Zeigler, Tennessee hold off Maryland; Iowa St. routs McNeese
Zakai Zeigler scored 12 points, including a key three late in the second half as No. 7 Tennessee held off No. 13 Maryland 56-53 Sunday in a Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational matchup in New York.
Tennessee (9-1) led by as many as 18 points in the first half before Maryland pulled within two points in the final minutes. The Volunteers shot 28.8% overall (19 of 66) but hit four of 11 three-pointers in the second half.
“If you’re making shots, it all looks pretty,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “But can you win when it’s ugly? And I thought that second half was certainly ugly for us, but we found a way to win the game.”
Tyreke Key scored nine points and Julian Phillips had six points and 10 rebounds for the Volunteers, who again clamped down on defense. Tennessee began the game allowing just 51.2 points per game, third fewest in the nation, while limiting opponents to 21.6% shooting from three-point land, the lowest figure in Division I.
Jahmir Young scored 18 points while Hakim Hart and Donta Scott had nine apiece for Maryland (8-2), which has lost two straight. The Terrapins were 2 of 24 from beyond the arc, including 0 for 8 in the second half.
“They hit three big threes in the second half and we go 0 for 8 even though we had some open looks,” Maryland head coach Kevin Willard said. “We have to win that battle.”
Tennessee shot 11 of 39 (28.2%) in the first half, but led 34-17 as the Terrapins made only 3 of 24 (12.5%), missing 20 of their final 21 shots before the break.
Down by 16 in the second half, Maryland unveiled a full-court press and forced three turnovers during a 12-0 run.
No. 20 Iowa State 77, McNeese State 40: Aljaz Kunc scored 21 points and the host Cyclones broke away in the second half to beat the Cowboys (2-7). Jaren Holmes added 17 points for the Cyclones (8-2) and Gabe Kalscheur scored 15.
WOMEN’S TOP 25 No. 1 South Carolina 88, Liberty 39:
Zia Cooke scored a season-high 20 points as the host Gamecocks (9-0) beat Liberty (3-5).
No. 3 Ohio State 74, Michigan State 68: Taylor Thierry scored a careerhigh 21 points and Taylor Mikesell added 16 as the unbeaten host Buckeyes won their 10th game in a row by defeating the Spartans (6-5).
No. 20 Maryland 85, No. 6 UConn 78: Abby Meyers scored 18 of her 20 points in the first half, and Diamond Miller made a huge three-pointer in the final minute to help the host Terrapins (9-3) hold off the depleted Huskies (7-2).
No. 7 Virginia Tech 86, UNC-Asheville 48: Taylor Soule scored 21 points to lead the host Hokies (10-0) past UNC Asheville (4-).
No. 8 North Carolina 99, Wofford 67: The host Tar Heels (8-1) quickly overcame a cold start on offense and then heated up the rest of the way, recording a season-high point total against the Terriers (7-3).
No. 8 North Carolina State 65, South Florida 57: Diamond Johnson scored 14 points before a first-half injury and short-handed host Wolfpack (9-1) pieced together enough offense combined with tenacious defense to defeat the Bulls (8-3).
No. 10 Iowa State 84,
Jacksonville 50: Ashley Joens scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the host Cyclones (7-2) rolled past the Dolphins (5-3.
No. 21 Arkansas 77, Arkansas State 63: Samara Spencer scored 19 points, leading five players in double figures and the host Razorbacks (12-0) overcame poor shooting to defeat the Red Wolves (4-5).
No. 22 Gonzaga 73, UC Davis 55: Brynna Maxwell had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the host Bulldogs (9-2) past UC Davis (3-5).
No. 23 Oklahoma 94, Robert Morris 65: Liz Scott scored 16 points to lead six Soomers’ players in double figures and host Oklahoma (8-1) coasted past the Colonels (6-4).