By R.L. Bynum
There was little reason for hope that Kerwin Walton would have much of a role at Texas Tech through the first six games, but he suddenly has become a key player for the Red Raiders.
It all changed in the 87–58 victory over Omaha on Dec. 6, when Walton scored a career-high 22 points and starter Devan Cambridge suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In his first start of the season Tuesday, taking Cambridge’s spot in the lineup, Walton scored 17 points and four 3-pointers, with four rebounds and three assists, as host Texas Tech (7–2) beat Oral Roberts to extend its program-record win streak in non-conference home games to 27.
Walton has made 11 of 15 3-point attempts in 63 minutes over the last two games after going 3 of 8 over 53 minutes in the six games. He’s already scored more than half the number of points (50) and 3-pointers (14) that he scored all of last season (98 points, 23 3-pointers).
Podcast host RC Maxfield commented on X (formerly known as Twitter) that to call Walton’s play the last two games “a complete 180 from what we saw from him last year at Texas Tech would be a drastic understatement. He’s not just shooting at a high rate; he’s doing a lot more on both ends of the floor.”
One Texas Tech fan tweeted, “We’re entering into the Kerwin Walton era.”
“What I’ll tell you about Kerwin is his size and the way he’s moving really is big,” first-year Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “And what we’ve challenged him on is the defensive intensity and rebounding.”
McCasland praised Walton’s effort in every practice and game.
“That’s why he’s playing so good,” McCasland said. “But the one thing I thought was underrated — he made the right plays. It wasn’t just shooting threes. He was driving in the paint and making simple plays, and making open passes. And, other than that stretch at the very end, I thought our ability to get Kerwin moving — and he was attacking the basket — was a big lift.
He seized his opportunity from the start with a team-leading eight points as Texas Tech took a 38–34 halftime lead. Walton’s third 3-pointer of the game with 7:30 left pushed Texas Tech’s lead to 68–58 and his fourth gave the Red Raiders a 75–64 advantage.
Dontrez Styles scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead Georgetown to a 71–54 home victory Tuesday over Coppin State.
Styles was 7 of 16 from the floor, made 3 of 6 3-point attempts, and collected five rebounds, two steals and a team-high four assists.
Styles has scored three 3-pointers four times this season after never hitting more than one in any game during his two seasons at Carolina.
He’s scored in double figures six times after a high of nine points (against Baylor in the 2022 NCAA tournament) as a Tar Heel. He played a UNC-high 25 minutes in that Baylor game, but has played more minutes than that in all but one Georgetown game this season.
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His 3-pointer with 6:18 left in the first half expanded Georgetown’s lead to nine, and he had two 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half as the Hoyas opened up a 23-point lead.
Kennedy Todd-Williams, coming off the Ole Miss bench for the second consecutive game, scored in double figures for the first time in eight games with 10 points in the Rebels’ 84–56 home victory Tuesday night over Mississippi Valley State.
Todd-Williams was 4 of 11 from the floor and had four rebounds, two assists and a block for Ole Miss (7–3), which was No. 12 in the preseason AP Top 25 women’s poll but fell out of the poll at the start of December.
Dawson Garcia missed his second consecutive Minnesota game, a 101–65 Tuesday home win over IUPUI, with a left ankle sprain.
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 @TexasTechMBB
