By R.L. Bynum
Dawson Garcia had the best game of his career Sunday and led a second-half rally at Ohio State in Minnesota’s Big Ten opener, but the Gophers lost 84–74.
Garcia scored 28 of his career-high 36 points in the second half, adding 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, as the Gophers (5–3, 0–1 Big Ten) cut a 22-point deficit to six.
It was the highest-scoring game by a Big Ten player this season, topping the 35 points by Michigan State’s Tyson Walker against James Madison and Purdue’s Zach Edey at Northwestern.
Garcia, who produced a 26.9 game score, scored 10 consecutive second-half Gophers points in one stretch. He scored a career-high 12 field goals to top his previous high of 10 for Carolina against Purdue on Nov. 20, 2021, in a 93–84 loss in Uncasville, Conn. He took a career-high 25 shots and made 12 of 14 free-throw attempts.
Garcia’s previous best scoring game was 28 points for Marquette on Feb. 10, 2021, at Villanova and for Minnesota at Ohio State on Jan. 12, 2023. His best game as a Tar Heel was 22 against Elon on Dec. 11, 2021.
Justin McKoy had 11 points, four assists and a steal in Hawaii’s 95–76 home win Sunday night over Central Arkansas, moving to 6–1, in the first of seven consecutive home games.
Tyler Nickel had a quiet ACC opener as host Virginia Tech (6–3, 1–0 ACC) beat Louisville 75–68. The sophomore guard was 1 of 6 from the floor, all 3-point attempts, finishing with three points, two rebounds, a block and a steal in 25 minutes.
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 10.1 points, 45.3 FG%, 43.5 3P%, 61.9 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 11–0, 2–0 Big Ten; Rank: No. 2
Monday: No. 2 Michigan 101, (at) Maryland 83 — Started; 34 minutes, 12 points, 5–9 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 10 assists, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +15
Sunday: No. 2 Michigan 102, La Salle 50 — Started; 20 minutes, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. McNeese
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 8.2 points, 42.4 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 77.8 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Team record: 12–1
Wednesday: Mississippi State 105, Alabama State 57 — Started; 22:43, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, team-high +47
Saturday: Mississippi State 85, (at) La Salle 37 — Started; 30:29, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +35
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Samford
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.4 points, 50.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 69.6 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 steals
Team record: 8–4
Monday: Oklahoma State 90, Tulsa 58 — 18 minutes, career-high, team-high 14 points, 3–6 FG (FG total career-high), 1–2 3FG (first career 3-pointer), 7–8 FT (career-high for makes and attempts), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, -9
Thursday: Tulsa 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 43 — 14 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 1 block
Sunday: Tulsa 74, (at) Florida 67 — 6 minutes, 2 rebounds, 1 foul
Next game — 6:30 Tuesday, Dec. 30, vs. Wichita State, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — In rotation as reserve
Season statistics — 12 games, 5 starts, 11.6 points, 47.1 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 87.0 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 8–4, 1–0 Big East
Tuesday: No. 22 St. John’s 79, DePaul 66 — Started; 14 minutes, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, +2
Tuesday: St. John’s 85, Harvard 59 — Started; 25 minutes, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 4–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 1 block
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Georgetown, FS1
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 11.0 points, 55.9 FG%, 1–10 3FG, 71.1 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 12–1; Rank: No. 11
Friday: No. 12 Kentucky 96, Wright State 53 — Didn’t play to manage lingering injury after a fall
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Hofstra
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 13.2 points, 69.0 FG%, 3–7 3FG, 69.8 FT%, 6.8 rebounds
Team record: 9–4
Wednesday: N.C. State 108, Texas Southern 72 — Started; 16:30, 7 points, 3–4 FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, +15
Sunday: N.C. State 76, Ole Miss 62 in Greensboro — Started; 31:17, 15 points, 7–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, =/- of 0
Next game — noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, vs. Wake Forest, ESPN2
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 15.3 points, 52.1 FG%, 47.9 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 12–0: Rank: No. 13
Wednesday: No. 11 Vanderbilt 77, (at) Memphis 70, OT — Started; 36:46, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 2–10 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, +12
Sunday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 98, (at) Wake Forest 67 — Started; 29:00, 26 points, 9–12 FG, 8–10 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 steal, 3 blocks, +23
Next game — 6 p.m. Monday vs. New Haven
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 12 games, 6 starts, 9.9 points, 41.2 FG%, 25.5 3P%, 76.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 7–6, 0–1 ACC
Wednesday: SMU 57, Coppin State 49 — Started; 26 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Friday: SMU 74, (at) Sam Houston 69 — Started; 39:20, 18 points, 7–17 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 5 turnovers, 2 steals, +4
Sunday: SMU 74, Southern 62 — Started; 38 minutes, 18 points, 6–11 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, +11
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday at Virginia, ACCN Extra
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.0 points, 44.4 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 2–5 FT, 2.4 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 7–6
Monday: Samford 106, Bryant 51 — 13 minutes, career-high 8 points, 3–6 FG (ties for most FGs in career), 2–4 3FG (first two 3-pointers of his career), 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block
Friday: Samford 85, Reinhardt 49 — 21 minutes, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 0–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 3 turnovers
Next game — 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at VMI
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 22.8 points, 53.6 FG%, 42.1 3P%, 81.9 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 7–5, 1–1 Big Ten
Sunday: Minnesota 78, Campbell 50 —Started; 28 minutes, 24 points, 10–15 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +28
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs FDU, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Competing for starting minutes at center
Season statistics — 12 games, 1 start, 9.3 points, 59.3 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 78.3 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 12–0: Rank: No. 11
Wednesday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 77, (at) Memphis 70, OT — Didn’t start; 25:30, 14 points, 2–4 FG, 10–14 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, drew 10 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 steals, +12
Sunday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 98, (at) Wake Forest 67 — Didn’t start; 7 points, 2–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, +10
Next game — 6 p.m. Monday vs. New Haven
Photo via @GopherMBB
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