 10-3), which won their 20th consecutive home game — the longest active streak in the country. They hold a onegame lead over Iowa State (20-6, 9-4) with five games remaining in the regular season for both teams. POST-GAME MELEE >> Alonzo Dodd had 20 points and Kalen Williams buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in overtime to rally Texas A&mcommerce to a 76-72 victory over Incarnate Word on Monday night in San Antonio in a game that was marred by a free-forall during postgame handshakes.

The Southland Conference released the following statement following the postgame altercation.

“The Southland Conference is aware of the endof-game situation that occurred between the Texas A&M University-commerce and the University of the Incarnate Word men’s basketball teams tonight.

“We will be working closely with both universities to review the footage and issue appropriate disciplinary action. “Unsportsmanlike behavior is unacceptable in the Southland Conference and the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, spectators, and officials remains a top priority.”

Women's highlights

NO. 13 LSU 81, TEXAS A&M 58 >> Aneesah Morrow had 25 points and 15 rebounds, Flau’jae Johnson added 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and the Tigers won at College Station.

Angel Reese had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Hailey Van Lith scored 10 on 3-of-10 shooting for LSU (22-4, 9-3 SEC).

NO. 15 UCONN 73, NO. CREIGHTON 53 >>

Paige Bueckers scored 24 points, Aaliyah Edwards added 20 points and the Huskies secured at least a share of the Big East regular-season championship and the top seed in the conference tournament. Ashlynn Shade added 15 points and nine rebounds for Uconn (23-5, 15-0), which gave coach Geno Auriemma win No. 1,203, moving him past former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and into second on the all-time wins list behind Stanford’s Tara Vanderveer (1,209).

ILLINOIS 86, NO. 14 INDIANA 66 >>

Makira Cook scored 22 points, Kendall Bostic had 12 points and 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season in the Illini’s upset win. Illinois (13-12, 7-8 Big Ten) pulled away in the second quarter after an 18-2 run extended its lead to 44-26 and closed on a 15-3 run in beating the Hoosiers (21-4, 12-3).