Styles scores 23 in Hoyas loss to No. 1 UConn; McKoy, Love, Garcia and Adams all have big games

By R.L. Bynum

Dontrez Styles had the best scoring game of the weekend among the former Tar Heels. Justin McKoy, Caleb Love, Dawson Garcia and Destiny Adams also enjoyed big games, although Garcia got hurt.

Styles had his best game since mid-November but his 23 points weren’t nearly enough Saturday for Georgetown against No. 1 UConn.

With the Hoyas’ second-largest crowd of the season at Capital One Arena, the Huskies rolled to an 89–64 victory. It was the eighth straight loss for Georgetown (8–15, 1–11 Big East) to clinch its eighth losing league record in the past nine seasons, matching the total from the conference’s first 36 seasons.

Styles scored three 3-pointers and had six rebounds and two turnovers in his best game since scoring a career-high 26 points on Nov. 18 against Mount St. Mary’s.


McKoy has stacked back-to-back impressive games to help Hawaii (14–11, 6–7 Big West) earn consecutive home victories.

In Thursday’s 94–86 overtime win over UC San Diego, he tied his career-high with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks for 20.5 game score. He followed that up with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday’s 87–70 victory over UC Davis for his second double-double of the season.

“It’s fun to see him smile and have fun,” Hawaii coach Eran Ganot said. “It’s contagious. I think he’s a big part of our leadership group, even as a first-year guy. I’m really happy for him because he deserves all the success that’s coming his way.”


Love scored 19 points and four 3-pointers and had three rebounds and three assists as Arizona, which moved up to No. 5 in Monday’s new AP Top 25. rolled Saturday to a 99–79 victory at Colorado. The Wildcats (19–5, 10–3 Pac-12) lead Washington State by a game atop the Pac-12 and have won five straight.

“We came out here with a lot of energy, not to make any excuses about us playing three overtimes and just kind of punched them in the mouth. And that’s what we did,” said Love, whose team had won 105–99 in triple overtime at Utah three nights earlier.


Garcia collected 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks for a 20.4 game score despite sitting out the final 15:45 with a lower-body injury in Minnesota’s 90–85 Sunday loss at Iowa.

“He tried to give it a go and just couldn’t do it,” Minnesota coach Ben Johnson said of Garcia.

The Gophers (15–8, 6–6 Big Ten) blew a 20-point second-half deficit with Garcia out, as Iowa snapped their three-game win streak.


Destiny Adams contributed 15 points, six rebounds and four steals for Rutgers in its 86–58 loss Saturday at Michigan.


Kerwin Walton scored 12 points and four 3-pointers to help No. 23 Texas Tech win at home 66–59 Saturday against Central Florida. The Red Raiders (17–6, 6–4 Big 12) are tied for fourth in the Big 12 with Baylor. Texas Tech fell out of the latest AP Top 25 after its 79-73 loss to Baylor.


In Virginia Tech’s third straight loss, a 74–66 setback at Notre Dame, Tyler Nickel contributed nine points and two 3-pointers. After the Hokies (13–10, 5–7 ACC) host Florida State at 9 p.m. Tuesday (ESPNU), they visit UNC at 2 p.m. Saturday (ACCN).


Will Shaver played six minutes, his most since Dec. 17, contributing four points and three rebounds in UAB’s 70–63 victory Sunday at Tulsa. The Blazers (16–8, 8–3 American) have won two in a row and four of their last five.


Penn State lost for the first time in five games with D’Marco Dunn in the starting lineup, falling Sunday at Northwestern 68–63. Dunn had four points, four rebounds and two blocks for the Nittany Lions (12–12, 6–7 Big Ten). Puff Johnson missed his second consecutive game.


