Second-Half Spurt Lifts Mississippi Over Louisville

Top 25

Keith Carter scored eight of his season-high 18 points during a 10-0 run at the start of the second half, sparking No. 16 Mississippi to a 74-70 victory over homestanding Louisville on Monday night in the first meeting between the schools.

Carter ignited the decisive spurt, hitting a 3-pointer from the corner, to give Mississippi (8-1) a 38-32 lead. Jason Smith then hit a rebound basket and Carter followed with a driving layup and a 3 from the left wing for a 45-32 lead at 15:41.

Louisville (3-6), which has lost five of its last six games, went on a 10-2 run to close to 47-42 with 12:53 to go.

But Mississippi met the challenge as Carter hit a free throw and 16-footer, Ansu Sesay scored on a reverse dunk, and Joezon Darby sank a 3 off a turnover to go up 55-42 at 10:31.

Cameron Murray scored 17 points and Johnson added 11 for Louisville.

(8) Purdue 118, Florida A&M 77

At West Lafayette, Ind., Jaraan Cornell scored 23 points and Brad Miller added 18 to lead the Boilermakers (10-2) to a trouncing of the Rattlers (3-6).

Jerome James paced Florida A&M with 20 points.

(15) Iowa 82, S. Mississippi 58

At San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ricky Davis scored 16 points to lead the Hawkeyes (9-1) to a victory over the Eagles (7-2) and a berth in the championship game of the Christmas San Juan Shootout.

Iowa will play St. Bonaventure tonight.

(20) Maryland 110, N.C.-Ashe. 52

At College Park, Md., the Terrapins (6-3) scored 21 straight points in the first half en route to a rout of the Bulldogs (5-5).

Laron Profit scored 23 points to lead Maryland.

Kevin Martin topped the Bulldogs with 10 points.

(21) Clemson 65, Char. Southern 42

At Clemson, S.C., the Tigers (8-3), who returned to the national rankings earlier in the day, routed the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (1-10) behind Greg Buckner’s 16.

(22) Rhode Island 85, Ohio 72

At Providence, R.I., Tyson Wheeler found his shooting touch in the second half, scoring 25 of his game-high 29 points to lead the Rams (6-1) over the Bobcats (2-7).

(23) W. Virginia 55, Virginia Tech 52

At Blacksburg, Va., Damian Owens blocked Eddie Lucas’ 3-point try with 3 seconds remaining as the Mountaineers (10-1) held off the Hokies (5-3).

Owens led the Mountaineers with 18 points, while Greg Jones added 12.

Jenis Grindstaff and Rolan Roberts scored 14 points apiece to pace the Hokies.