Love scores career-high 36 as Arizona rebounds from loss; Dawson hits 20 as his Gophers beat Johnson, Dunn and Penn State

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.



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.


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).


Roster situation Starter
Season statistics — 38 games, 38 starts, 10.2 points, 41.6 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 69.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Team record: 35–3; Rank: No. 3
Friday: 90–77 win Midwest Regional Sweet 16 in Chicago vs. No. 18 Alabama — Started; 33:37, 17 points, 6–14 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 fouls, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +15
Sunday: 95–62 win Midwest Regional final in Chicago vs. No. 23 Tennessee — Started; 34:20, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 10 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, +30
Next game — 8:49 p.m. Saturday vs. No. 2 Arizona at Final Four in Indianapolis, TBS


Roster situation Starter
Season statistics — 30 games, 30 starts, 8.7 points, 38.3 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 84.6 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 18–13
Season ended with SEC tournament loss


RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)

Roster situation One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 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
Season ended with loss in American Conference tournament


Roster situation Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 30–7; Rank: No. 13
Friday: 80–75 loss in East Regional Sweet 16 in Washington vs. No. 1 Duke — Didn’t start; 16 minutes, 5 points, 2–8 FG, 1–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists
Season ended with loss to Duke


Roster situation Reserve
Team record: 21–13
Season statistics — 9 games, 1 start, 2.3 points, 33.3 FG%, 3–7 3FG, 6–9 FT, 1.1 rebounds
Season ended with first-round NCAA tournament loss to TCU


Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)

Roster situation Starting forward
Season statistics — 28 games, 28 starts, 11.4 points, 51.2 FG%, 2–15 3FG, 69.8 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Team record: 25–11; Rank: No. 17
Saturday: 76–54 loss in Fort Worth Regional 1 Sweet 16 vs. No. 3 Texas — Started; 31:31, 10 points, 2–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 6–6 FT, 9 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, -17
Season ended with loss to Texas


Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation Starting center
Season statistics — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Team record: 20–14
Season ended with NCAA First Four loss to Texas


Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

Roster situation Starting forward
Season statistics — 36 games, 36 starts, 13.5 points, 44.4 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 84.7 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Team record: 27–9: Rank: No. 22
Season ended with loss to No. 4 Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA tournament


Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)

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: 9–21, 2–16 ACC
Season ended with left foot injury in February


Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

Roster situation Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Season ended with loss in Southern Conference tournament


Roster situation Starter
Season statistics — 31 games, 32 starts, team-leading 19.6 points, 50.0 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 15–17
Next game — 10:30 Wednesday at College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas vs. Baylor, FS1 (first game since March 11)


Roster situation Backup center
Season statistics — 36 games, 9 starts, 8.9 points, 56.3 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 74.1 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 27–9; Rank: No. 22
Season ended with loss to No. 4 Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA tournament

Photo via @ArizonaMBB

Leave a Reply