Duke edges Virginia; Wisconsin upsets Michigan
RJ Barrett scored 30 points, Zion Williamson had 27 and No. 1 Duke beat No. 4 Virginia 72-70 on Saturday night at Durham, North Carolina, to give the Cavaliers their first loss of the season.
The Blue Devils (15-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from an overtime loss to Syracuse that could cost them their top ranking. They avoided their first two-game losing streak at home since 2016 and proved they can win without injured point guard Tre Jones.
DeAndre Hunter scored 18 points, and Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy had 14 apiece for the Cavaliers (16-1, 4-1), who entered as the nation’s last unbeaten after No. 2 Michigan was upset at Wisconsin earlier in the day.
The fourth matchup of top-ranked teams in the sport’s history — Virginia entered at No. 1 in the coaches’ poll — was a tournament-caliber game throughout. There were 14 ties and 15 lead changes, and it was a one-possession game for a 14 -minute stretch of the second half.
After the Cavaliers missed 11 of 12 shots during a late nine-minute stretch,
they pulled within 69-66 on Guy’s three-pointer with 23 seconds left. Barrett hit two free throws with 20.9 seconds to play, and Virginia let too much time elapse before Braxton Key was fouled with 8.9 seconds remaining and hit both shots to make it 71-68.
Cameron Reddish hit a free throw to make it a four-point game before Hunter hit a jumper before the buzzer for Virginia.
A Wisconsin 64, No. 2 Michigan 54: Ethan Happ scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds as the host Badgers handed the Wolverines their first loss of the season, breaking away in the final minute.
Fans rushed the floor after the Badgers (12-6, 4-3 Big Ten) finished off the upset.
The Wolverines (17-1, 6-1) closed within 57-54 on Isaiah Livers’ three-pointer with just under a minute to play. Michigan put on a full-court press that the Badgers broke, and Ignas Brazdeikis was whistled for an intentional foul on Happ, who was across the court from the ball.
Happ hit the first shot as an incensed Michigan coach John Beilein argued with the officials, but missed the second. On the ensuing Wisconsin possession, Happ
put back his own miss for a 60-54 lead.
A No. 3 Tennessee 71, Alabama 68: Grant Williams scored 21 points, and the host Volunteers rallied past the Crimson Tide for their 12th straight win and a chance to climb atop the AP Top 25. After No. 1 Duke lost to Syracuse on Monday and No. 2 Michigan fell at Wisconsin, the Volunteers (16-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) could lead the poll Monday for the first time since 2008.
A West Virginia 65, No. 7 Kansas 64: Jermaine Haley hurried up the court and hit a layup with 8.5 seconds left, completing a late rally that lifted the host Mountaineers to the upset over the Jayhawks (15-3, 4-2 Big 12). West Virginia (9-9, 1-5) scored the final seven points to break a five-game losing streak.
A No. 9 Virginia Tech 87, Wake Forest 71: Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 24 points and the host Hokies used a 14-4 first-half run to pull away from the Demon
Deacons.
Ty Outlaw added 14 points and Ahmed Hill 12 for the Hokies (15-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Outlaw, Hill and Justin Robinson each made a three-pointer during the burst, which turned a 17-all tie into a 31-21 lead with 4 1⁄
2 minutes left in the half. The Demon Deacons (8-9, 1-4) didn’t get closer than eight the rest of the way.
A No. 12 Kentucky 82,
No. 14 Auburn 80: Tyler Herro made two free throws with 24 seconds left and Immanuel Quickley added another to help the Wildcats survive a big rally from from the host Tigers. The Wildcats (14-3, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) rebounded after losing a 17-point second-half lead to finish off a showdown between two of the league’s top teams.
Auburn (13-4, 2-2) took an 80-79 lead on Jared Harper’s contested three-pointer over Ashton Hagans with 32 seconds left. Herro grabbed the lead back from the line, then Harper held onto the ball for what he hoped would be a gamewinner. The Tigers’ 6-foot point guard drove and launched a shot that hit the backboard and bounced off the rim a couple of times but didn’t go in.
A No. 17 N.C. State 77,
Notre Dame 73: C.J. Bryce scored 23 points and the Wolfpack (15-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) withstood several second-half challenges from the host Fighting Irish (11-7, 1-4).
A No. 18 Mississippi 84, Arkansas 67: Breein Tyree scored 22 points, Terence Davis added 18 and the host Rebels (14-3, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) never trailed in beating the Razorbacks (10-7, 1-4).
Purdue 70, No. 25
A
Indiana 55: Carsen Edwards scored 20 points and backcourt mate Nojel Eastern had his first double-double as the host Boilermakers (12-6) handed the Hoosiers (12-6) their fourth straight loss.
WOMEN’S TOP 25
A No. 2 UConn 88, Temple 67: Napheesa Collier had a season-high 30 points and 12 rebounds and Crystal Dangerfield tied her careerhigh with 24 points to lead the Huskies (16-1, 5-0 American) over the host Owls (4-13, 0-5) for their fifth consecutive win.
A No. 11 Texas 73, TCU
67: Joyner Holmes scored 17 points, Sug Sutton made four free throws in the final 10 seconds and the host Longhorns (15-3, 5-1 Big 12) held on to beat the Horned Frogs (12-5, 2-4).