By R.L. Bynum
Dawson Garcia, Destiny Adams, Justin McKoy and Kennedy Todd-Williams all had big mid-week games, while Tyler Nickel scored 15 ahead of his return to the Smith Center.
Garcia helped Minnesota build a 10-point lead early in the second half at No. 2 Purdue on Thursday night, but the Boilermakers rallied for an 84–76 victory.
Garcia, who was 7 of 12 from the floor and scored three 3-pointers, matched All-American Purdue center Zach Edey’s point total with 24 before fouling out with 28 seconds left.
That wasn’t even his best game against Purdue. That came when he poured in 26 points and three 3-pointers for Carolina on Nov. 20, 2021, in the Tar Heels’ 93–84 loss in Uncasville, Conn., to the Boilermakers.
It was a big rebound game for Garcia, who suffered a leg injury and couldn’t play in the second half of Sunday’s 90–84 loss at Iowa.
“Of course, it was a motivator,” said Garcia, who made 14 of his last 19 shots. “It just killed me to watch that second half at Iowa, just not being able to move my leg. We’ve got a big-time week coming ahead of us. We’ve got to ride together. We can’t let this snowball … spiral, because I know this group is special.”
Garcia has eight games of at least 20 points for the Gophers (15–9, 6–7 Big Ten).
Adams registered her sixth double-double of the season, and third in Big Ten play, with 21 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday as host Rutgers topped Minnesota 81–73. Adams added two assists, a block, and a steal for the Scarlet Knights (8–19, 2–12 Big Ten).
She has scored at least 20 points in seven games, including two of the last three. The junior has also recorded double-digit points in the past 12 contests and at least 10 points 22 times this season.
McKoy collected 18 points and five rebounds as Hawaii rolled to an 88–51 Thursday win at Cal Poly, the Rainbow Warriors’ third straight win and the fifth in the last six games.
It was the largest margin of victory for Hawaii (15–11, 7–7 Big West) in a Big West road game and was one shy of the largest road victory in school history.
Nickel scored three 3-pointers in his best scoring game since netting 24 points on Jan. 10 against Clemson, as Virginia Tech ended a three-game losing streak with an 83–75 home win Tuesday over Florida State.
Nickel logged his second-most minutes in ACC play with 29 heading into his 4 p.m. Saturday game when the Hokies (14–10, 6–6 ACC) visit No. 7 North Carolina (ACC Network).
Dontrez Styles had 13 points, three rebounds and a block Tuesday as Georgetown lost 94–72 at No. 17 Creighton. It was the ninth consecutive loss for the Hoyas (8–16, 1–12 Big East).
Texas Tech, which fell out of the AP Top 25, rolled to a 79–50 home win Monday over No. 6 Kansas for its second straight win. Kerwin Walton, starting for the 16th consecutive game, contributed eight points, three rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
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.
Puff Johnson scored eight points and two 3-pointers with three rebounds Wednesday as host Penn State lost 80–72 to Michigan State. D’Marco Dunn had three points and a rebound in 15 minutes for the Nittany Lions (12–13, 6–8 Big Ten).
Caleb Love and No. 5 Arizona didn’t have a midweek game, next playing at 9:30 Saturday at home against rival Arizona State (FS1).
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
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
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
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
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 — 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
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
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
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
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)
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
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 @GopherMBB
