No. 10 Tar Heels downed by Hokies

AP TOP 25

VIRGINIA TECH 80, NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA 69

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Kerry Blackshear Jr. called Virginia Tech’s game against No. 10 North Carolina a “really big character test,” coming on the heels of a loss at home against Florida State.

That was a game, Blackshear said, in which the Hokies “really didn’t just come to play.”

They passed this test with flying colors.

Justin Robinson scored 19 points, Ahmed Hill had 18 and the Hokies pulled away in the second half to beat the Tar Heels 80-69 on Monday night.

Blackshear added 16 points for Virginia Tech (14-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), which used a 13-3 run after the Tar Heels closed to within three to open a 64-51 advantage with just under eight minutes remaining. North Carolina never got closer than eight again.

Hill scored the first seven points in the decisive burst.

“We just tried to grind it out. We felt like we had some good possessions. Shots weren’t falling, but that’s OK,” Hill said. “We just tried to base our momentum on stops and we got a few stops that allowed us to get a couple of transition baskets, allowed us to let our offense start flowing.”

Joel Berry and Luke Maye scored 23 points each for the Tar Heels (16-5, 5-3).

TCU 82,

NO. 7 WEST VIRGINIA 73

scored FORT eight WORTH of his 15 — points Desmond in just Bane over a minute early in the second half, and TCU beat Conference) The No. Horned 7 West got Frogs Virginia. their (15-5, first home 3-5 victory Big 12 over on the a same Top 10 day team they in dropped nearly five out of years the AP ranked Top team. 25 to end an eight-week run as a Konate Jevon 14 Carter for West had 16 Virginia points (16-4, and Sagaba 5-3), which lost for the third time in four games. Daxter Miles Jr. had 12 points, Lamont West 11 and Wesley Harris 10. Alex Robinson had 17 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds for TCU, and Kouat Noi had 13 points with 3 three-pointers before being ejected because of a flagrant foul with just over 10 minutes left. Vladimir Brodziansky had 14 points, and Kenrich Williams had 14 rebounds. In another men’s Top 25 game Monday, Miles Bridges scored 31 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds and No. 6 Michigan State (18-3, 6-2 Big Ten Conference) defeated Illinois (10-11, 0-8) 87-74 in Champaign, Ill . ... Keita Bates-Diop scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and No. 13 Ohio State (18-4, 9-0 Big Ten Conference) beat Nebraska (14-8, 5-4) 64-59 in Columbus, Ohio. It was the Buckeyes’ fourth victory in the past eight days.

NO. 15 TEXAS A&M 69, LSU 59

Howard and three-point COLLEGE Khaalia No. had 15 Hillsman halftime 21 STATION, Texas points added A&M deficit and Texas 14 overcame 14 to points beat rebounds — Anriel LSU. and a Jasmine rebounds (16-5, Lumpkin and 5-2 eight SEC). had assists 10 points, for the eight Aggies and Texas took A&M control trailed with 26-23 a 15-4 at run halftime to lead 46-38 first field late goal in the of the third game quarter. capped Carter’s a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter and a Kayla Wells threepoint play with five minutes left gave Texas A&M its largest lead at 61-50. Raigyne Louis had 18 points, Chloe Jackson added 14 and Ayana Mitchell 13 for the Tigers (12-6, 4-3). In another women’s Top 25 game Monday, Kalia Charles scored a career-high 32 points and No. 14 Maryland (17-3,

6-1 Big Ten) cruised past 12th-ranked Ohio State (16-4, 5-2) 99-69 in College Park, Md.

ARK.-PINE BLUFF 74, TEXAS SOUTHERN 72

Martaveous McKnight hit a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left, then made two free throws to give the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (7-14, 7-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) a come-frombehind victory over Texas Southern (4-16, 4-3) on Monday in Houston. The Golden Lions trailed 72-69 with 17 seconds remaining, but McKnight’s three-pointer tied the game at 72-72 and he was fouled by Donte Clark. Texas Southern Coach Mike Davis received a technical foul after the shot, which sent McKnight to the free-throw line. McKnight missed the free throw from the foul on the three-pointer, but he made two free throws from the technical to make it 7472 UAPB. Lamont Walker’s three-point attempt for the Panthers did not fall, and the Golden Lions held on for the victory. UAPB has won seven consecutive games since losing its first 14. Texas Southern’s 27-game home winning streak, the second longest in the nation was snapped. McKnight finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Charles Jackson led UAPB with 25 points and Trent Steen had 14 points.

TEXAS SOUTHERN 58, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 52

Bluff sixth Conference to The Texas consecutive women’s University Southern game basketball Southwestern in Monday of Houston. Arkansas team night, at Athletic lost falling Pine its each Joyce scored Kennerson 18 points and for Kaitlyn the Lady Palmer Panthers. with Both UAPB teams shooting struggled 32.7 from percent the (18 floor, of 55) to Texas Southern’s 30.8 percent (16 of 52). The Lady Lions and Lady Panthers each had 19 turnovers. Texas Southern (10-8, 5-2 SWAC) led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, 27-19 at halftime and 43-32 at the end of the third quarter. Destiny Brewton and Faith Ohanta led UAPB (3-14, 1-6) with 11 points apiece. Shawntayla Harris added 10 points and nine rebounds.