By R.L. Bynum
Five days after his former UNC backcourt mate RJ Davis scored a career-high 36 points against Wake Forest, Caleb Love matched that on Saturday night.
Love’s career-high came in an 87–78 road victory over Oregon two days after the No. 9 Wildcats (15–5, 6–3 Pac-12) lost at Oregon State 83–80 when Love scored 23 points and two 3-pointers.
Love was 12 of 18 from the floor and 5 of 8 from 3-point range against the Ducks.
“I was just trying to play within the offense and let my teammates create for me,” Love said.
Love topped his previous best scoring game, which was 34 points on Nov. 27 last season in Carolina’s 104–101 four-overtime loss to Alabama in Portland. The big difference is that he needed 36 shots in that game and only 18 on Saturday.
It was his third career game with at least 30 points. He netted 30 in Carolina’s 73–66 NCAA tournament victory over UCLA in the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16. It was his seventh career game with at least five 3-pointers and third this season.
Three former Tar Heels were on the court for Minnesota’s 83–74 victory at Penn State.
Dawson Garcia scored 20 points with four rebounds and three assists for the Gophers (13–7, 4–5 Big Ten). Puff Johnson had four points and D’Marco Dunn two points for the Nittany Lions (9–11, 3–6).
Tyler Nickel scored 11 points and three 3-pointers and dished out three assists as host Virginia Tech (13–7, 5–4 ACC) knocked off Georgia Tech 91–67.
Kerwin Walton contributed seven points before fouling out in No. 25 Texas Tech’s 85–84 home victory over No. 15 Oklahoma. The Red Raiders are 16–3 overall and 5–1 in the Big 12.
Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists Thursday as host Ole Miss beat Florida 81–70. The Rebels (14–5, 4–2 SEC) host Tennessee at 3 p.m. Sunday (ESPN)
Destiny Adams collected 11 points and seven rebounds in Rutgers’ 73–62 Saturday loss at Wisconsin. The Scarlet Knights (6–16, 0–9 Big Ten) have lost 11 consecutive games.
Dontrez Styles had three points and four rebounds in Georgetown’s 83–76 Saturday loss at Providence, the fifth consecutive loss for the Hoyas (8–12, 1–8 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 — 22 games, 22 starts, 10.3 points, 44.0 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 turnovers
Team record: 21–1, 11–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Thursday: 110–69 win vs. Penn State — Started; 23 minutes, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 8 assists
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Ohio State
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 23 games, 23 starts, 9.1 points, 39.4 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 87.5 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 16–8, 3–7 SEC
Thursday: 88–45 loss at No. 3 South Carolina — Started; 19:58, 3 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnovers, -28
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Georgia
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 23 games, 2.1 points, 42.9 FG%, 3–8 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 16–7, 8–3 American
Tuesday: 75–65 win at Wichita State — 16 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 turnovers
Saturday: 66–47 loss vs UTSA — 15 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday at South Florida, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 23 games, 16 starts, 10.9 points, 43.1 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 89.8 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 18–5, 11–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Friday: 81–72 win vs. No. 3 UConn — Started; 14 minutes, 8 points, 2–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 steal (was on bench for final 8:56)
Next game — 6:30 Monday vs. Xavier, FS1
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 15–7, 7–5 Big Ten
Season statistics — 3 games, 2.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Thursday: 82–62 win at Maryland — Didn’t play, suffered injury in practice that’s not expected to be long-term
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. No. 3 Michigan, CBS
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 16 games, 16 starts, 11.3 points, 55.7 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 66.1 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 18–6, 5–4 SEC; Rank: No. 16
Thursday: 84–83 loss vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt — Started; 37:28, career-high 27 points, 11–15 FG (11 FGs career-high), 5–8 FT, 12 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 5 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, +1
Next game — 7:30 Monday at No. 4 Texas
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 24 games, 24 starts, 13.3 points, 67.9 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 18–6, 9–2 ACC
Tuesday: 84–83 win at SMU — Started; 27:44, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–8 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, +8
Saturday: 82–73 win vs. Virginia Tech — Started; 27:03, 11 points, 5–7 FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block, +12
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday at Louisville, ESPN
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 — 23 games, 23 starts, 14.6 points, 50.2 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 19–4, 6–5 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Saturday: 92–91 loss vs. Oklahoma — Started, 35:51, 18 points, 6–14 FG, 5–11 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +/- of 0
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Auburn
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 20 games, 12 starts, 9.6 points, 39.9 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–15, 1–10 ACC
Thursday: 70–65 loss vs. Wake Forest — Started; 32:06, 10 points, 4–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, -1
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday at No. 17 Duke, The CW
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 — 23 games, 2.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 61.9 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 18 assists, 12 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 13–12, 6–6 Southern Conference
Thursday: 78–64 win vs. The Citadel — 10 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover
Saturday: 69–49 win vs. Mercer — 14 minutes, 1 point, 0–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Wofford, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, team-leading 19.8 points, 49.2 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 81.2 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Team record: 11–12, 4–8 Big Ten
Wednesday: 76–73 win vs. No. 7 Michigan State — 38 minutes, 17 points, 4–12 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Maryland, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 23 games, 4 starts, 8.7 points, 53.8 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 19–4, 6–5 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Saturday: 92–91 loss vs. Oklahoma — Started, 4 point, 2–3 FG, 10 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, -6
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Auburn
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
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