Texas Tech contains Young, Oklahoma
LUBBOCK, Texas — Keenan Evans scored 26 points and No. 7 Texas Tech beat 23rd-ranked Oklahoma 88-78 on Tuesday night in Division I scoring leader Trae Young's first college game in the city where he was born.
Young, the son of former Texas Tech player Rayford Young, missed all nine of his three-point tries while finishing with 19 points in front of a hostile crowd that booed him just about every time he touched the ball in the Sooners' fourth straight loss.
The Red Raiders (22-4, 10-3 Big 12) won their seventh straight game, including a sixgame Big 12 run that's the best in the conference this season. They tied the Sooners for the most Top 25 wins nationally this season at six.
Evans went 4 of 7 from three-point range, including a fadeaway shot from the left corner that put Texas Tech ahead 79-71 with less than 2 minutes to go. He added his second dunk of the second half moments later between a pair of threes that kept the Sooners (16-9, 6-7) alive into the final minute.
Christian James had a career-high 23 points to lead Oklahoma. New No. 1 Virginia (24-2, 13-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) looked the part, never trailing and holding host Miami (18-7, 7-6) to 38 percent shooting. Virginia's De'Andre Hunter scored 22 points, including a four-point play. But defense was the difference for the Cavaliers, who limited an opponent to 50 points or less for the 12th time.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a career-high 27 points for Michigan State (25-3, 13-2 Big Ten), which cruised to its ninth consecutive victory by beating host Minnesota (14-14, 3-12). The Spartans pulled within a half-game of firstplace Ohio State in the Big Ten despite just five points in 25 minutes from star Miles Bridges.
Udoka Azubuike scored 19 points, Malik Newman had 17 and Kansas (20-6, 9-4 Big 12) bounced back from a loss at Baylor by beating host Iowa State (13-12, 4-9). Lagerald Vick scored 16 points for the Jayhawks, who shot 48.4 percent from the field and committed just seven turnovers.
Kassius Robertson scored 16 points, Jordan Barnett added 15 and host Missouri (18-8, 8-5 Southeastern Conference) defeated Texas A&M (17-9, 6-7) to push its winning streak to five games. Up two points with 14 seconds left, Missouri turned the ball over on an inbound. Texas A&M's Robert Williams missed a layup with a chance to tie, and the Tigers closed it out at the free-throw line.
James Palmer Jr. scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half, Isaiah Roby had all 11 of his points after halftime, and host Nebraska (20-8, 11-4 Big Ten) held off Maryland (17-11, 6-9). Palmer and Roby combined for 35 of the Cornhuskers' 40 second-half points. Nebraska secured its first 20-win season since 2008. The Cornhuskers won a sixth straight conference game for the first time in 20 years.
Jaelen Sanford scored 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Tre'Shaun Fletcher had 17 points and eight rebounds to help host Toledo (19-7, 11-2 Mid-American Conference) beat Ohio (10-15, 3-10) for its fourth win in a row. Kevin Mickle's jumper pulled Ohio within six points with three minutes to play, but Toledo hit 15 of 16 free throws from there to seal it. Toledo made 32 of 37 free throws — both season highs.
Jeremy Harris had 24 points and Wes Clark scored 19, including three three-pointers, to help Buffalo (19-7, 11-2 MAC) beat Kent State (12-14, 6-7). Harris scored seven points in an 11-2 run that made it 20-12 and gave the Bulls the lead for good.
Antwon Lillard sank three free throws after he was fouled on a three-point attempt with four seconds left and host Bowling Green (16-10, 7-6 MAC) rallied to beat Western Michigan (15-11, 7-6). Justin Turner had 29 points on 11-of-13 shooting for Bowling Green.
Hasan Varence had 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead host Ohio Dominican (14-10, 9-8 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) past Hillsdale (18-7, 12-6). Ronnie Williams added 12 points for ODU, which limited Hillsdale to 20 points in the second half.