By R.L. Bynum
Seventh Woods had his best game of the season last week for Morgan State.
After dishing out seven assists in his five games before Wednesday, he had a career-high-tying eight assists along with 11 points in Morgan State’s 100–41 home win over Goucher College. He was 4 of 5 from the floor with five rebounds, a block and a steal.
Woods’ only other career game with eight assists was for UNC on Nov. 16, 2018, when he also had seven points in a 108–58 home win over Tennessee Tech.
His season scoring high is 12 points in a win over Hampton on Nov. 29.
Woods, who was a freshman at North Carolina for the 2016–17 national championship season, spent two seasons at South Carolina (one as a redshirt season) before transferring to Morgan State in the offseason.
Morgan State (5–7) had its scheduled Saturday game at N.C. Central postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the Eagles’ program.
No. 9 Auburn (14–1, 3–0 SEC) rolled to a pair of victories, winning Tuesday 81–66 at South Carolina and 85–73 Saturday at home against Florida to extend the Tigers’ win streak to 11.
Walker Kessler put up his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks against the Gamecocks.
Kessler was up against one of the SEC’s top centers in Florida’s Colin Castleton on Saturday. Castleton collected 20 points and 10 rebounds while Kessler finished with six points, eight rebounds and three blocks and fouled out.
Garrison Brooks’ Mississippi State team lost on the road to rival Mississippi 82–72 Saturday in its only game of the week. Brooks had a team-high-tying 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the game.
The Bulldogs (10–4, 1–1 SEC) had their scheduled game last Wednesday at Missouri postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the Mizzou program.
Brandon Huffman’s Jacksonville State team also only played one game because of a postponement. After their Tuesday game against Bellarmine was postponed because of COVID issues in that program, the Gamecocks won 65–55 at North Alabama on Saturday. Huffman was scoreless in 11 minutes with five rebounds.
Jeremiah Francis’ New Mexico team (7–8, 2–0 Mountain West) has lost its last two games, falling on New Year’s Day at Nevada 79–70 and dropping a 90–87 overtime decision Saturday night at home against Utah State. Francis had three points on a 3-pointer in four minutes against Nevada and didn’t play against Utah State.
Walker Miller’s Monmouth team, under Coach King Rice, hasn’t played since Dec. 22 because of a COVID-19 pause. The Hawks (10–3, 2–0 MAAC) are scheduled to play at Saint Peter’s on Friday and at Marist on Sunday.
How the seven former Tar Heels did
Garrison Brooks, Mississippi State center
Wednesday at Missouri — Postponed because of COVID-19 issues in Mizzou program
82–72 Saturday loss at Mississippi — Started; 31 minutes, 16 points, 7–13FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -14
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 11.3 points, 47.4 FG%, 36.4% 3FG%, 80.0% FT%, 6.9 rebounds; season totals of 10 assists, 8 blocks, 4 steals
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Georgia, SEC Network; 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Alabama, SEC Network
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Jeremiah Francis, New Mexico guard
79–70 Saturday, Jan. 1 loss at Nevada — 4 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 turnover
90–87 Saturday OT loss vs. Utah State — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 6 games, 2.3 points, 42.9% FG, 2–5 3FG; season totals of 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 block
Up next — 11 p.m. Tuesday at UNLV, CBS Sports Network; 9 p.m. Saturday vs. San Diego State, CBS Sports Network
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Brandon Huffman, Jacksonville State forward/center
Tuesday vs. Bellarmine — Postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the Bellarmine program
65–55 Saturday win at North Alabama — Started; 11 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers, +4
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 9.4 points, 62.2 FG%, 63.8 FT%, 5.6 rebounds; season totals of 3 assists, 14 blocks and 6 steals
Up next — 6 p.m. Tuesday vs. Lipscomb, ESPN+; 6 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Kentucky, ESPN+
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Walker Kessler, Auburn forward/center
81–66 Tuesday win at South Carolina — Started, 29 minutes, 12 points, 5–5 FG, 2–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 4 blocks, +18
85–73 Saturday win vs. Florida — Started; 24 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 3 blocks, fouled out, +13
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 9.9 points, 57.9 FG%, 17.4% 3FG, 62.5 FT%, 7.7 rebounds; season totals of 13 assists, 64 blocks, 14 steals
Up next — 9 p.m. Tuesday at Alabama, ESPN; 8:30 Saturday vs. Mississippi, SEC Network
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Walker Miller, Monmouth forward
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 14.9 points, 48.9 FG%, 34.6 3FG%, 85.5 FT%, 6.8 rebounds; season totals of 11 assists, 13 blocks, 8 steals
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at Saint Peter’s; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Marist, ESPN3
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Andrew Platek, Siena guard
Out for the season after having surgery to repair a full tear in the Achilles tendon in his left leg
Season statistics — 5 games, 3 starts, 9.0 points, 40.9 FG%, 31.3 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
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Seventh Woods, Morgan State guard
100–41 Wednesday win vs. Goucher College — Started; 25 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Saturday at N.C. Central — Postponed because of COVID-19 protocols in Eagles program
Season statistics — 6 games, 2 starts, 8.2 points, 54.5 FG%, 28.6 3FG%, 2.2 rebounds; season total of 15 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Up next — 7:30 Monday at South Carolina State; 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 vs. Coppin State
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Photo via @MorganStBears
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