Catching up with the weekend’s Top 25 college basketball action in 25 sentences.
#1 Tennessee 83 West Virginia 66
Down by 12 in the 1H, their largest deficit of the season, the Vols finished the half on a 24-2 run, coasting to victory.
#2 Duke 66 Georgia Tech 53
RJ Barrett finished with 24 pts, his 16th 20-pt game of the year, just 2 shy of the school record.
#3 Virginia 82 Notre Dame 55
It was the Hoos’ 6th game of 80+ points this year, after having only 4 total in the previous 2(!) years.
#4 Gonzaga DNP
#5 Michigan 69 Indiana 46
The Wolverines opened the contest on a 17-0 run in a game that was before it started. #BeatDownCity
Purdue 73 #6 Michigan St 63
Make it 8 wins in 9 games for the Boilermakers, as Sparty’s school record 21-game B1G winning streak comes to an end.
#7 Nevada DNP
#9 Kentucky 71 #8 Kansas 63
In the Game of the Week, the Wildcats improved to 162-8 (19-4 vs Top 25 teams) at Rupp Arena under John Calipari. The Jayhawks blew a 3-pt HT lead and struggled in the 2H, netting their 2nd lowest scoring output of the season.
#10 Virginia Tech 78 Syracuse 56
Justin Robinson did his best Markus Howard impression, dropping 35 pts & 8 dimes right on the Orange’s noggins.
#11 North Carolina DNP
#12 Marquette 87 Xavier 82
Markus Howard did his best Markus Howard impression, dropping his 5th 30+ point game of the season.
Illinois 78 #13 Maryland 67
Outscoring the Terps 48-33 in the 2H, the Illini beat a ranked team for the 1st time since 2016 (0-15 previously).
#14 Buffalo 88 Kent State 79
The Bulls maintained 1st place in the MAC with 20 pts from CJ Massinburg and Nick Perkins, as they continue their best season ever.
#14 Texas Tech 67 Arkansas 64
The Red Raiders, who are 11-1 at home, stopped a three game losing streak, as they gutted out a 3-pt victory in the #Big12SECchallenge.
#22 Mississippi St 92 #16 Auburn 84
The Bulldogs turned a close game in the 2H to an 8-pt victory via defense (11 steals, 5 blocks, & 19 TOs forced). Auburn shot 53% from the field, 52% from 3, and still managed to drop to 2-4 in the SEC, good for 9th place.
#17 Houston 77 Tulsa 65
The Coogs destroyed the Golden Hurricanes on the boards (49-24), becoming the first team in the country to 20 wins.
#18 Villanova 80 Seton Hall 52
Winners of 8 in a row, Phil Booth dropped 25 pts for the Champs, as the Wildcats remain undefeated in Big East play.
Minnesota 92 #19 Iowa 87
Jordan Murphy (23 pts, 11 rips, 6 dimes) led the Golden Gophers upset over the Hawkeyes, as Murphy became the B1G’s all time 2nd leading rebounder.
#24 Iowa St 87 #20 Ole Miss 73
The Cyclones shot 69% (Nice!) from the floor, the highest of any road team in the country this year. Ole Miss only got 6 pts from their bench, and shot 36% for the game…ouch!
#21 NC State 69 (Nice!) Clemson 67
The Wolfpack went on an 8-0 run over the final :19, with Braxton Beverly dropping the GW 3 right on the Tigers’ heads.
#23 Louisville 66 Pittsburgh 51
The Cards have won 13 of 14 vs the Panthers and at 6-1 are tied for first in the ACC…not bad for a “lost” season.
This is going to be the only acceptable way to leave a basketball court after a road win. pic.twitter.com/4x8I514Bmn
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) January 27, 2019
#25 LSU 86 Missouri 80 OT
The Tigahs got 24 pts from Skylar Mays to get a tough road win at Mizzou, and remain undefeated in SEC play.
