W. Virginia takes down Tech
LUBBOCK — Sean McNeil scored a careerhigh 26 points and No. 14 West Virginia finished a regular-season sweep of seventh-ranked Texas Tech with an 82-71 victory over the Red Raiders on Tuesday night.
The Mountaineers (14-5, 7-3 Big 12) won their third consecutive outing and ended a four-game skid in Lubbock 15 days after a thrilling 88-87 win at home when Miles McBride hit the go-ahead jumper in the final seconds.
McNeil, a late addition to the starting lineup after Taz Sherman injured a groin the day before the game, was 5 of 7 from 3-point range, including one with the shot clock about to expire late in the second half.
McBride scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half coming off a careerbest 31 points in a win over Kansas that helped knock the Jayhawks out of the AP Top 25 for the first time in 12 years.
Mac McClung scored 17 points before fouling out for the Red Raiders (14-6, 6-5), who saw a threegame winning streak end a day after reaching their highest rank of the season.
Derek Culver sat most of the second half with four fouls but converted a three-point play to help West Virginia stay in front and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.
McClung fouled out after getting whistled twice in a span of 17 seconds in the final two minutes.
Texas Tech coach Chris Beard let his frustration boil over in the final minute, yelling at the referees during a timeout before sitting on the floor and making a timeout signal. That’s when one of the referees ejected Beard.
NO. 11 ALABAMA 81 SOUTH CAROLINA 78
John Petty Jr. scored 20 points and the Crimson Tide held off the Gamecocks at Columbia, S.C., to bounce back from their first Southeastern Conference loss of the season.
Alabama (16-5, 11-1 SEC) was off to its best league start in 65 years before falling to 10th-ranked Missouri on Saturday. But behind Petty’s first 20point game in six contests, the Tide won their sixth straight over South Carolina (5-8, 3-6).
Justin Minaya cut the Gamecocks’ deficit to 79-78 with two seconds left, but James Rojas was quickly fouled and made both free throws to seal the victory.
Keyshawn Bryant’s desperation court-length inbounds pass was picked off by Alabama’s Keon Ellis as time ran out.
AJ Lawson led South Carolina with 21 points, making five 3-pointers.
NO. 19 CREIGHTON 63 GEORGETOWN 48
Christian Bishop scored 17 points and the Bluejays capitalized on the Hoyas’ worst shooting effort in a decade while rolling to a win in Washington.
Creighton (15-5, 11-4 Big East) avenged an 86-79 home loss to Georgetown last Wednesday and won for the fifth time in six games.
The Hoyas (5-10, 3-7) had elevated their play while winning two of three since a three-week COVID-19 pause. But against its third straight ranked opponent, Georgetown looked more like the team that lost eight of its first 11.
Jamorko Pickett led the Hoyas with 16 points and 12 rebounds.