Guards lead theway for Irish
Notre Dame’s backcourt of Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vasturia was too much for No. 13 Louisville.
Jackson kept the Fighting Irish in the game in the first half, Vasturia led the rally back from an 11-point deficit in the second and other Notre Dame players finally hit some key shots down the stretch in a 77-66 victory Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.
“My two guys today were fabulous,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. “Demetrius was off the charts. I don’t know why he isn’t mentioned for player of the year in our league more. Steve Vasturia is just fabulous in the clutch.”
Jackson matched his career high with 27 points, scoring 20 in the first half. Vasturia scored 15 of his 20 in the second.
The Irish (18-7, 9-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) used three 7-0 spurts in the second half to get the win. The Cardinals (19-6, 8-4) shot 49 percent in the first half and 28 percent in the second.
UIC 79, Northern Kentucky 77
Dikembe Dixson scored 21 points, and Tai Odiase added 12 with a career-high nine blocks, including a game-saver with one second left, to lift the host Flames (5-19, 3-10 Horizon). Gabe Snider hit four three-pointers, and Najeal Young added 10 points for UIC.
Northern Illinois 80, Akron 79
Aaric Armstead scored 21 points, including the game-winning free throws with 1.7 seconds left, as the host Huskies (17-8, 6-6 Mid-American) snapped a fivegame skid. Marin Maric had 17 points and 11 rebounds for NIU, which had 15 offensive rebounds and a 41-34 rebounding advantage.
New Mexico State 69, Chicago State 55
Despite 13 points from Trayvon Palmer and 11 from Fred Sims, the host Cougars (4-23, 0-10) remain winless in the Western Athletic Conference.
No. 6 Kansas 76, No. 3Oklahoma 72
Devonte’ Graham scored a career-high 27 points and played strong defense on Sooners star Buddy Hield (24 points) to lift the visiting Jayhawks (21-4, 9-3 Big 12). Hield scored 46 points in the team’s previous meeting, a 109-106 triple-overtime win for Kansas. The Sooners (20-4, 8-4), who entered the game leading the nation in three-point percentage, made just 10 of 32 from beyond the arc. It was Kansas’ fifth consecutive win, and it snapped Oklahoma’s 19-game home winning streak.
Duke 63, No. 7 Virginia 62
Grayson Allen banked in a shot at the buzzer to give Duke (19-6, 8-4 ACC) the win and snap Virginia’s seven-game winning streak. The Cavaliers (20-5, 9-4) haven’t won at Duke since 1995.
No. 1 Villanova 73, St. John’s 63
Daniel Ochefu had a careerhigh 25 points and Ryan Arcidiacono scored 13 for the host Wildcats (22-3, 12-1 Big East).
Creighton 65, Marquette 62
James Milliken made the goahead three-pointer with 1:04 left to lift the visiting Bluejays (17-9, 8-5 Big East). Maurice Watson Jr. had 18 points and 10 assists for Creighton, while Henry Ellenson scored 16 points for Marquette (16-10, 5-8).