By R.L. Bynum
Destiny Adams, Kerwin Walton and Caleb Love all had big games Wednesday night and led their teams in scoring, but only Love did so in a victory.
With Phoenix Suns start Kevin Durant watching from the front row, Love scored 20 points and tied his season-high with five 3-pointers as No. 12 Arizona rebounded from a loss to Washington State with a convincing 82–67 home victory over Southern Cal.
It was Love’s ninth game and third in a row with at least 20 points this season for the Wildcats (13–4, 4–2 Pac-12). He was 7 of 16 from the floor, 5 of 12 from 3-point ranges and dished out five assists. He also had five 3-pointers last weekend in a loss at Washington State.
Coming off a 33-point game three days earlier, Destiny Adams poured in 26 points and pulled down six rebounds, but her Rutgers team remained winless in Big Ten play after a 96–68 road loss to Illinois.
Adams has scored at least 20 points in three of the last five games and had double-digit points in the last five. She has scored at least 10 points 15 times and led the Scarlet Knights (6–14, 0–7 Big Ten) in scoring six times.
Walton scored 18 points and six 3-pointers, but No. 25 Texas Tech suffered its first Big 12 loss, falling on the road against No. 2 Houston 77–54. The Red Raiders (14–3, 3–1 Big 12) debuted in the AP poll this week.
The six 3-pointers matched his career-high, which he also scored on Dec. 6 against Omaha. His best perimeter game for UNC was five 3-pointers on Feb. 20, 2021, against Louisville.
It was the second time this season that Walton has led Texas Tech in scoring. He was 6 of 11 from the floor, 6 of 9 from 3-point range and had three rebounds for the Red Raiders (14–3, 3–1 Big 12).
Tyler Nickel scored eight points and two 3-pointers with four rebounds in Virginia Tech’s 65–57 loss at Virginia. The Hokies (10–7, 2–4 ACC) visit N.C. State at noon Saturday (The CW).
Penn State earned a big 87–83 home win Tuesday over No. 11 Wisconsin. Neither D’Marco Dunn nor Puff Johnson started for the Nittany Lions (9–9, 3–4 Big Ten). Dunn had five points in 12 minutes and Johnson was scoreless in eight minutes.
Will Shaver didn’t play in UAB’s 83–69 home win Wednesday over Tulane.
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 — 10 games, ,10 starts, 9.7 points, 45.4 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 10–0, 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
Next game — 4 p.m. Sunday vs. La Salle, Peacock
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 8.1 points, 43.3 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 10–1
Sunday: Mississippi State 87, Southern Miss 64 — Started; 33 minutes, 12 points, 5–10 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal
Next game — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Alabama State
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 10 games, 2.5 points, 45.5 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 66.7 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals
Team record: 6–4
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
Next game — 11 a.m. Thursday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 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 — 10 games, 3 starts, 11.5 points, 46.6 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 7–3, 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
Next game — 12:30 Saturday vs. Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta, CBS
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: 11–1; Rank: No. 12
Sunday: No. 12 Kentucky 77, Belmont 69 — Started, 18:38, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +8
Next game — 6:30 Friday vs. Wright State
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 13.4 points, 67.0 FG%, 3–6 3FG, 71.7 FT%, 7.5 rebounds
Team record: 7–4
Saturday: No. 17 Kansas 77, N.C. State 76, OT — Started; 39 minutes, 16 points, 7–11 FG, 2–2 FT, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 2 blocks, -2
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Texas Southern at Reynolds Coliseum, ACCN Extra
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 — 10 games, 10 starts, 15.0 points, 52.1 FG%, 47.3 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 10–0: Rank: No. 13
Saturday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 83, Central Arkansas 72 — Started; 30 minutes, 30 points (career-high), 10–18 FG (career-high FG total), 8–15 3FG (career-high 3-pointers total), 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, +13
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Memphis, ESPN2
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 10 games, 4 starts, 7.2 points, 38.3 FG%, 17.6 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 5–6, 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
Next game — 6 p.m. Friday at Sam Houston, ESPN+
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 — 11 games, 1.8 points, 44.4 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 2–4 FT, 1.9 rebounds, seven assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 6–6
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
Next game — 1 p.m. Friday vs. Reinhardt, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 22.6 points, 52.2 FG%, 40.7 3P%, 81.7 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 6–5, 1–1 Big Ten
Wednesday: Minnesota 89, Texas Southern 53 —Started; 37 minutes, 38 points, 11–19 FG, 8–12 3FG, 8–11 FT, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, 4 steals, +37
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Campbell, 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 — 10 games, 1 start, 9.0 points, 60.8 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks
Team record: 9–0: Rank: No. 13
Saturday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 83, Central Arkansas 72 — Didn’t start, 23 minutes, 12 points, 2–3 FG, 8–9 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, -2
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Memphis, ESPN2
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
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