West Virginia pulls off upset on No. 15 UConn
West Virginia 56, No. 15 UConn 53: Taz Sherman scored 23 points and hopst West Virginia held on for a victory over UConn on Wednesday night.
The Mountaineers (8-1) were terrible at the free throw line but made enough in the closing minute to beat a ranked opponent in their first try this season.
Sean McNeil, who missed West Virginia’s last game with a sore back, added 16 points for the Mountaineers.
Short-handed UConn (8-2) was held to a season low in points in its first true road game. Isaiah Whaley led the Huskies with 15 points. R.J. Cole added 14 and Andre Jackson scored 10.
West Virginia went 12 of 27 (44%) from the free-throw line, its worst performance of the season.
No. 20 Florida 85, North Florida 55: Colin Castleton had a career-high 26 points and eight rebounds, Myreon Jones added 14 points and host Florida ended a two-game skid with a victory against North Florida.
Coming off a stunning home loss to previously winless Texas Southern, the Gators (7-2) dominated from the opening tip and improved to 27-0 all time against the Ospreys (2-9).
Castleton was a key contributor in the latest one. He was 9-of-17 shooting and made 8 of 11 from the free-throw line. He chipped in two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
The Gators opened the second half with a 12-0 run that turned an 18-point lead into a laugher. Florida’s press forced turnovers early and often that led to easy baskets and free throws. Coach Mike White’s team ended the night with a season-high 21 steals.
It was a much different performance than the Gators showed two nights earlier in the O’Connell Center, where a lackluster effort led to an embarrassing loss against a 23 1/2-point underdog that could drop them from the rankings.
Florida responded with crisper passes, better shots and cleaner possessions on both ends.
Austin Appleby finished with 13 points for Florida.
Jarius Hicklen led North Florida with 16 points. Jadyn Parker added 12 points and nine rebounds.
No. 22 Wisconsin 64, Indiana 59: Johnny Davis scored 23 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:18 left to help host Wisconsin erase a 22-point deficit and beat Indiana to extend its home domination in the series.
Wisconsin (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) has won 19 straight home games over Indiana, which hasn’t beaten the Badgers in Madison since a 69-59 decision on Jan. 25, 1998. The Hoosiers nearly ended the streak last year, but fell 80-73 at Wisconsin in double overtime.
This Indiana (7-2, 1-1) loss proved even more painful.
Wisconsin trailed 42-20 late in the first half and was down 42-25 at the intermission, but scored the game’s final 11 points.
Race Thompson had 12 points and Xavier Johnson 10 for Indiana.