By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love helped No. 4 Arizona rebound from a loss with 28 points to score his 2,000th career point, and Justin McKoy scored career-highs of 26 points and six 3-pointers in a Hawaii victory. Meanwhile, Kerwin Walton scored 18 points in a loss for No. 23 Texas Tech, D’Marco Dunn helped Penn State get a big win, and Dontrez Styles played well as Georgetown ended an 11-game losing streak.
Love was 9 of 19 from the floor and 5 of 10 from 3-point range with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals as the host Wildcats knocked off Washington 91–74 on Saturday, two days after losing 77–74 to No. 21 Washington State.
Love came into the game needing 28 points to become the 22nd active player to reach 2,000 points and had 20 by halftime.
“I wanted to do it at home, God willing, but everything worked out, and I got it. If I didn’t get it, I would have been happy to do it at their place,” Love said, referring to Arizona State, the Wildcats’ next opponent on Wednesday night.
Love reached 2,000 points on a 3-pointer with 1:25 left in the game.
“I just give all my glory to God and the help of my teammates,” Love told CBS in a postgame interview. “Even my teammates at North Carolina, I give thanks to them. They assisted a lot of those, so I’m just grateful right now.”
McKoy was 10 of 14 from the floor, including 6 of 11 from 3-point range with six rebounds in the Rainbow Warriors’ 73–65 home victory over Long Beach State for their sixth win in the last eight games.
The six 3-pointers were one more than his total of 3-pointers in 41 games for UNC.
McKoy scored seven points in the first five minutes of the game and had 15 points at halftime to lead Hawaii (18–10, 10–6 Big West) to a 40–33 halftime lead. McKoy’s 3-pointer to start the second half gave the Rainbow Warriors their first double-digit lead.
It was McKoy’s fourth game this season with at least 18 points
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Walton was 6 of 12 from the floor and 4 of 9 from 3-point range and pulled down two rebounds as the Red Raiders (19–8, 8–6 Big 12) lost 75–61 Saturday at Central Florida. It was his fourth game with at least 18 points this season.
Dunn scored 13 points and two 3-pointers as host Penn State beat Indiana 83–74 Saturday to even its record at 14–14. Puff Johnson had eight points and two 3-pointers for the Nittany Lions (8–9 Big Ten).
Dontrez Styles collected 12 points, three rebounds and two steals before fouling out as Georgetown ended an 11-game losing streak with a 77–76 Saturday win at DePaul. It was the first win for the Hoyas (9–18, 2–14 Big East) since their 68–65 victory over the Blue Demons (3–24, 0–16) on Jan. 6.
Destiny Adams had 11 points and nine rebounds in Rutgers’ 93–57 loss at Michigan State on Saturday. She added three steals for the Scarlet Knights (8–22, 2–15).
Tyler Nickel played 31 scoreless minutes, missing all six shots, in Virginia Tech’s 79–64 Saturday loss at Pittsburgh. He had a rebound, an assist and a steal for the Hokies (15–12, 7–9 ACC).
Dawson Garcia scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds before fouling out Sunday in Minnesota’s 73–55 loss at Nebraska
Will Shaver didn’t play in UAB’s 78–67 Sunday win at Tulane.
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 UCLA 73, Lehigh 53 (home) | started: 29 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 0 turnovers
Thursday — 10 p.m. vs. UC Irvine, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Idaho State
Thursday, Nov. 5 — 9 p.m. vs. Portland
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Oklahoma State 91, Incarnate Word 60 (home) | didn’t start: 15 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Friday — 9 p.m. vs. Queens, ESPN+
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Yale 72, Howard 62 (road) | started: 30 minutes, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. at Alcorn State, SWAC TV
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 37–3; won national championship; Cadeau MOP
Monday’s opener — No. 16 Michigan 84, Oakland 68 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 0 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 8 p.m. Friday vs. UConn in Boston, TNT, truTV
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — No. 22 UCLA 84, No. 5 Arizona 75 (in Las Vegas) | started: 38 minutes, 18 points, 5–17 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls, plus/minus of 0
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Cal Poly, truTV
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Minnesota 85, North Dakota 50 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 4 points, 1–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. St. Thomas, NBCSN, Peacock
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Tuesday’s opener — No. 15 TCU 99, Oral Roberts 43 (home) | 26 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, tied for team-high +40
Thursday — 7:30 vs. LeMoyne, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 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
Tuesday’s opener — Incarnate Word 63, Tulsa 57 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 3 p.m. Saturday vs. Rogers State
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Monday’s opener — Clemson 68, Radford 47 (home) | started: 30:22, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday’s opener — South Florida 98, Charleston Southern 71 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 20 points, 9–15 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 3 fouls
Thursday — 8:30 at DePaul, truTV
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Monday’s opener — St. John’s 78, Monmouth 63 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls.
Sunday — noon vs. Iona at Madison Square Garden, Peacock
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Monday’s opener — N.C. State 83, Campbell 64 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 20 points, 8–8 FG, 3–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Season opener — 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Bethesda, ESPN+
Saturday — 8 p.m. at Bradley, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Pittsburgh 95, Rider 57 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 18 points, 6–9 FG, 6–9 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. Buffalo, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Monday’s opener — Samford 87, Berry 58 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 3–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 blocks, 2 fouls
Saturday — 4 p.m. at UNLV
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 Louisville 84, Chattanooga 70 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 13 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Saturday — noon vs. Morehead State, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
