Mitchell’s aerial assault leads UT in rout
AUSTIN — The Texas fans who packed into Gregory Gym for Saturday's “throwback game” against UTRGV couldn't get enough of Dillon Mitchell's one-man dunk contest.
The 6-foot-8 freshman springs off the hardwood like it's a trampoline, eyes level with the rim, condor wings stretching near the top of the backboard. Most of the 3,5000 in attendance for the Leon Black Classic rose right out of their seats for all three of Mitchell's explosive first-half hammers as No. 4 Texas (5-0) cruised to a 91-54 win over UTRGV (4-3) inside the one-time home of Longhorn hoops.
The former five-star recruit puts on a thrilling aerial show, but it's what typically occurs beforehand that really stokes coach Chris Beard's fire.
Two of Mitchell's dunks came off steals. The other was sparked by a defensive rebound, laser-quick outlet pass and wellplaced lob from guard Marcus Carr.
“We wanted to win the turnover battle, and we did,” Beard said. “We forced turnovers on them and fed off it. Our best offense tonight was our defense. And we wanted to outrebound them. In the second half, we really controlled the glass.”
Texas scored 28 points off 22 turnovers.
NO. 13 AUBURN 65 SAINT LOUIS 60
Nick Moyle
NO. 24 PURDUE 75 NO. 8 DUKE 56
Zach Edey had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Boilermakers beat the Blue Devils in the championship game of the Phil Knight Legacy men's tournament in Portland, Ore.
Fletcher Loyer scored 18 points for Purdue (6-0), and reserve Caleb Furst finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Wendell Green Jr. scored 22 points and the Tigers reeled off 11 straight in the closing minutes for a win over the Billikens at home.
Auburn (7-0) rallied from a five-point deficit over the final five minutes.
Women NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA 85 HAMPTON 38
Aliyah Boston missed the second half of the Gamecocks' home win against the Lady Pirates with her right foot in a walking boot, but reserves Bree Hall and Ashlyn Watkins scored 14 points each.
Kamila Cardoso added 11 points and 14 rebounds for South Carolina. It was the 6-foot-7 forward's eighth career doubledouble.
NO. 3 CONNECTICUT 86 NO. 9 IOWA 79
Azzi Fudd scored 24 points to rally the Huskies past the Hawkeyes in the championship game of the first Phil Knight Legacy women's tournament in Portland, Ore.
Fudd had plenty of help, with Aaliyah Edwards
(20 points, 13 rebounds) and three other Connecticut (5-0) players scoring in double-figures. Edwards was named MVP of the tournament.
NO. 4 OHIO STATE 105 NORTH ALABAMA 67
Rebeka Mikulasikova scored 23 points and Cotie Mcmahon added 20 to lead the Buckeyes past the Lions at home.
Ohio State (6-0) shot 58.6% from the field as all five starters reached double figures in scoring.
North Alabama (3-3) trailed by eight points with less than eight minutes to go in the second quarter, but Ohio State extended its lead on an 11-0 run.
NO. 11 VIRGINIA TECH 89 LONGWOOD 28
Elizabeth Kitley had a double-double, Kayana Traylor added a doubledouble off the bench, and the Hokies rolled over the Lancers at home.
Kitley had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Virginia Tech. Traylor had 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Ashley Owusu scored 21 points, making 4 of 5 3-pointers.
NO. 14 MARYLAND 87 PITTSBURGH 63
Abby Meyers scored 12 of her 23 points in a 36point third quarter and the Terrapins rolled to a win over the Panthers to finish the Ft. Myers Tipoff.
Brinae Alexander hit three 3-pointers in the Terps' biggest quarter of the season and was 5 of 7 from distance to finish with 17 points.
NO. 18 OREGON 86 MICHIGAN STATE 78
Endyia Rogers scored 19 points, including critical back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, Phillipina Kyei had a double-double with career highs and the Ducks held off the Spartans in the third-place game of the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Ore.
The Ducks led 29-12 when Rogers scored the opening basket of the second quarter but the
Spartans slowly came back behind Kamaria Mcdaniel, who had a season-high 28 points.
NO. 19 TEXAS 74 PRINCETON 50
Sonya Morris scored 15 points, Taylor Jones notched a double-double and the Longhorns breezed past the Tigers in Austin.
Morris sank 5 of 10 shots from the floor with two 3-pointers for Texas (3-3). Jones finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rori Harmon had 11 points and Aaliyah Moore scored 10.
NO. 23 TENNESSEE 105 EASTERN KENTUCKY 71
Rickea Jackson scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack and the Lady Vols coasted to a home win over the Colonels.
Jordan Horston added 14 points for Tennessee (4-4), Jillian Hollingshead and Tamari Key 13 each and Karoline Striplin 10. Jackson and Horston both had five assists and joined Hollingshead with eight rebounds.