Usually we try to hype these things up by talking about what a “loaded” night it was in college basketball, or referring to the collection of games as “Upset ___day.”
Monday College Hoops Superlatives: The First 50-Point Game Of The Season
I’m just going to go ahead and be straightforward with you: Monday night was not fun. I mean, it was fun for me because I knew this was coming and saw Ryan Adams in concert instead, but it wasn’t fun for the sport of college basketball as a whole or those who follow it closely.
A kid for Tennessee Tech did score 50 points in a game, though. That’s cool ... and stuff.
Anyway, with that slow build towards excitement finished, here’s what went down about 10-14 hours ago.
GAME OF THE NIGHT: Missouri 67, Texas 66
Michael Dixon’s lay-up with 31 seconds left proved to be the difference as No. 4 Missouri survived a furious Texas rally to escape Austin with 67-66 victory.
The basket was especially sweet for Dixon, who had been whistled for a costly and ill-advised flagrant foul just moments earlier.
Texas has rallied from 13 down to take the lead on J'Covan Brown's jumper with 56 seconds left. The Tigers answered back, however, and held a three-point lead when Dixon was whistled for a flagrant when he swung an elbow at Julien Lewis' head.
“In the heat of battle things happen,” Dixon said. “You just have to look at the next play.”
Texas had one final shot to win it, and it appeared as though Myck Kabongo was fouled on the left arm by Matt Pressey while attempting what would prove to be the game's final miss.
“He did get fouled,” UT head coach Rick Barnes said. “(But) what we needed was to get a stop on the other end and we didn’t get it ... It’s tough when you’re trying to get over the hump and it seems plays like that don’t go your way.”
For Texas, it was yet another soul-crushing loss for a team in desperate need of a signature win. The Longhorns are now 0-7 in games decided by six points or fewer and dropped their fifth contest in six tries, all of those coming against ranked teams.
UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Pittsburgh 72, West Virginia 66
Tray Woodall may have only played in a handful of games this season, but he's certainly making it appear as though he might be the most valuable player in the Big East.
Pitt won its third straight and improved to 3-1 since Woodall’s return from an abdominal injury with a 72-66 win over rival West Virginia Monday night. The Panthers began Big East play 0-7.
Woodall led the way with 24 points for Pitt, which led for the entirety of the second half.
PLAYER OF THE NIGHT: Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech
Murphy set the Tennessee Tech single-game scoring record with 50 points as the Golden Eagles defeated Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 98-80. He also set the high mark for points in a game for the 2011-12 season.
Murphy was 16 of 21 from the field, going 6 of 9 from 3-point range and 12 of 14 from the free-throw line. He shattered John Best’s previous school record of 38 points.
HONOR ROLL:
Tray Woodall, Pittsburgh - Big East MVP and all that.
Kevin Jones, West Virginia - Went for 21 and 13 in the loss to Pitt.
Brandon Riley, South Carolina State - Dropped 31 in an 82-76 loss to Howard.
Kyle O’Quinn, Norfolk State - Scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, but the Spartans fell to Coppin State 87-82.
Zack Rosen, Pennsylvania - Scored 28 points and dished a game-high five assists as Pennsylvania beat Princeton 82-67.
IMAGES OF THE NIGHT:
It’s been a rough go for officials working Big East games recently.
Rivalry win.
FIVE TO END:
1. Penn’s win over Princeton left it as the only unbeaten in the Ivy League outside of Harvard. The Quakers and Crimson will play their first of two games on Feb. 10.
2. Norfolk State’s loss to Coppin State was its first defeat in MEAC play.
3. Deniz Kilicli trimmed his beard. Crazy lame.
4. I like turtles.
5. Tonight will be better.
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