Notre Dame's Big Plays Edge Duke, College Scores

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Published on January 29 2015 2:29 am
Last Updated on January 29 2015 2:48 am
Written by Millie Lange

South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) -- The top-10 ACC showdown at Purcell Pavilion lived up to its billing, and it was Notre Dame -- particularly Jerian Grant -- providing the big plays down the stretch to steal a signature win from Duke. Grant finished with 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds as the eighth- ranked Fighting Irish survived a 77-73 nail-biter against the fourth- ranked Blue Devils. Duke led by 10 midway through the second half before the Irish rallied for their fourth comeback victory during a five-game winning streak.

Grant was the catalyst, but Notre Dame (20-2, 8-1 ACC) had plenty of contributors. Pat Connaughton chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds, Zach Auguste scored 14 points and Steve Vasturia drained a huge 3-pointer in crunch time. There was a slight letdown for Duke (17-3, 4-3) following the celebration of Mike Krzyzewski's 1,000th career victory over the weekend, as no one other than Jahlil Okafor made a field goal over the final 12-plus minutes. Okafor totaled 22 points and 17 rebounds but struggled at the foul line, making just 2-of-7 with two critical misses under three minutes remaining.


(12) Wichita State 58, Loyola-Chicago 47

Wichita, KS (SportsNetwork.com) -- Fred VanVleet dropped 27 points and 12th- ranked Wichita State remained unbeaten in conference play with a 58-47 win over Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday. VanVleet, who leads the MVC in assists and ranks just third on the Shockers in points, was thrust into more of a scoring role with the rest of his team struggling and he delivered, shooting 10-for-16 from the floor and 4-of-7 from distance en route to the highest point total of his career. Ron Baker overcame a slow start and chipped in 16 points -- 14 in the second half -- as Wichita State (19-2, 9-0 MVC) won its ninth straight game  following a non-conference loss to George Washington.

The win overshadowed a difficult week for the Shockers, as transfer guard Connor Frankamp was arrested over the weekend for suspicion of DUI. Frankamp, a Wichita native who began his career at Kansas, isn't eligible to play this season but had been practicing with the team. Loyola (13-8, 3-6) lost its fourth straight game. Three of those have been without point guard Milton Doyle, who has been battling an ankle injury. Devon Turk scored nine points to lead a balanced Ramblers attack.


(18) Northern Iowa 59, Southern Illinois 52

Carbondale, IL (SportsNetwork.com) -- Seth Tuttle and Paul Jesperson each scored 13 points in the 18th-ranked Northern Iowa Panthers' 59-52 win over the Southern Illinois Salukis on Wednesday. Tuttle also had 10 rebounds and three steals for the Panthers (19-2, 8-1 MVC), who have won eight in a row. Nate Buss tallied 11 points. Northern Iowa shot 52.6 percent from the field, while holding Southern Illinois to 39.2 percent. Ibby Djimde ended with 10 points off the bench for the Salukis (9-13, 2-7), who have lost two straight. Deion Lavender and Jalen Pendleton had eight points apiece.


(24) Oklahoma 81, Texas Tech 36

Norman, OK (SportsNetwork.com) -- Ryan Spangler scored 20 points and 24th- ranked Oklahoma snapped out of its recent funk with a vengeance, dominating Texas Tech on both ends en route to an 81-36 rout at the Noble Center. After dropping four of their last five games -- three to ranked opponents -- a matchup with the Big 12's last-place team was just what the Sooners needed.

Oklahoma (13-7, 4-4 Big 12) shot 52.5 percent from the floor, held the Red Raiders to an 11-of-52 field goal rate and scored 20 straight points at one stage to get back on track. Buddy Hield chipped in 15 points with seven rebounds for the Sooners, with Isaiah Cousins adding 13 points in the easy win. Texas Tech (11-10, 1-7), coming off Saturday's upset of then-No. 9 Iowa State, didn't have a player score in double figures. Robert Turner and Stan Mays paced the Red Raiders with eight points each.

 

EIU Women Down Murray  State

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Grace Lennox scored a career high 17 points as four Eastern Illinois players finished in double figures during a 75-59 win over Murray State on Wednesday night in Lantz Arena.
 
Eastern Illinois snapped a three-game Ohio Valley Conference losing skid as they improved to 8-14 overall, 5-4 in the OVC.  The Panthers host SIU Edwardsville at 1 p.m. on Saturday.  Murray State fell to 5-16 overall, 0-8 in the OVC.
 
The Panthers built an early five point lead as Lennox converted a pair of free throws with 13:56 to play giving EIU a 13-8 lead.  Murray State would answer taking the lead 19-18 on a Jashae Lee 3-pointer with 7:10 to play.
 
EIU went on an 8-0 run with 3-pointers by Sabina Oroszova and Shakita Cox as they led 28-21 with 4:01 left in the half.  EIU led 33-31 at the half after shooting 52 percent in the first half.
 
The hot shooting continued in the second half as the Panthers connected for 55 percent in the second half and 54 percent for the game.  EIU held Murray State to 30 percent shooting in the second half and 36 percent for the game.


Illinois Hosts Penn State Saturday

(Champaign, IL) -- Illinois hosts Penn State Saturday at the State Farm Center. Tip-off is set for noon. The Fighting Illini lost 79-71 at Minnesota this past Saturday. Illinois is 13-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are 14-7 after beating Minnesota at home last night.


Wednesday, January 28 Scoreboard

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 77, #4 Duke Blue Devils 73

#6 Arizona Wildcats 90, Oregon Ducks 56

#9 Louisville Cardinals 81, Boston College Eagles 72

#11 Kansas Jayhawks 64, TCU Horned Frogs 61

#12 Wichita State Shockers 58, Loyola (IL) Ramblers 47

#18 Northern Iowa Panthers 59, Southern Illinois Salukis 52

Purdue Boilermakers 83, #21 Indiana Hoosiers 67

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 70, #23 Miami Hurricanes 50


Thursday, January 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

8:00 p.m. - #1 Kentucky Wildcats at Missouri Tigers

8:00 p.m. - #3 Gonzaga Bulldogs host Portland Pilots

9:00 p.m. - #10 Utah Utes at UCLA Bruins

6:00 p.m. - #13 Maryland Terrapins at Ohio State Buckeyes