By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love had a memorable senior night at Arizona as the Wildcats won their final Pac-12 home game, and Puff Johnson scored a career-high 19 points in his first start in 11 games in a Penn State loss.
After scoring 36 points in No. 6 Arizona’s Jan. 27 win at Oregon, Love collected 22 points and seven assists in the Wildcats’ 87–78 victory Saturday over the Ducks.
Love, who scored three 3-pointers, scored seven consecutive points during an early 12–2 run for Arizona (23–6, 14–4 Pac-12). His alley-oop pass to fellow senior Keshad Johnson gave the Wildcats a 48–25 lead with 1:48 left in the first half.
Love had eight points during a 12–3 Arizona run, capped by a windmill dunk with 5:59 left that stretched Arizona’s lead to 94–67.
It was his eighth career game with at least seven assists and his second this season (his career-high was nine for UNC against Northeastern on Feb. 17, 2021).
Arizona holds a half-game lead atop the Pac-12 over No. 19 Washington State (23–7, 14–5).
Johnson was in the Penn State starting lineup for the first time since Jan. 13, but the Nittany Lions lost 75–70 on the road against Dawson Garcia and Minnesota (18–11, 9–9 Big Ten). Johnson scored 14 points and four 3-pointers in the first half as the Nittany Lions (14–16, 8–11) led 42–30 at halftime.
Garcia had only eight points and five rebounds in eight minutes for the Gophers, who trailed by 23 points in the first half and by 12 in the second half before rallying. Garcia, who could play a fifth season, did not participate in Minnesota’s senior day activities.
Johnson topped his previous best scoring game of 16 points on Jan. 26, 2022, in a win at N.C. State. He scored a career-high four 3-pointers, topping his previous high of three twice earlier this season.
D’Marco Dunn came off the Penn State bench for the first time since the Jan. 27 loss to Minnesota and had two points in 12 minutes.
Johnson, Dunn and Garcia were all members of the 2021–22 UNC Final Four team, although Garcia left the program in January of that season.
Dontrez Styles collected 12 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 5:52 left in Georgetown’s 98–93 home loss to Xavier after blowing a 15-point lead.
The Hoyas (9–20, 2–16 Big East), who will be the No. 10 seed in the Big East tournament, lost their seventh consecutive home game.
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Styles, whose 3-pointer gave the Hoyas an early 17–11 lead, has fouled out of four games this season.
Kennedy Todd-Williams and Destiny Adams both scored 14 points on Sunday.
Todd-Williams also had six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in her senior day game at Ole Miss, an 87–43 victory over Arkansas.
Adams added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in Rutgers’ 72–71 home loss to Northwestern.
Justin McKoy had 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists in Hawaii’s 76–73 home win over the UC Riverside team that UNC beat 77–52 on Nov. 17. The Rainbow Warriors (17–13, 9–9 Big West) are fifth in the 11-team Big West.
Kerwin Walton had three points and three rebounds in 20 minutes in Texas Tech’s 81–70 win at West Virginia on Saturday. The Red Raiders (20–9, 9–7 Big 12) are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12 with No. 7 Kansas and BYU.
Host Virginia Tech upset Wake Forest on Saturday 87–76, but Tyler Nickel went scoreless for the second time in three games, going 1 of 17 from the floor in those games. Since scoring 14 points at UNC on Feb. 17 and 13 against Virginia on Feb. 19, his only three points came in a loss at Syracuse on Feb. 27.
Will Shaver went scoreless with a block in four minutes of UAB’s 106–87 loss Sunday at Memphis.
