By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love skyed for a highlight-reel dunk and was efficient as No. 1 Arizona made it look easy Saturday against No. 23 Wisconsin, on a day that Penn State rallied for a win over Ohio State behind a career game for D’Marco Dunn.
In 28 minutes, Love scored 20 points and three 3-pointers, both tying season-highs, while collecting seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Wildcats’ 98–73 home win to extend their unbeaten streak to eight.
“I know Caleb is going to play at the next level,” said Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, who called Love a high-IQ player.
Love, who was 7 of 13 from floor, has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, and leads the balanced Wildcats in scoring at 14.1 points per game.
Dunn came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points and two 3-pointers in 20 minutes as Penn State rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit for an 83–80 home win Saturday over Ohio State.
Dunn, who swiped a career-high two steals, was 7 of 11 from the floor, with the field goals and attempts both career-highs. His best previous total for points, field goals and shots came last season on Jan. 14 in Carolina’s 80–59 win at Louisville when he was 5 of 7 for 14 points.
“He wasn’t ready to play against Maryland, and I got on him about that,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said. “And [Saturday] he was ready to play — I think he’s just scratching the surface.”
Dunn, who swiped a career-high two steals, was 7 of 11 from the floor and 2 of 4 from 3-point range and added four rebounds and an assist as the Nittany Lions (5–5, 1–1 Big Ten) pulled back to .500 on the season.
Penn State shot 61% from the floor, made 53% of its 3-point attempts and scored 54 points in the second half.
Puff Johnson started, missed all five shots from the floor and had one point, two rebounds and an assist in 19 minutes.
In Tyler Nickel’s third start of the season, he had 12 points, four 3-pointers, three assists and a steal in Virginia Tech’s 71–50 home victory Saturday over Valparaiso, the second straight win for the Hokies (7–3, 1–0 ACC).
Destiny Adams had 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal as Rutgers’ women (6–6, 0–1 Big Ten) lost their Big Ten opener at home to No. 16 Indiana 55–56.
Dontrez Styles had seven points, five rebounds and two blocks in Georgetown’s 80–68 home loss Saturday to Syracuse.
Dawson Garcia missed Minnesota’s 77–57 Saturday home victory over Florida Gulf Coast with a left ankle sprain, and is also expected to miss the 7 p.m. Tuesday home game against IUPUI. The Minnesota coaching staff was relieved that it wasn’t a high ankle sprain, but still didn’t want to rush Garcia back too quickly.
Will Shaver had two rebounds in one minute in UAB’s 97-68 road loss Saturday to Arkansas State as the Blazers fell to 4–5.
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 — 8 games, 8 starts, 8.4 points, 41.8 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.1 turnovers
Team record: 8–0, 1–0 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Saturday: No. 3 Michigan 101, Rutgers 60 — Started; 20 minutes, 11 points, 5–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 0 turnovers, 2 steals, +27
Next game — 6:30 Tuesday vs. Villanova, FS1
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 7.3 points, 41.5 FG%, 39.4 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 8–1
Sunday: Mississippi State 66, Louisiana-Monroe 54 — Started; 30:50, 9 points 4–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +7
Thursday: Mississippi State 79, Pittsburgh 44 — Started; 19:57, 8 points 3–6 FG, 2–4 3PFG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 steals, +32
Next game — 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Charlotte
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 8 games, 63 minutes, 9 points, 2–5 FG, 5–12 FT, 19 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 6–2
Thursday: Tulsa 101, Mississippi Valley State 53 — 12 minutes, 1 point, 1–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, 2 steals
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday at Creighton, 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 — 8 games, 1 start, 11.3 points, 47.1 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Team record: 5–3; Rank: No. 23
Saturday: No. 23 St. John’s 63, Ole Miss 58 —Didn’t start; 19 minutes, 7 points, 2–11 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, +4
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Ole Miss, Peacock
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 11.0 points, 53.2 FG%, 1–9 3FG, 73.5 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 9–1; Rank: No. 17
Wednesday: No. 17 Kentucky 64, Miami 48 (road) in ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge — Started, 26:37, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +18
Next game — noon Sunday vs. Central Michigan
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 13.3 points, 67.6 FG%, 3–6 3FG, 73.5 FT%, 7.3 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Team record: 6–3
Wednesday: No. 20 Auburn 83, N.C. State 73 (road) — Started; 27:36, 12 points, 4–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, -11
Saturday: N.C. State 75, UNC Asheville 63 — Started; 27 minutes, 23 points, 9–11 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–5 FT, 12 rebounds (12th career double-double and second this season), 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 block, +20
Next game — 1 p.m. vs. UNC Asheville, The CW
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 — 9 games, 9 starts, 13.3 points, 51.3 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 9–0: Rank: No. 17
Wednesday: No. 17 Vanderbilt 88, SMU 69 — Started; 23:56, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, +9
Next game — 6:30 Saturday, Dec. 13, vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 8 games, 3 starts, 8.0 points, 35.3 FG%, 16.7 3P%, 68.8 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal
Team record: 4–5
Monday: SMU 83, Southern Miss 70 — Didn’t play
Thursday: SMU 78, Arkansas 63 — Didn’t start; 25:55, 13 points, 6–12 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +6
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Syracuse, 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 — 9 games, 73 minutes, 12 points, 5–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–4 FT, 16 rebounds, 6 assists
Team record: 4–6
Friday: VCU 83, Samford 57 (road) — 4 minutes, 1 foul
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Cornell, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 21.8 points, 52.9 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Team record: 5–4, 1–0 Big Ten
Wednesday: Minnesota 73, No. 22 Indiana 64 —Started; 40:00, 17 points, 5–10 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–6 Ft, 8 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 5 turnovers, 1 steal
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 1 Purdue, 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 — 9 games, 1 start, 8.7 points, 60.4 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 76.2 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 9–0: Rank: No. 17
Wednesday: No. 17 Vanderbilt 88, SMU 69 — Didn’t start; 18:24, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 steal, +7
Next game — 6:30 Saturday, Dec. 13, vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
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