Late Night Snacks: Statements made on Monday

Another Big Monday has come and gone with the standard Big 12 and Big East games on tap. Some close match-ups and statements came with the territory. It’s Late Night Snacks.

Game of the night

No. 9 Syracuse 63, No. 25 Notre Dame 47 – The Orange were looking for a win after two-straight losses. They got a solid game from C.J. Fair (below) and shook off a bit of a sluggish offensive start to keep the Fighting Irish at bay in the second half. They never led by less than eight in the second half. Notre Dame has hit a bit of a rough stretch since the win over a ranked Cincinnati team on Jan. 7.

Games of note

Iowa State 83, Oklahoma 64 – This could’ve been a statement game for the Sooners on the road. Instead it was a game that showed the world that Will Clyburn can hoop. He had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the victory.

No. 23 Pittsburgh 56, Seton Hall 46 – This was close one until Seton Hall’s Fuquan Edwin went down with a sprained ankle. He would return and had the best game of any player on the court (below), but injuries and bad luck keep hampering the Pirates. Pittsburgh got big games from Steven Adams (below) and Lamar Patterson in the victory.

Alcorn State 78, Grambling State 53 – Your weekly update on the only winless team in Division I men’s college basketball. They couldn’t get the first victory of the season, this one a road loss in Lorman, Miss. The loss makes the Tigers 0-20 overall.

Starred 

Jerrelle Benimon, Towson – The Georgetown transfer who is averaging 16.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game for the Tigers had himself another game in a win over UNC-Wilmington. The junior finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

C.J. Fair, Syracuse – In a win the Orange needed to break a small losing streak, Fair showed the talent that he hasn’t been given credit for this year with 18 points and 10 boards in the win over Notre Dame.

Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall – Edwin has been the man who has steadied (or at least tried to steady) the rough season for the Pirates. He had 23 points on 43.8-percent shooting at five steals in the loss at Pittsburgh.

Steven Adams, Pittsburgh – In the same game as Edwin, Adams cleaned glass. The freshman from New Zealand finished with eight points and 15 rebounds in the win.

Struggled

Romero Osby, Oklahoma – Osby has been having a great year for the Sooners, avearging 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. Monday night didn’t help that. He finished with six points and 6 rebounds on 2-of-10 shooting in loss to Iowa State.

Ben Averkamp, Loyola (Chicago) – Averkamp averages 15.6 points per game for the Ramblers. He clocked out Monday night with only eight points on 2-of-6 shooting a 62-59 loss to Wright State.

Stuffing the stat sheet

Lazabian Jackson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff – The Golden Lions’ senior went for 20 points, five rebounds and five steals (and six turnovers) in a 76-67 victory at Alabama A&M. UAPB is 8-2 in the SWAC, but aren’t eligible for the postseason this year due to low APR scores.

Another solid night to begin the week. Ready to the week ahead. It’s only going to get better.

 Follow David on Twitter at @David_Harten.