Texas shocks No. 3 North Carolina at buzzer
The ball bounced right to Javan Felix for an easy catch, step, shoot and swish.
And a win. A really big one for Texas and new coach Shaka Smart.
The senior guard’s uncontested jumper at the buzzer sent the host Longhorns to a wild 84-82 victory over No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday, giving Smart a signature moment a month into his tenure at Texas.
“I just had a free walk-up to the ball,” Felix said. “I knew I hit it.”
Felix was left unguarded as players from both teams watched Isaiah Taylor’s threepoint attempt in the final seconds bounce off the rim. The ball dropped straight to Felix, who calmly put it in. After a few minutes of reviewing replay video, the game officials ruled the basket was good.
Felix finished with 25 points for Texas (6-3) and made five three-pointers. Marcus Paige scored 20 to lead the Tar Heels (7-2), who started the season No. 1. #1 Michigan State 58, Florida 52: Denzel Valentine scored 17 points, and the host Spartans (11-0) moved within one victory of matching the program’s best start. Only the 200001 Spartans had a better start, winning their first 12 games. Dorian Finney-Smith scored 13 points for the Gators (6-3).
#2 Kansas 82, Oregon St. 67: Wayne Selden scored 22 points, Frank Mason had 18 and the Jayhawks (8-1) used a big second half to beat the Beavers 82-67 in Kansas’ annual trip to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Jayhawks (8-1) trailed by as many as 14 in the first half before outscoring Oregon State 25-9 to begin the second. Tres Tinkle hit five three-pointers and scored 20 points for the Beavers (6-2), who were trying to equal their best start since the 1980-81 season.
#5 Kentucky 72, Arizona St. 58: Jamal Murray scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, including two of Kentucky’s five three-pointers, to help the host Wildcats (9-1) pull away. Tra Holder had 15 points and Kodi Justice added 12 for the Sun Devils (6-3), who outrebounded Kentucky 22-14 in the first half before the Wildcats flipped that number in the second to finish even on the boards. #6 Maryland 77, Maryland-Eastern Shore 56: Melo Trimble scored 18 points, and after struggling to take a 35-29 halftime lead, the host Terrapins (9-1) made their first eight shots from the field after intermission during a 27-11 run that put away the Hawks (1-9).
#7 Oklahoma 96, Oral Roberts 73: Buddy Hield had 30 points and a career-high five steals for the host Sooners (7-0).
#11 Purdue 95, Youngstown St. 64: Freshman Caleb Swanigan and senior A.J. Hammons each scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures for the host Boilermakers (11-0). #12 Xavier 65, #23 Cincinnati 55: Myles Davis scored a season-high 17 points as the host Musketeers (10-0) matched the best start in school history and extended their domination over the Bearcats (8-2), their crosstown Cincinnati rivals, winning the annual game for the third straight time and seventh in nine years. Octavius Ellis had 13 points for Cincinnati, which never led and never got closer than five points in the second half.
#15 Providence 74, Bryant 67: Drew Edwards scored a career-high 17 points, including five three-pointers, and Ben Bentil came off the bench to get 16 points and eight rebounds as the host Friars (10-1) won without preseason All-American Kris Dunn (stomach virus).
#18 Butler 94, Tennessee 86: Reserve Kelan Martin had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the host Bulldogs (8-1). Martin scored all of Butler’s points during a 13-4 run in the second half that sealed the win. Kevin Punter scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half for the Volunteers (4-4).
UCLA 71, #20 Gonzaga 66: Isaac Hamilton had 20 points to lead four Bruins in double figures as visiting UCLA (6-3) handled the Bulldogs (6-2). Kyle Wiltjer had 20 points for Gonzaga. #22 Louisville 86, E. Michigan 53: Damion Lee scored 16 points, all in the second half, and the host Cardinals (7-1) torched another opponent in shooting better than 50 percent (53 percent Saturday) for the seventh time in eight games this season.
Boise State 74, #24 Oregon 72: Anthony Drmic scored 19 points, and the host Broncos (7-4) overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half to beat the Ducks (7-2) for the first time in six tries. It was also Boise State’s first home win against a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 21 Utah State on Feb. 14, 2009. Dillon Brooks scored 26 points to lead the Ducks (7-2), and Elgin Cook added 22.
Wichita St. 67, #25 Utah 50: Zach Brown scored 14 points to lead a balanced offense for the host Shockers (5-4). Jacob Poeltl had 11 points for the Utes (7-2), who had 19 turnovers and only 14 field goals.
Washington 92, Montana 62: Marquese Chriss scored 22 points and Dejounte Murray added 16 as the host Huskies (7-2) rolled.
Colorado 92, BYU 83: Josh Scott had 22 points and 10 rebounds, George King scored a team-high 23 points and the host Buffaloes (8-1) held on to beat the Cougars (6-3).
WOMEN
#3 Notre Dame 88, TCU 72: Kathryn Westbeld had 12 points and 14 rebounds and Arike Ogunbowale had 21 points for the visiting Fighting Irish (9-1). Zahna Medley had 22 points for the Horned Frogs (7-3).
#7 Oregon St. 69, Idaho 44: Sydney Wiese had 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the host Beavers (7-0). Wiese now stands at 1,000 points for her career. The junior guard became the 19th player in Oregon State history to reach the mark. #24 Arizona St. 61, #19 Syracuse
54: Kelsey Moos returned to the lineup and scored 13 points for the visiting Sun Devils (5-3). Moos, a starting forward who missed the previous four games with an injury, also had seven rebounds. Arizona State ended the 72-game nonconference home win streak of the Orange (6-3).