Men’s players
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
Record — 2–1
Season statistics — 3 games, 0 starts, 8.3 points, 9–21 FG, 5–14 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Thursday: —Texas A&M 88, Oklahoma State 69 (road) | didn’t start: 9 minutes, 3 points, 1–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 0 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls
Monday — 8 p.m. vs. Central Arkansas, 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
Record — 2–2
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 8.5 points, 50.0 FG% (15–30), 0–2 3P, 40.0 FT% (4–10), 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 7 blocks, 5 steals
Thursday — Howard 75, Stetson 62 (home) | started: 31 minutes, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls
Saturday — 7 p.m. at Davidson, ESPN+
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Senior | 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
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 10.7 points, 10–26 FG, 3–13 3FG, 9–14 FT, 3.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 4.7 turnovers, 1.7 steals
Record — 2–1
Wednesday — No. 20 Michigan 84, Marquette 70 (home) | started (double-double): 35 minutes, 17 points, 6–10 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3–5 FT, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, +22, 18.4 game score
Sunday — 2 p.m. vs. William & Mary, B1G+
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
Record — 3–1
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 12.5 points, 39.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 6–6 FT, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 turnovers
Tuesday — No. 12 Arizona 90, Northern Arizona 59 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 12 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, +19, season-high 9.4 game score
Friday — No. 12 Arizona 80, Auburn 69 (road) | started: 37 minutes, 11 points, 4–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul
Wednesday — 9 p.m. vs. No. 4 UConn, FS1
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.6 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
Record — 4–0
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 12.0 points, 18–43 FG, 6–19 3FG, 6–10 FT, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.0 turnovers, 1.5 steals
Thursday — Minnesota 91, Southern 61 (home) | started: 31 minutes, 10 points, 3–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3–5 FT, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, 4 fouls
Monday — 8 p.m. vs. Western Illinois, Big Ten Network
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Junior | 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
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 14.7 points, 64.3 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 6–8 FT, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Record — 1–2
Wednesday — Saint Joseph’s 83, South Florida 80 (in Annapolis, Md.) | started: 25 minutes, 13 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 fouls, 8.8 game score
Saturday — 2 p.m. vs. Coppin State, ESPN+
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
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 16.3 points, 55.9 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 2–2 FT, 2.7 rebounds
Record — 3–0
Wednesday — St. John’s 90, Colgate 59 (at Carnesecca Arena) | started: 20 minutes, 17 points, 6–10 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +13, season-high15.4 game score
Sunday — 7 p.m. vs. Syracuse 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
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 15.3 points, 64.9 FG%, 66.7 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.3 turnovers, 3 double-doubles
Record — 4–0
Tuesday — N.C. State 94, Presbyterian 60 (home) | 25 minutes (double-double): 21 points, 10–17 FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 4 turnovers, 2 blocks, 14.2 game score
Friday — N.C. State 81, Troy 62 (home) | started (double-double): 27 minutes, 15 points, 4–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7–9 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, 1 foul
Thursday — 6 p.m. vs. Murray State in Nassau, Bahamas, CBS Sports Network
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Record — 2–1 (hasn’t played)
Wednesday — Long Beach State 62, Pacific 59 (road) | didn’t play
Saturday — 4 p.m. vs. Air Force, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.4 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
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 13.5 points, 43.2 FG%, 39.4 3P%, 42.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.0 turnovers, 1.5 steals
Record — 4–0
Sunday — Pittsburgh 82, Penn State 76 (at The Palestra in Philadelphia) | started: 40 minutes, 13 points, 5–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assist, 1 turnover, 5 steals
Friday — Pittsburgh 76, Butler 64 (road) | started: 38 minutes, 17 points, 6–11 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 0 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 foul
Tuesday — 7 p.m. vs. Villanova, ACC Network
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
Record — 1–2
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 15.3 points, 71.4 FG%, 3–6 3FG, 3–6 FT, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.7 blocks
Friday — Wright State 90, Samford 66 (home) | started: 25 minutes, 15 points, 7–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 blocks, 1 foul
Wednesday — 6:30 p.m. at USC Upstate, ESPN+
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
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 12.0 points, 45.0 FG%, 22.2 3P%, 44.4 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 1.5 steals
Last Saturday — No. 11 Louisville 107, Morehead State 57 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 5–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
This Sunday — 1 p.m. at Memphis, ESPN
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
Women’s players
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.8 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 11.5 points, 42.8 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 2–2 FT, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 turnovers
Record — 3–0
Is missing two UCLA games to play for Finland’s senior national team at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Qualifiers:
Thursday with Finland — Finland 76, Lithuania 74 (road) | didn’t start: 16:13, 5 points, 1–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 fouls
Sunday with Finland — 9 a.m. ET at Lithuania
Missed Thursday UCLA game — No. 11 UCLA 76, Arizona 44 (home)
Will miss Sunday UCLA game — 6 p.m. vs. Princeton, FIBA YouTube channel
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 statistics — 1 game, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Record — 4–0
Wednesday — BYU 82, Bethune-Cookman 56 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 9 p.m. vs. New Mexico
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
Record — 5–0
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 11.6 points, 5–6 FT, 0.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists. FG% and 3P% need her shot totals through four games, which the sheet didn’t give, so I left them off.
