By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love came through in the clutch against a ranked team for the second time this season for No. 3 Arizona.
The senior guard scored a team-high 17 points, split a pair of free-throw attempts with 24.6 seconds left and made a key late steal as the Wildcats beat No. 21 Michigan State 74–68 on Thursday in Palm Desert, Calif.
Michigan State inbounded a pass down four points with 12 seconds left, but Love stole the ball and threw it ahead to K.J. Lewis for a dunk to put the game away for Arizona (6–0).
His big game comes nearly two weeks after hitting four clutch late free throws and scoring 11 points in the Wildcats’ 78–73 victory at Duke.
Love was 7 of 20 from the floor and 2 of 9 from 3-point range, but one of his 3-pointers with 0.8 of a second left in the first half gave Arizona a 40–30 halftime lead. He dished out four assists against two turnovers and had one steal in a team-high 37 minutes.
Puff Johnson came a point away from his career high with 15 points in Penn State’s 89–51 loss Thursday in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla.
In only his third game of the season, he was 5 of 8 from the floor, scored a 3-pointer and pulled down four rebounds for the Nittany Lions (4–1) in their first loss of the season.
D’Marco Dunn contributed five points and a rebound in eight minutes.
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Penn State faces Butler at 1:30 Friday in a losers’ bracket game.
After playing in only three of Texas Tech’s first four games for 13 total minutes, Kerwin Walton was on the court for 15 minutes Thursday, including in crunch time, in the Red Raiders’ 72–70 win over Northern Iowa in a losers’ bracket game at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Walton, who played two scoreless minutes in Texas Tech’s 85–69 first-round loss to Villanova, hit a 3-pointer with 6:28 left for his only points to pull the Red Raiders within three points against Northern Iowa. They rallied and led by four with 2:52 remaining before holding on for the victory.
Texas Tech (4–1) faces Thursday night’s Michigan-Stanford winner at 6 p.m. Friday for fifth place.
Tyler Nickel collected 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in Virginia Tech’s 82–75 win over Boise State in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla. The Hokies (4–1) face Iowa State in the semifinals at 5:30 Friday (ESPN2).
It was Nickel’s second consecutive 14-point game after missing a game with an illness.
In Minnesota’s 86–67 home win Tuesday over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Dawson Garcia had 19 points, nine rebounds and two assists for the Gophers (4–1).
On Tuesday night, Justin McKoy collected 11 points and seven rebounds in Hawaii’s 70–61 home victory over Northern Arizona as the Rainbow Warriors moved to 3–0.
Will Shaver played five scoreless minutes, missing his only shot, in UAB’s 58–57 Tuesday night win at Middle Tennessee.
In the Battle 4 Atlantis women’s championship game on Monday night, No. 24 Ole Miss beat Michigan 60–49. Kennedy Todd-Williams had eight points and four rebounds.
Destiny Adams contributed nine points and four rebounds in Rutgers’ 78–54 Monday home loss to Fairfield, dropping the Scarlett Knights to 3–3.
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 11 UCLA 87, Cal 53 (road) | 27 minutes, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, +20
Sunday exhibition — No. 6 Texas 81, No. 11 UCLA 64 (in Cedar Park, Texas) | started: 31:15, 13 points, 4–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7
Season opener — 2 p.m. Monday vs. Lehigh, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tuesday exhibition — BYU 120, Western Colorado 36 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 13 points, 5–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +47
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Idaho State
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 11 exhibition — New Mexico 99, Oklahoma State 89 (home) | didn’t start: 24 minutes, 13 points, 3–10 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers
Friday exhibition — Oklahoma State 93, Tulsa 84 (home) | didn’t play
Tuesday exhibition — Wisconsin 82, Oklahoma State 65 (road) | didn’t play
Season opener — Monday vs. Incarnate Word
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday at Yale
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 37–3; won national championship; Cadeau MOP
Oct. 11 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 87, Eastern Michigan 62 (home) | started: 26:49, 10 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, +28 (tied for team high)
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 16 Michigan 98, Oregon State 83 (home) | started: 25:48, 27 points, 7–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 12–15 FT, 1 rebound, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 4 fouls, -1
Sunday exhibition — No. 10 Houston 83, No. 16 Michigan 66 (in Grand Rapids, Mich.) | started: 22:20, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–5 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 5 fouls, team-low -16
Season opener — Monday vs. Oakland, Big Ten Network
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Oct. 13 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 93, San Francisco 69 (home) | started: 31:03, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +17
Oct. 16 exhibition — No. 5 Arizona 82, San Diego State 67 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–3 FT, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals
Friday exhibition — Arizona 85, Eastern Washington 54 (home) | started: 22:48, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul, +18
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday vs. No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas, TNT
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Oct. 15 exhibition — Minnesota 72, Omaha 52 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 4 steals, 1 foul
Friday exhibition — Minnesota 89, Creighton 86, 2 OTs (road) | started; 13 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 0–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 foul
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. North Dakota, B1G+
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Preseason rank: No. 15
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Oral Roberts, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Incarnate Word
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Season opener — noon Monday vs. Radford
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday exhibition — South Florida 104, Saint Leo 72 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 12 points, 3–4 FG, 6–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls
Season opener — 7:30 Thursday, Nov. 5, at DePaul
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 30–7; Final rank: No. 10
Oct. 14 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 81, Drexel 52 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Oct. 18 exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 104, Rutgers 99, 4 OTs (home) | started: 49 minutes, 24 points, 8–17 FG, 2–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Sunday exhibition — No. 13 St. John’s 87, No. 7 Texas 74 (at Madison Square Garden) | started: 32 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals
Season opener — 6:30 Monday vs. Monmouth at Carnesecca Arena, ESPN+
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Team record: 20–14
Oct. 18 exhibition — N.C. State 77, Mississippi State 73 (in Greensboro) | started: 26 minutes, 13 points, 2–4 FG, 9–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 block, 3 fouls
Saturday exhibition — N.C. State 130, Lenoir-Rhyne 66 (home) | started: 23 minutes, 22 points, 5–5 FG, 12–13 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 1 foul
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Campbell, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Season opener — Tuesday vs. Bethesda
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Oct. 17 exhibition — Providence 87, Pittsburgh 64 (road) | started: 31 minutes, 15 points, 3–10 FG, 2–7 3FG, 7–8 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Rider, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Oct. 13 exhibition — Samford 71, Alabama A&M 61 (Boutwell Auditorium; neutral site in Birmingham) | started (never has started in 60 regular-season games): 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–6 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, team-high +17
Monday exhibition — Samford 80, Jacksonville State 75 (home) | started: 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, team-low -17
Final exhibitions — 7 p.m. Thursday at Auburn
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Berry
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Oct. 21 exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 89, No. 17 Kansas 83 (road) | started: 34 minutes, 12 points, 3–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6–10 FT, 7 rebounds (tied for team-high), 4 assists (tied for team-high), team-high 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +8
Wednesday exhibition — No. 11 Louisville 71, Mercyhurst 39 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–8 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, team-high 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday vs. Chattanooga
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @
