Duke still has chance at share of ACC title
Jeremy Roach had 21 points and freshman Jared McCain scored 14 of his 16 after halftime to help No. 9 Duke pull away and beat North Carolina State 79-64 Monday night in Raleigh.
McCain shot 5 of 7 after the break for the Blue Devils (24-6, 15-4 ACC), who can gain at least a share of the regular-season title by winning at home Saturday night against North Carolina. Two of his 3-pointers came during a blistering run of eight straight made shots. That turned a one-point deficit into a 64-52 lead on Roach’s layup at the 7:46 mark.
Big man DJ Burns Jr. had a season-high 27 points for N.C. State (17-13, 9-10), which has lost three straight and hit just 3 of 9 shots from beyond the arc.
“Burns is a handful, obviously,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “But we took away their 3s.”
More late Monday No. 11 Baylor 93, Texas 85:
Jalen Bridges scored a career-high 32 points in Waco for Baylor (22-8, 11-6 Big 12), which overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 13 minutes against the Longhorns (19-11, 8-9). It was the last scheduled game between the longtime rivals separated by only about 100 miles.
Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis each had seven points in a 21-2 run for the Bears during a stretch when Texas missed 11 consecutive shots. The Longhorns also lost big man Dylan Disu to a left knee sprain after he went down with just more than 11 minutes left. Dennis had 16 points and eight assists, while Walter finished with 15 points.
Max Abmas, the NCAA men’s active career scoring leader, had a season-high 33 points to lead the Longhorns, while Virginia transfer Kadin Shedrick had 14.
Tuesday Sun Belt Women’s Tournament Georgia Southern 72, Texas State 70:
Terren Ward made a layup with 4 seconds left and finished with a game-high 24 points as No. 12 seed Georgia Southern edged No. 13 seed Texas State in a firstround game in Pensacola, Florida.
Georgia Southern (15-17) will face No. 5 seed Louisiana Monroe in a second-round game today.
Coastal Carolina 79, South Alabama 60:
Arin Freeman scored 26 points and Makaila Cange (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Alancia Ramsey (17 points, 12 rebounds) posted double-doubles as No. 11 seed Coastal Carolina routed No. 14 seed South Alabama.
The Chanticleers (12-20) will take on No. 6 seed No. 6 Southern Miss today.