Thursday — No. 15 TCU 106, Southeastern Louisiana 47 (home) | started: 23 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 4–8 3FG, 0 FT, 0 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 3 fouls
Sunday — 3 p.m. vs. Abilene Christian, 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
Record: 2–1
Season statistics — 1 game, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
Thursday — Tulsa 64, No. 22 Oklahoma State 62 (home) | didn’t play
Sunday — 4:30 p.m. vs. Texas Southern, ESPN+
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 0 starts, 344 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 21 steals, 1 block
Record — 3–1
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 9.0 points, 12–32 FG (37.5%), 8–10 FT, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 1.8 steals. 3P is left off because the sheet only had the percentage (33.3).
Thursday — No. 1 South Carolina 65, Clemson 44 (home) | started: 19:51, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 0 FT, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, 3 fouls
Sunday — 5 p.m. vs. Stetson, ACC Network
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Head coaches with UNC connections
Jerod Haase, UNCG
UNC assistant coach under Roy Williams (2003–12)
Career head coaching record — 206–180 | first season at UNCG | previous stops at Stanford (126–127) and UAB (80–53) | C-USA regular-season champion 2016, C-USA tournament champion 2015 | C-USA Coach of Year 2016
UNC connections on his staff — Assistant Coach David Noel III and Graduate Assistant Manager Kenny Williams
Season record — 2–2
Wednesday — UNCG 91, Lees-McRae 84 (home) | Dionte Neal 26 points, 8 assists
Scheduled Saturday game at Cornell postponed because of travel disruptions; no makeup date announced
Wednesday — 8 p.m. at Gardner-Webb, ESPN+
Wes Miller, Charlotte
Played at UNC (2004–07)
Career head coaching record — 287–210 | first season at Charlotte| previous stops at Cincinnati (100–74) and UNCG (185–134) | SoCon tournament titles 2018, 2021, SoCon regular-season titles 2017, 2018, 2021 | SoCon Coach of Year 2012, 2018
UNC connection on his staff — Assistant Coach Marcus Paige
Season record — 2–2
Friday — Appalachian State 66, Charlotte 60 (home) | Keyshuan Tillery 23 points, 5 3-poiners, 5 assists, 3 rebounds
Tuesday — 7 p.m. at Davidson, ESPN+
Carrie Moore, Harvard
UNC assistant under Courtney Banghart (2019–21)
Career head coaching record — 83–42, all at Harvard | fifth season | Ivy League tournament champions 2025
Season record — 3–1
Wednesday — Harvard 87, UMass 65 (home) | Abigail Wright 22 points, 5 rebounds
Sunday — 2 p.m. vs. Michigan State
King Rice, Monmouth
Played at UNC (1987–91)
Career head coaching record — 240–245 | in 16th season, all at Monmouth | MAAC regular-season champion 2016, 2017, 2021
UNC connections on his staff — Assistant Coach Brian Reese and Assistant Coach for Player Development Shammond Williams
Season record — 1–2
Thursday — Monmouth 74, Quinnipiac 70 (road) | Stefanos Spartalis 20 points, 14 rebounds
Tuesday— 7 p.m. at Wake Forest, ACC Network Extra
Plays at UNC— 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, ACC Network Extra
Charlotte Smith, Elon
Played at UNC (1991–95);
assistant on Sylvia Hatchell’s staff (2002–11)
Career head coaching record — 238–217 | in 16th season, all at Elon | CAA Coach of Year 2017
Season record — 1–2
Wednesday — ETSU 65, Elon 60, OT (home) | LaNae Corbett 18 points, 5 rebounds
Sunday — 3 p.m. at Wake Forest, ACC Network Extra
Plays at UNC— 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, ACC Network
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
