By R.L. Bynum
Three former Carolina players had big games in tough losses Saturday.
Caleb Love’s season-high 29 points, 20 in the second half, weren’t enough for No. 1 Arizona to overcome No. 3 Purdue. D’Marco Dunn scored a career-high 17 points, and Puff Johnson had a season-high 15 points in a tough overtime loss with a controversial finish.
Dunn and Johnson both scored three 3-pointers as Penn State (5–6) lost at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon to Georgia Tech 82–81 in overtime.
Dunn had three rebounds and two steals off the bench, with the three 3-pointers tying his career-high. Johnson, who got his fourth start, battled foul trouble with four fouls and collected four rebounds and two steals, scoring 15 points in the second half and five in overtime.
“I can’t come out slow and start that way; it puts us in a hole,” Johnson said of going scoreless in the first half. “This is a team that’s going to fight, no matter what the scoreboard says. We’re not a team that’s going to lay down.”
Penn State trailed by two at halftime but fell behind by 10 points with five minutes left.
Johnson’s 3-pointer with 4:39 left in regulation cut the deficit to five. A Dunn 3-pointer and a Johnson layup with 1:19 left put Penn State up one. A free throw by the Jackets’ Kowacie Reeves with 1:12 left sent the game into overtime.
“We’re not in a position to win this game without Puff Johnson,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said.
A Johnson layup, then 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining left in overtime gave Penn State a one-point edge. The teams traded leads before two Miles Kelly free throws with 2.1 seconds left won it for Georgia Tech after a controversial foul call.
On Georgia Tech’s last possession, Kelly scrambled to grab a rebound and put up a desperate, off-balance shot. Penn State’s Ace Baldwin Jr., who was on the floor at Kelly’s feet, was whistled with the foul that sent Kelly to the line.
Top-ranked Arizona suffered its first loss of the season, 92–84 in Indianapolis to Purdue, the Boilermakers’ first win over a No. 1 team since beating the Wildcats 72–69 on Nov. 25, 2000.
“I’m not trying to be the No. 1-ranked team in December. [The media] decides that, not me,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “It was two great teams going at it, and I thought it was a great atmosphere. It was basically a road game for the most part. I think our guys dug in and fought back. I think this is going a long way to really help our program.”
Love was 9 of 19 from the floor, 4 of 9 from 3-point range, made all seven free-throw attempts and had six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block for a 24.7 game score.
Love’s career-high is 34 points for UNC against Alabama last season.
Tyler Nickel started his fourth game for Virginia Tech and scored 13 points and two 3-pointers with two rebounds and two assists in the Hokies’ 73–51 home win over Vermont.
Dontrez Styles scored 10 points and two 3-pointers with five rebounds in Georgetown’s 72–78 overtime home victory Saturday at Notre Dame.
Destiny Adams contributed 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in Rutgers’ 66–55 Wednesday loss at Princeton. In Sunday’s 84–59 home loss to No. 16 Virginia Tech, Adams picked up three fouls in the first five minutes and finsihed with two points and five rebounds and fell to 6–8.
Justin McKoy had eight points, five rebounds and two assists in Hawaii’s 72–66 Sunday home loss to Nevada. His game against Portland at 10 p.m. Thursday in the Diamond Head Classic will air on ESPN2.
After not playing in UAB’s 93–82 Wednesday win at Alabama A&M, Will Shaver had six points and three rebounds in 12 minutes of the Blazers’ 92–56 Sunday home win over Montevallo. They were his first points of the season.
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, Dec. 29, 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, Dec. 28 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 — 11 games, 4 starts, 11.4 points, 47.4 FG%, 34.7 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 7–4, 1–0 Big East; Rank: No. 22
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
Saturday at CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta: Kentucky 78, No. 22 St. John’s 66 — Started; 30 minutes, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Next game — 6 p.m. Tuesday vs. Harvard, 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. 12
Friday: No. 12 Kentucky 96, Wright State 53 — Didn’t play to manage lingering injury after a fall
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 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. 13 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, Dec. 29, 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, Dec. 29, 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, Dec. 29, 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. 13
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, Dec. 29, vs. New Haven
Photo via @PennStateMBB
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