By R.L. Bynum
Ian Jackson and Elliot Cadeau helped their teams continue their rolls while Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington’s No. 11 Vanderbilt team ended a three-game skid. Meanwhile, Ven-Allen Lubin notched a double-double and Puff Johnson made his Ohio State debut.
Jackson scored 16 points and three 3-pointers, all in the first 14 minutes of the game, with four rebounds and two assists, as the St. John’s (15–5, 8–1 Big East) won its sixth consecutive game, winning Saturday at Xavier 88–83 to stay a game back of No. 2 UConn in the Big East.
“I’ve said this all year long, how enjoyable they are to coach,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said after his 900th career victory. “But tonight was the icing on the cake. A lot of teams would break, but they stayed with it. Bryce Hopkins made big plays, and Ian Jackson kept us in the game in the first half.”
Jackson scored 13 of the Red Storm’s first 20 points, including three 3-pointers, to give St. John’s an early nine-point lead before Xavier led 49–37 at halftime.
Cadeau scored six points, his fewest points in nine Big Ten games, but dished out eight assists and had four turnovers as No. 3 Michigan (18–1, 8–1 Big Ten) knocked off Ohio State 74–62 on Friday.
Cadeau’s points were significant, though, because his two 3-pointers keyed a decisive 24–12 run to end the game.
The Wolverines have a huge home game at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Peacock) against league-leading No. 7 Nebraska (20–0, 9–0). Michigan, No. 10 Michigan State and No. 11 Illinois are all tied for second place, one game back of the Cornhuskers.
Johnson played five scoreless minutes in his Buckeyes debut against Michigan, and will face Penn State, where he played the last two seasons, at 7 p.m. Monday (FS1). He became eligible to play for Ohio State (13–6, 5–4) after a Jan. 16 court ruling.
Vanderbilt (17–3, 4–3 SEC) went from a 16-game unbeaten streak to start the season to three consecutive losses before rebounding Saturday with an 88–56 victory at Mississippi State.
Tyler Nickel had 13 points, three 3-pointers, three steals and two assists and was a team-high +37, while Jalen Washington collected eight points, eight rebounds, four blocks and two assists. The four blocks tied his season-high.
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Lubin produced his fourth double-double of the season and 15th of his career (four last season for UNC) with 17 points and 12 rebounds Saturday as N.C. State (14–6, 5–2 ACC) won 81–72 at Pittsburgh.
Lubin is averaging 13.4 points per game and leads the ACC in field-goal percentage at 66.9% (UNC’s Henri Veesaar is second at 63.0%).
The struggles continue for Minnesota (10–10, 3–6 Big Ten), which got blown out by No. 7 Nebraska 76–57 on Saturday for the Gophers’ fifth consecutive loss.
Cade Tyson scored 12 points and two 3-pointers with six rebounds and two assists. He has been held to 15 points or fewer in the last four games, after that happened only three times in the first 16 games.
In other late-week games:
— Paulina Paris returned after missing two games, contributing four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in SMU’s 73–51 Thursday loss to Florida State as a starter. She didn’t start and played was scoreless in 10 minutes, 52 seconds on Sunday as she battled foul trouble and the Mustangs (8–13, 1–8 ACC) lost 75–66 at home to Miami.
— Will Shaver combined for two points in 12 minutes as Samford (10–11, 3–5 Southern Conference) lost 88–78 at Wofford on Wednesday but beat Chattanooga 75–64 at home on Saturday.
— RyLee Grays played seven scoreless minutes with a rebound and a steal in Tulsa’s 57–53 road victory on Friday against North Texas.
— Teonni Key missed both of No. 11 Kentucky’s games last week as she continues to recover from an elbow injury. She has missed six games since getting injured on Jan. 4 against Missouri.
