NCAA News Wire
Top 25 roundup: La Salle tops VCU in 2 OTs
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
RICHMOND, Va. — La Salle built a six-point lead in the second overtime and withstood several VCU runs to escape with a 74-69 victory Wednesday.
Guard Jordan Price scored 34 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the Explorers, who earned their first road win against a ranked team since knocking off the Rams two years ago. La Salle (14-10, 6-5 Atlantic 10) got 12 points apiece from guard Cleon Roberts and forward Jerrell Wright.
Guard JeQuan Lewis led VCU (18-6, 8-3) with 26 points. Guard Melvin Johnson added 13 points.
Virginia 51, North Carolina State 47
RALEIGH, N.C. — Guard Malcolm Brodgon scored 15 points, including four free throws in the final minute, and the second-ranked Cavaliers defeated the Wolfpack.
North Carolina State guard Trevor Lacey hit a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left but missed a potential tying layup with eight seconds to go. Center Mike Tobey, who made two free throws with seven seconds to play, added 11 points, and forward Anthony Gill had nine points for first-place Virginia (22-1, 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Lacey finished with 14 points for N.C. State (14-11, 5-7), which lost for the fifth time in the last six games.
Villanova 74, Providence 68
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Daniel Ochefu piled up 19 points and nine rebounds to help the sixth-ranked Wildcats pick up their fifth straight win and stave off the feisty Friars. The junior forward’s big night on both ends gave the Wildcats (22-2, 9-2 Big East) their third road win in conference play.
Providence (17-8, 7-5) lost its second game in a row. The Friars fell for the third time in four games.
Junior guard Ryan Arcidiacono scored a team-high 20 points and senior guard Darrun Hilliard II had 16 for the Wildcats, who overcame a poor first half to shoot 50 percent on the night (20-for-40). Providence senior forward LaDontae Henton scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half.
Louisville 69, Pittsburgh 56
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Junior forward Montrezl Harrell picked up his 21st double-double, and the ninth-ranked Cardinals received some help from the bench for the first time in weeks.
Harrell, who hit 12 of 17 from the field, finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Terry Rozier added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Louisville (20-4, 7-3 ACC). However, it was the play of the bench that sparked a 22-2 surge and put the Cardinals in control late in the game. Louisville reserves hadn’t scored a point since Jan. 31.
Forward Michael Young scored 16 points to lead Pittsburgh (16-9, 5-6).
Northern Iowa 83, Illinois State 64
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Forward Seth Tuttle scored a game-high 23 points, including 18 in the first half, and the 13th-ranked Panthers earned their 12th consecutive Missouri Valley Conference victory.
The Panthers jumped out to an early lead and were up 50-33 at halftime behind 58 percent shooting from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (seven of 17).
Illinois State (15-10, 7-6 MVC) crept no closer than 13 points in the second half. Northern Iowa boosted the margin to 23 points with eight minutes remaining.
Wichita State 74, Indiana State 57
WICHITA, Kan. — The 15th-ranked Shockers won their 30th consecutive home game and stayed tied atop the Missouri Valley Conference.
Junior guard Fred VanVleet scored 21 points, including 14 in the first half, for Wichita State (22-3, 12-1). Senior forward Darius Carter added 17 points and seven rebounds.
Junior guard Devonte Brown led Indiana State (12-13, 8-5) with 10 points. The Sycamores remained alone in third place in the MVC after fourth-place Illinois State lost at No. 13 Northern Iowa.
Maryland 68, Indiana 66
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Swingman Dez Wells and guard Melo Trimble scored 18 points apiece as the 19th-ranked Terrapins held on to beat the Hoosiers.
Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell finished with 23 points, but he missed a 3-pointer with about four seconds left and a 2-point try at the buzzer.
The Terps (20-5, 8-4) improved to 15-1 at home this season, including 6-0 against conference foes. Maryland is tied for second in the conference with Ohio State, which beat Penn State earlier Wednesday.
West Virginia 76, Kansas 72
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The 21st-ranked Mountaineers squandered a late 10-point lead before regaining their
