Williamson, Duke top Texas Tech
Zion Williamson had 17 points, 13 rebounds and Duke fans roaring each time he touched the ball before he fouled out, and the second-ranked Blue Devils ended No. 12 Texas Tech’s unbeaten start with a 69-58 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.
RJ Barrett scored 16 points for the Blue Devils (11-1) and the program earned its 35th win at MSG. With the Garden rocking from the tip, the Blue Devils must have felt like they had a home game.
Cam Reddish hit a late 3-pointer for a 63-57 lead that sealed the win in the first meeting between the programs. Both reached the Elite Eight last season and the atmosphere had a latemarch feel.
Jarrett Culver scored 25 points for the Red Raiders (10-1) in their first loss since the NCAA Tournament.
Culver hit a 3 in a back-and-forth game for a 45-40 lead and Williamson came back down and missed Duke’s 13th straight 3-pointer. Jack White finally connected on Duke’s 15th attempt that tied the game at 45-all and brought “Let’s go Duke!” chants to a crescendo.
PURDUE 95, OHIO 67: Carsen Edwards scored 30 points and Ryan Cline added 19 as Purdue (7-5) broke out of an offensive funk and ran away from Ohio (7-4) in West Lafayette, Indiana. Ben Vander Plas made four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points to lead Ohio, which had won five of its previous six. Teyvion Kirk also had 15 points. NO. 3 LOUISVILLE 72, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 68: Asia Durr scored 26 of her 31 points in the second half and Louisville (12-0) held off Central Michigan (8-2) in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Durr scored 11 straight Louisville points down the stretch. Reyna Frost had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Chippewas.
NO. 7 OREGON 82, AIR FORCE 36: Sabrina Ionescu set an NCAA record with her 13th triple-double as Oregon (10-1) crushed Air Force (4-7) in Eugene, Oregon. Ionescu had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to break a tie for the record with former BYU men’s player Kyle Collinsworth.