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Late Night Snacks: No. 20 Michigan takes control of Big Ten race

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GAME OF THE DAY: Providence 87, Butler 81

Providence is one of many bubble teams looking to fight their way into the NCAA tournament, and they avoided suffering a tough defeat at Butler on Sunday. All five starters scored in double figures led by Bryce Cotton, who tallied 28 points and six assists. As a team Providence shot 13-for-27 from beyond the arc and 66.7% from the field, their best performance of the season in both statistical categories. Ed Cooley’s Friars close out the regular season with games against Seton Hall, Marquette and No. 11 Creighton.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

1) No. 20 Michigan 79, No. 13 Michigan State 70

The Wolverines completed a sweep of the season series in Ann Arbor, with Caris LeVert and Nik Stauskas figuring prominently in the outcome. LeVert scored 23 points and Stauskas 25 for the Wolverines, who now hold a one game lead atop the Big Ten standings. As for Michigan State, they hung around throughout the afternoon but fell short, and Keith Appling wasn’t all that effective either. The question regarding the Spartans, who have been given the benefit of the doubt by many: will they ever get back to full strength?

2) SMU 64, No. 21 UConn 55

SMU needed a win at UConn to bolster a resume that is lacking in regards to quality wins away from home and they did just that, limiting the Huskies to 29% shooting in the process. Nick Russell and company did a good job of defending UConn’s guard tandem of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright, and the Mustangs shot 46% from the field. The win is SMU’s first against a ranked opponent on the road since 2003.

3) Florida State 71, Pittsburgh 66

Pittsburgh shot just 37% from the field, falling to the Seminoles at home. Lamar Patterson scored 22 points but shot just 8-for-21, and if the Panthers are to get themselves a decent seed in the NCAA tournament they need to figure out these offensive issues. Since shooting 51% in a win at Maryland at January 25 the Panthers have shot no better than 41% in any of the seven games they’ve played since.

STARRED

1) Doug McDermott (Creighton)

Scored 29 points on 8-for-14 shooting in No. 11 Creighton’s 72-71 win over Seton Hall. McDermott is now ranked tenth on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list with 2,915 points.

2) Terran Petteway (Nebraska)

Petteway shot 10-for-19 from the field, scoring 29 points and dishing out three assists in the Cornhuskers’ 76-57 win over Purdue.

3) Delon Wright (Utah)

Made all seven of his shots from the field, accounting for 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the Utes’ 86-63 win over Arizona State.

STRUGGLED

1) D.J. Irving (Boston University)

Irving, averaging 12.5 points per game, scored just three points on 0-for-5 shooting from the field in the Terriers’ 63-53 loss to Bucknell.

2) Anthony Myles (Rider)

Shot 1-for-12 from the field, scoring five points in the Broncs’ 69-60 loss to Siena.

3) Yale

The Bulldogs shot 9-for-22 from the foul line in a 62-46 loss at Columbia.

NOTABLES


  • Mike Moser scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Oregon rebounded from a slow start to beat Washington State, 67-53.
  • Nebraska’s now won five straight games after beating Purdue 76-57, and given the way they’re playing Tim Miles’ team could very well earn a trip to the NCAA tournament.
  • David Laury III scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench in Iona’s 86-67 win at Marist. The Gaels have clinched at least a share of the MAAC regular season title.
  • Columbia beat Yale 62-46, and as a result Harvard now holds sole possession of first place in the Ivy League. Yale, a game back, hosts the Crimson on March 7.
  • The CAA race got a little tighter as a result of Drexel’s 69-65 win at first-place Delaware. The Blue Hens, who finish the regular season with two road games, now lead Towson by one game.
  • Western Michigan moved its win streak to seven games with a 75-67 victory over Eastern Michigan. The Broncos are tied for first place in the MAC West with Toledo, and they’ll visit the Rockets next Saturday.
  • After shooting 4-for-20 in his last two games Cal guard Justin Cobbs rebounded against USC, shooting 8-for-10 and scoring 22 points in the Golden Bears’ 77-64 victory.

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