By R.L. Bynum
Tyler Nickel showed off the potential UNC fans all knew he had in helping Virginia Tech pull off an upset of No. 21 Clemson on Wednesday night.
In 28 minutes, Nickel scored 24 points and five 3-pointers, both career-highs, and added four rebounds and a block as the host Hokies beat the Tigers 87–72 to give Clemson its second consecutive loss.
Nickel scored eight consecutive Virginia Tech points, the last two on a pair of free throws with 3:51 left, expanding the Hokies’ lead to 10. He hit back-to-back jumpers, the second a 3-pointer, during that stretch.
“We just played better basketball tonight,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. “It helps when the ball goes in the basket, but I thought we shared, and Tyler Nickel had his best game in a Hokie uniform. It was just one of those team wins when everybody played well.”
Sean Pedulla led the way for the Hokies (10–5, 2–2 ACC) with career-highs of 32 points and six 3-pointers.
Nickel and Pedulla combined to go 17 of 27 from the floor and 11 of 17 from 3-point range.
Nickel’s best game as a Tar Heel was 16 points and three 3-pointers in a win over The Citadel on Dec. 13, 2022.
Kerwin Walton scored 16 points and two 3-pointers with five rebounds Tuesday in Texas Tech’s 90–83 home win over Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders (13–2, 2–0) are in a three-way tie for the Big 12 lead with No. 14 Baylor and Kansas State.
In Penn State’s 77–72 Wednesday home loss to Northwestern, Puff Johnson and D’Marco Dunn each scored six points. Dunn had two 3-pointers and Johnson missed all all four 3-point attempts. The Nittany Lions fell to 8–7 overall and 2–2 in the Big Ten.
In Georgetown’s 74–70 Tuesday home loss to Seton Hall, Dontrez Styles had four points, two rebounds and two assists for the Hoyas (8–8, 1–4 Big East).
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 — 9 games, 9 starts, 9.4 points, 44.1 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 turnovers
Team record: 9–0, 1–0 Big Ten; Rank: No. 2
Monday: No. 2 Michigan 89, Villanova 61 — Started; 24 minutes, 18 points, 7–13 FG, 4–8 3FG (career high 3s), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, +20
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday at Maryland, Fox
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 10 games, 10 starts, 7.7 points, 43.9 FG%, 43.2 3P%, 91.7 FT%, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Team record: 9–1
Sunday: Mississippi State 89, Charlotte 59 — Started; 31 minutes, 11 points, 3–4 FG, 3–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Southern Miss
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 9 games, 68 minutes, 11 points, 2–5 FG, 7–13 FT, 21 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 6–3
Sunday: Creighton 73, Tulsa 60 — 5 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds
Next game — 6:30 Monday at Oklahoma 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 — 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. 22
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. Iona, TNT
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 11.5 points, 56.2 FG%, 1–9 3FG, 72.2 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 10–1; Rank: No. 15
Sunday: No. 17 Kentucky 82, Central Michigan 56 — Started, 26:37, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +18
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday at Belmont, ESPN+
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
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 — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Liberty, ACC Network
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. 15
Wednesday, Dec. 3: No. 15 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 vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 9 games, 3 starts, 7.1 points, 37.8 FG%, 16.1 3P%, 68.8 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals
Team record: 4–6, 0–1 ACC
Sunday: Syracuse 78, SMU 69 — Didn’t start; 29 minutes, 8 points, 4–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Next game — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Coppin State, 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 — 10 games, 75 minutes, 12 points, 5–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–4 FT, 16 rebounds, 6 assists
Team record: 5–6
Sunday: Samford 93, Cornell 90 — 2 minutes, 2 fouls
Next game — noon Monday vs. Bryan, 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, Dec. 3: 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. 6 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. 15
Wednesday, Dec. 3: 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 vs. Central Arkansas, SEC Network
Photo via @HokiesMBB
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