Checking in on 11 former Heels

Destiny Adams, Rutgers forward

6–3 | Junior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

77–69 Wednesday, March 6, loss vs. Minnesota in first round of Big Ten tournament Started; 38 minutes, 31 points, 12–24 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7–12 FT, career-high 24 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, -11, 16.7 game score
Season statistics — 32 games, 32 starts, 15.6 points, 50.1 FG%, 1–8 3FG, 68.3 FT%, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 of a block
Record 8–24; season over


D’Marco Dunn, Penn State guard

6–5, 195 pounds | Junior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

61–59 Thursday, March 13, loss vs. Indiana in second round of Big Ten tournament Didn’t start; 25 minutes, 9 points, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3PFG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, -11, 4.9 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 12 starts; 6.8 points, 39.5 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 73.8 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Record 16–17; season over


Dawson Garcia, Minnesota forward

6–11, 230 pounds | Junior | UNC 2020–21 (part of 1 season)

73–72 Tuesday win at Butler in the first round of the NIT Started; 34 minutes, 25 points, 11–19 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers
76–64 Sunday loss at Indiana State in the second round of the NIT Started; 28 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 4 fouls, 4 turnovers, 2 blocks
Season statistics — 31 games, 31 starts; 17.6 points (led team), 48.6 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 80.2 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 block
Record 19–15; season over


Puff Johnson, Penn State wing

6–8, 205 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

61–59 Thursday, March 13, loss vs. Indiana in second round of Big Ten tournament Started; 31 minutes, 16 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3PFG, 7–7 FT, 8 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 steals, -5, 12.1 game score
Season statistics — 29 games, 12 starts; 7.3 points, 42.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 78.5 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 0.7 of a steal
Record 16–17; season over


Caleb Love, Arizona guard

6–4, 205 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

85–65 Thursday win over Long Beach State in the first round of NCAA tournament quarterfinals in Salt Lake City — Started; 34 minutes, 18 points, 6–17 FG, 3–12 3FG, 3–5 FT, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, +24, 18.0 game score
78–68 Saturday win vs. Dayton in the second round of NCAA tournament in Salt Lake City Started; 35 minutes, 19 points, 6–15 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4–6 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 block 1 steal, +6, 11.8 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 35 starts; 18.1 points (leads team), 41.8 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 83.6 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals
Record 27–8; Rank No. 6; Next game — 7:09 Thursday vs. Clemson in NCAA Sweet 16 in Los Angeles, CBS


Justin McKoy, Hawaii guard

6–8, 230 pounds | Graduate student | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

68–65 Friday, March 15, loss vs. UC Davis in semifinals of Big West tournament — Started; 33 minutes, 10 points, 3–11 FG, 0–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assists, 3 fouls, -9, 1.6 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 34 starts, 12.4 points, 47.4 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 87.2 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Record 20–14; season over


Tyler Nickel, Virginia Tech guard

6–7, 225 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

74–58 Tuesday win vs. Richmond in the first round of NIT Didn’t start; 17 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 foul, +2, 3.3 game score
81–73 Saturday loss at Ohio State in the second round of NIT Didn’t start; 12 minutes, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–4 3PFG, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, -9, 0.1 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 7 starts; 8.8 points, 43.8 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 82.0 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Record 19–15; season over


Will Shaver, UAB center

6–10, 270 pounds | Redshirt sophomore | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

69–65 Friday loss vs. San Diego State in the first round of NCAA tournament in Spokane, Wash. 4 minutes, 1 point, 1–2 FT, -4, 0.6 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 87 minutes, 20 points, 6–17 FG, 0–2 3FG, 8–16 FT, 18 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Record 23–12; season over


Dontrez Styles, Georgetown wing

6–6, 212 pounds | Junior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

74–56 Wednesday, March 13, loss vs. Providence in first round of Big East tournament Started; 35 minutes, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–5 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 assists, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers
Season statistics — 32 games, 32 starts, 12.8 points, 43.0 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 77.6 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.6 of a block
Record 9–23; season over


Kennedy Todd-Williams, Ole Miss guard

6–0 | Senior | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

67–55 Saturday win vs. Marquette in South Bend, Ind., in first round of NCAA tournament Started; 35 minutes, 15 points, 5–13 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 2 steals, +15, 12.2 game score
71–56 Monday loss at Notre Dame in the second round of NCAA tournament Started; 33 minutes, 15 points, 5–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 3 steals, -12, 9.4 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 25 starts; 10.6 points, 38.4 FG%, 26.7 3PFG%, 78.0 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals
Record — 24–9; season over


Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard

65, 200 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)

80–67 Thursday loss to N.C. State in Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA tournament Started; 20 minutes, 9 points, 3–5 FG, 3–4 3PFG, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, -2, 8.2 game score
Season statistics — 32 games, 25 starts, 8.4 points, 49.5 FG%, 47.0 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Record 23–11; season over

Photo via @HawaiiMBB

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