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.”
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
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.
Men’s players
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
Monday’s opener — Oklahoma State 91, Incarnate Word 60 (home) | didn’t start: 15 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Friday — 9 p.m. vs. Queens, ESPN+
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
Monday’s opener — Yale 72, Howard 62 (road) | started: 30 minutes, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — Howard 94, Alcorn State 89 (road) | started: 23 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls
Next Monday — 6 p.m. at Penn
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
Monday’s opener — No. 16 Michigan 84, Oakland 68 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 0 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. UConn in Boston, TNT, truTV
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 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — No. 22 UCLA 84, No. 5 Arizona 75 (in Las Vegas) | started: 38 minutes, 18 points, 5–17 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls, plus/minus of 0
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Cal Poly, truTV
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
Monday’s opener — Minnesota 85, North Dakota 50 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 4 points, 1–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. St. Thomas, NBCSN, Peacock
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’s opener — South Florida 98, Charleston Southern 71 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 20 points, 9–15 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 3 fouls
Thursday — 8:30 at DePaul, truTV
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
Monday’s opener — St. John’s 78, Monmouth 63 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls.
Sunday — noon vs. Iona at Madison Square Garden, Peacock
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
Monday’s opener — N.C. State 83, Campbell 64 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 20 points, 8–8 FG, 3–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
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 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Tuesday’s opener — Pacific 102, Bethesda 47 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 8 p.m. at Bradley, ESPN+
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
Monday’s opener — Pittsburgh 95, Rider 57 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 18 points, 6–9 FG, 6–9 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Thursday — Pittsburgh 80, Buffalo 61 (home) | started: 39 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 2–9 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Sunday — 8 p.m. vs. Penn State at The Palestra in Philadelphia, ESPN2
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
Monday’s opener — Samford 87, Berry 58 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 3–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 blocks, 2 fouls
Saturday — 4 p.m. at UNLV
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
Monday’s opener — No. 11 Louisville 84, Chattanooga 70 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 13 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Saturday — noon vs. Morehead State, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
Women’s players
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
Monday’s opener — No. 11 UCLA 73, Lehigh 53 (home) | started: 29 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 0 turnovers
Thursday — 10 p.m. vs. UC Irvine, 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’s opener — BYU 67, Idaho State 50 (home) | didn’t start: 9:34, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Thursday, Nov. 5 — 9 p.m. vs. Portland
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
Tuesday’s opener — No. 15 TCU 99, Oral Roberts 43 (home) | 26 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, tied for team-high +40
Thursday — 7:30 vs. Le Moyne, 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
Tuesday’s opener — Incarnate Word 63, Tulsa 57 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 3 p.m. vs. Rogers State
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
Monday’s opener — Clemson 68, Radford 47 (home) | started: 30:22, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @PennStateMBB