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 — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 starts, 11.0 points, 8–16 FG, 4–10 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Friday — Oklahoma State 118, Queens 68 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 assists, 1 steal, +31
Thursday — 8 p.m. at Texas A&M, SECN+
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
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 9.0 points, 52.2 FG%, 0–2 3P, 37.5 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 blocks, 4 steals
Record — 1–2
Monday — Penn 78, Howard 65 (road) | started: 23 minutes, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks (season-low point total after combining for 23 points in the first two games)
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. Stetson
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 — 2 games, 2 starts, 7.5 points, 4–16 FG, 1–9 3FG, 6–9 FT, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 5.0 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 1–1
Friday — No. 4 UConn 84, No. 16 Michigan 77 (in Boston) | started: 28 minutes, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 fouls, 5 turnovers, -10
Wednesday — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Marquette, FS1
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 — 2–1
Season statistics — 3 games, [confirm starts], 13.0 points, 41.2 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 4–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals
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 — 9 p.m. at Auburn, ESPN2
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 — 3–0
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.7 points, 15–37 FG, 5–17 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.0 turnovers, 1.3 steals
Monday — Minnesota 63, Cincinnati 61 (road) | started: 39 minutes, 26 points, 11–19 FG, 3–8 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 fouls, 7 turnovers, 1 steal, 18.0 game score (second-highest of his career behind 21.9 for Colorado State against Memphis on March 21, 2025: 23 points, 6 3-pointers, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals)
Thursday — 8 p.m. vs. Southern, B1G+
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 — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65.0 FG%, 2–4 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Record — 1–1
Thursday — DePaul 82, South Florida 80 (road) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Wednesday — 3 p.m. vs. Saint Joseph’s in Annapolis, Md., CBS Sports Network
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 — 2 games, 2 starts, 16.0 points, 54.2 FG%, 46.2 3P%, 2.5 rebounds
Record — 2–0
Sunday — St. John’s 104, Iona 65 (Madison Square Garden) | started: 20:10, 17 points, 7–12 FG, 3–8 3FG, 3 rebounds, +20
Wednesday — 7 p.m. vs. Colgate at Carnesecca Arena, 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
Record — 3–0
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 15.3 points, 69.0 FG%, 4–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.7 turnovers, 2 double-doubles
Tuesday — N.C. State 94, Presbyterian 60 (home) | [confirm start/minutes]: 21 points, 10–17 FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 4 turnovers, 2 blocks (double-double), 14.2 game score
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. Troy, ACC 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 — 2–0 (he didn’t play in either game)
Saturday — Pacific 63, Bradley 52 (road) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 10 p.m. at Long Beach State, 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 — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.2 points, 39.4 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 1–5 FT, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assist, 1.7 turnovers, 2.0 assists
Record — 3–0
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 — 6:30 at Butler, Peacock
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 — 1–1
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65 FG%, 3–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks
Saturday — UNLV 88, Samford 79 (road) | started: 25:35, 14 points, 6–10 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, -8
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. Wright State, 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
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
Sunday, Nov. 15 — 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
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 — 2–0
Thursday — No. 11 UCLA 78, UC Irvine 42 | started: 26 minutes, 14 points, 5–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Arizona
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 — 3–0
Saturday — BYU 97, Montana 53 (home) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 4 p.m. vs. Bethune-Cookman
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
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 11.0 points, 45.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 5–6 FT, 1.0 rebound, 3.3 assists
Record — 4–0
Tuesday — No. 15 TCU 78, Iona 53 (home) | started: 31 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–8 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, season-low 4.6 game score
Thursday — 7:30 p.m. vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 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: 1–1
Saturday (season debut) — Tulsa 67, Rogers State 40 (home) | 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers,
Thursday — 6 p.m. vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State, ESPNU
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
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 11.3 points, 40.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 8–10 FT, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 3–0
Sunday — Clemson 72, UNCG 44 | started: 20:17, 9 points, 1–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6–6 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 3 turnovers
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. No. 1 South Carolina, ESPN2
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via redstormsports.com
