North Carolina’s Luck Runs Dry

Top 25

North Carolina’s run of comeback luck ran out Saturday night as Todd Fuller’s 16 second-half points gave North Carolina State a 78-75 victory in Raleigh, N.C.

In their two previous games, the No. 8 Tar Heels (16-5, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied from double-digit deficits to earn ACC victories. This time, the Wolfpack’s 19-point edge withstood the latest North Carolina charge.

Fuller hit a pair of free throws with 9.9 seconds to play, giving the Tar Heels plenty of time to try for a tying 3-pointer.

Shammond Williams, a 33 percent 3-point shooter who had already hit a pair of 3-pointers in the rally, got the ball in the left corner from Dante Calabria. His shot over two Wolfpack defenders glanced off the back of the rim, setting off a raucous celebration that spilled onto the court and onto the ice-covered streets outside Reynolds Coliseum. N.C. State is 13-8, 3-6.

(2) Kentucky 77, Florida 63

At Lexington, Ky., Jeff Sheppard came off the bench to score seven points during a 16-2 second-half run that carried the Wildcats (18-1, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) past the Gators for their 17th consecutive victory.

Senior center Dametri Hill finished with a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds for Florida (9-10, 4-5).

(4) Connecticut 77, St. John’s 63

At New York, Ray Allen scored 29 points and the Huskies extended their winning streak to 20 games.

The Huskies (21-1, 11-0 Big East) haven’t lost since an overtime defeat to Iowa in the semifinals of the season-opening Great Alaska Shootout.

St. John’s (8-10, 2-8) lost for the fifth time in its last six games and has dropped seven straight to the Huskies.

(6) Villanova 88, Pittsburgh 55

At Villanova, Pa., Kerry Kittles scored 31 points and the Wildcats used a quick second-half spurt to put away the Panthers (9-9, 4-6 Big East).

The Wildcats (18-3, 9-2) won their 14th in a row in their first game at the duPont Pavilion since John du Pont - who financed the building - surrendered after allegedly shooting Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz to death.

(7) Utah 74, New Mexico 58

At Salt Lake City, Keith Van Horn scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds to power the Utes.

Utah (18-3, 10-1 Western Athletic Conference) led 62-51 with 6 minutes remaining when Van Horn scored five points in a 12-2 run that buried the Lobos (17-4, 7-4).

(9) Georgetown 70, Notre Dame 53

At Landover, Md., Allen Iverson had 27 points and seven rebounds as the Hoyas rolled past the cold-shooting Fighting Irish.

Iverson made 10 of 18 from the field, including a running 40-footer at the buzzer that gave the Hoyas (19-3, 9-2 Big East) a 15-point halftime lead just as the Fighting Irish (7-11, 2-9) were starting to find offensive rhythm.

(10) Penn St. 95, (16) Iowa 87 (OT)

At Iowa City, Iowa, Pete Lisicky and Glenn Sekunda each scored 20 points and Matt Gaudio added 19, including eight in OT, to lead the Nittany Lions.

Dan Earl finished with 11 points and Phil Williams 10 for the Nittany Lions (16-2, 7-2 Big Ten), who continued to claim a share of the conference lead while handing Iowa (15-6, 4-5) its first home loss this season in 11 games.

Hawkeyes coach Tom Davis was denied his 200th Iowa win.

Louisville 74, (11) Memphis 56

At Louisville, Ky., Brian Kiser scored 18 points, including 12 during a decisive 10-minute stretch, as the Cardinals beat the Tigers at Freedom Hall.

The Cardinals (16-6, 7-1 Conference USA) seized first place in the White Division by winning for the sixth straight time. The Tigers dropped to 16-4, 7-2.

(13) Va. Tech 72, R.I. 66 (OT)

At South Kingstown, R.I., Damon Watlington scored 23 points and made a key block as the Hokies overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half.

Virginia Tech (16-2, 8-1 Atlantic 10) had two chances to win in regulation, but Shawn Smith missed a baseline jumper and Ace Custis’ follow rimmed out at the buzzer. Rhode Island fell to 12-7, 4-4.

(15) Texas Tech 79, Rice 57

At Houston, Jason Sasser scored 27 points as the Red Raiders tied a school record with their 11th straight victory.

Rice (11-8, 3-4 Southwest Conference) played the final 9:07 without coach Willis Wilson, who was ejected after his second technical foul. Texas Tech improved to 18-1, 7-0.

(17) Purdue 56, Michigan St. 51

At West Lafayette, Ind., Justin Jennings came off the bench to score eight points in a decisive 12-point spurt by the Boilermakers, who held the Spartans without a field goal for more than 8 minutes.

Purdue (17-4, 7-2 Big Ten) trailed 35-31 after Chad Austin made 1 of 2 free throws with 13:26 to ignite the run, which put the Boilermakers ahead to stay. The Spartans are 12-9, 6-3.

(20) Michigan 77, Ohio St. 58

At Columbus, Ohio, the Wolverines went on a 13-0 run in the second half and beat the Buckeyes to snap a three-game losing streak.

Maurice Taylor and Robert Traylor each scored two baskets during the decisive spurt, which gave the Wolverines a 68-47 lead.

Taylor finished with 14 points and Traylor had 13 for Michigan (15-7, 5-4 Big Ten), which was coming off a 21-point home loss to Purdue.

The Buckeyes are 9-9, 2-7.

(21) Boston College 84, W. Va. 63

At Morgantown, W.Va., Danya Abrams led a dominating inside attack with 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Eagles beat the taller Mountaineers.

Boston College (13-5, 6-4 Big East) rebounded from a 76-75 loss to Providence on Thursday by outrebounding the Mountaineers 59-38 and outshooting them 45.7 percent to 33.3 percent from the floor.

The Eagles, who entered the game outrebounding opponents by seven per game, took control in the first half by grabbing 33 rebounds to only 16 for West Virginia (8-11, 3-8).

(23) E. Michigan 62, Akron 53

At Ypsilanti, Mich., forward Derrick Dial scored 15 points and the Eagles pulled away in the final minutes.

Guard Brian Tolbert added 14 points and center Theron Wilson 10 for the Eagles (16-2, 9-1 Mid-American Conference), who recovered from their first league loss of the season Wednesday at Ohio University and maintained a two-game lead atop the standings.

Forward Ryan Andrick led the Zips (3-15, 0-10) with 12 points.

Duke 83, (24) Clemson 53

At Durham, N.C., the Blue Devils got a bit of revenge for blowing a 15-point second-half lead a month ago at Clemson, routing the Tigers behind 21 points from Jeff Capel.

The Blue Devils (13-8, 4-5) tied Clemson (13-5, 4-5) for fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Maryland 88, (25) Georgia Tech 74

At College Park, Md., the Terrapins held the Yellow Jackets to one basket during a 10-minute stretch of the second half, and Exree Hipp matched his season high with 15 points in an easy win.

Keith Booth and Duane Simpkins also scored 15 points apiece for Maryland (11-7 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), which forced 19 turnovers and committed only six.

Stephon Marbury led Georgia Tech (13-10, 6-3) with 26 points.

Called off

Cold weather in Greenboro, N.C., forced the cancellation of the game between No. 12 Wake Forest and Saint Louis.

The Southeastern Conference game matching Auburn at Mississippi State was postponed because of the poor weather.