Carolina Gains Tie For Lead

Top 25

Donald Williams scored a season-high 23 points as No. 3 North Carolina moved into a tie for the Atlantic Coast Conference lead Wednesday night, holding off No. 18 Virginia 79-76 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels (4-1, 13-1) have beaten the Cavaliers (4-1, 10-4) 10 of the last 12 meetings and 14 in row in Chapel Hill.

Williams and Rasheed Wallace, who scored 21 points, picked up the scoring slack left by ACC-scoring leader Jerry Stackhouse. He was held to a season-low eight points - more than 13 below his 21.5-a-game average, while hitting just two of 13 shots.

Wallace added eight rebounds and five blocked shots and Jeff McInnis scored 14 points with seven assists, basically offsetting a superb game by the Cavaliers’ Junior Burrough, who had 22 points and 14 rebounds.

(5) Kentucky 82, Mississippi 65

Rodrick Rhodes scored 23 points and Tony Delk added 18 as the Wildcats put on a second-half burst to beat the Rebels at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn.

Rhodes was only 3-for-9 from the field, but made 16 of 20 free throws as Kentucky (5-0 Southeastern Conference, 11-2) shot 42 free throws on the night, hitting 33.

Anthony Boone led the Rebels (1-4, 5-9) with 15 points.

(7) Kansas 78, Kansas St. 74

Sean Pearson hit a long 3-pointer with just over 2 minutes to play to put Kansas State (1-3 Big East, 10-6) away as the Jayhawks (2-1, 12-2) survived the Wildcats’ bid for an upset in Lawrence, Kan. for the second straight year.

Belvis Noland scored a career-high 23 points, getting 13 of Kansas State’s 20 in one stretch of the second half.

(9) Arkansas 84, Georgia 82

Scotty Thurman made three free throws in the final 30 seconds and Corey Beck scored two big baskets late to lead the Razorback’s (3-2 SEC, 14-3) in Fayetteville, Ark.

Thurman’s last free throw came with 8.2 seconds to play. The Bulldogs (2-3, 11-4) took a timeout and Thurman missed his second attempt. Georgia scrambled up court but Katu Davis’ heave over Dwight Stewart missed everything as time expired.

(12) Mich. St. 93, Northwestern 56

Eric Snow scored 21 points and Shawn Respert added 16 to move into second place on Michigan State’s career scoring list as the Spartans (3-1 Big Ten, 11-2) beat the Wildcats (0-4, 4-9) in East Lansing, Mich.

(14) Iowa St. 70, Creighton 52

In a defensive struggle marked by a multitude of missed shots in Omaha, Neb., the Cyclones (14-2) rolled over the Bluejays (5-8).

Julius Michalik’s 16 points led Iowa State, while center Loren Meyer added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

(16) Missouri 86, Jackson St. 72

Julian Winfield scored 17 points to lead five Missouri players in double figures as the uninspired Tigers (13-2), the first Top 25 team to ever visit Jackson, Miss., defeated the Tigers (5-12).

Paul O’Liney and Kendrick Moore each added 15 points for Missouri, which shot 52 percent (31-of-60).

(24) Florida 71, South Carolina 59

Dimitri Hill had 21 points and the Gators ended a two-game losing streak by defeating the Gamecocks (0-4 SEC, 3-10) in Columbia, S.C.

The Gators (2-2, 8-5) used a 12-1 run at the end of the first half to take a 14-point lead.