A bit of a slow start to the week, but things will pick up in a big way on Tuesday with a full slate of conference games highlighted by Michigan State/Wisconsin.
No. 4 Baylor And No. 21 Virginia Improve On Record Starts
Boasting a top-five ranking for the first time in program history, No. 4 Baylor opened Big 12 play with a wire-to-wire victory over Texas A&M.
TOP 25 SCORES
No. 4 Baylor 61, Texas A&M 52
No. 21 Virginia 57, LSU 52
GAME OF THE NIGHT: Virginia 57, LSU 52
The Cavaliers have now won 11 straight and are off to their best start since Ralph Sampson and company began the 1982-83 season 18-1.
Sammy Zeglinski led the way for Virginia with 17 points and four made three-pointers. Joe Harris netted 14 points and Mike Scott added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Justin Hamilton scored 21 points, snatched nine rebounds and swatted four shots for LSU, which has held its last eight opponents to under 60 points. The Tigers had their seven-game winning streak snapped.
“Down the stretch most of the guys made big plays,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. “We knew it was going to be a grinder and we embraced that and fought it out to the last possession.”
UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Robert Morris 70, Ohio 67
Bobcat guard D.J. Cooper’s three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out as Ohio was dealt its first (and only other) defeat since a 59-54 setback at Louisville in November.
Robert Morris snapped OU’s nine-game winning streak despite committing an astounding 31 turnovers. The Colonials made up for their many miscues by shooting 53.2 percent (25 of 47) from the field.
This was a great win for RMU in a game between a pair of teams who appear to be the class of their respective conferences (Northeast and MAC). As for Ohio, the loss is a near-deadly blow to their slim hopes of potentially landing an at-large bid, although the depth of the MAC will almost certainly make that an impossibility anyway.
PLAYER OF THE NIGHT: Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
The senior recorded the first triple-double in school history by posting 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocks (all career highs) as Auburn defeated Bethune-Cookman 67-41.
“It’s pretty special, a triple-double,” head coach Tony Barbee said. “When you consider the type of talent that has come out of this program, the Chuck Persons, the Charles Barkleys, the Wesley Persons, the Mike Mitchells, you can go down the line and this is the first triple-double in Auburn history? It’s special.”
HONOR ROLL:
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt - Hit five three-pointers and scored 26 points as the Commodores notched their fourth straight win by beating Miami of Ohio 69-62.
Travis Simpson, UNC-Greensboro - Hit 7-of-11 three-pointers and finished with a night-high 36 points.
Chris Stephenson, UNC-Asheville - Connected on 12-of-19 shots and finished with exactly half of Asheville’s points in a 66-56 win over Radford.
Trae Golden, Tennessee - Just three days after having surgery to repair his fractured nose, Golden tied a career-high with 29 points in the Vols’ 76-63 win over Chattanooga.
Keith Rendleman, UNC-Wilmington - The honor roll loves the UNC squads this morning. The versatile Rendleman went for 24 and 18 as the Seahawks beat Delaware 80-75.
Kenny Kadji, Miami - Scored 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as the Hurricanes won a shootout with UNC-Greensboro, 99-89. Kadji scored 23 of The U’s 49 first half points.
IMAGE OF THE DAY:
Jontel Evans making sure everyone in the crowd is fully aware of who won after his 21st-ranked Virginia squad finished polishing off a tough road victory over LSU.
FIVE TO END:
1. On the same day they landed a top five ranking for the first time in program history, No. 4 Baylor scored the first eight points in their Big 12-opener against Texas A&M and never looked back, leading from wire-to-wire on their way to a 61-52 victory. Preseason conference player of the year Perry Jones posted his first double-double of the season by scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. The Bears (14-0) improved upon the best start in school history.
2. In perhaps the most exciting game of Monday, Rhode Island notched its third win of the season by topping Boston College 78-72 in double overtime. The Rams (3-12) are now 2-1 since dismissing leading scorer Jamal Wilson.
3. UCSB star Orlando Johnson buried a three in the final seconds to lift the Gauchos to a 58-57 over Cal Poly in the Big West opener for both teams. The victory made Bob Williams the winningest head coach in program history.
4. Vanderbilt overcame a sluggish start that saw it miss 12 of its first 14 shots to outlast Miami of Ohio 69-62. Preseason All-American John Jenkins was the difference, burying five three-pointers and scoring 18 of his game-high 2 points in the second half. The Commodores, who have now won four straight, continue their attempt to claw their way out of the depths of disappointment.
5. Georgia State improved its school-record winning streak to ten games by knocking off preseason CAA favorite 58-44. The Panthers (10-3, 2-0) were picked to finish 11th in the league before the season.
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