Top 25 roundup: Penn State rallies, upsets No. 12 Illinois

 

[February 22, 2024]  Capped by Zach Hicks' three free throws with 4.2 seconds left, Penn State scored the final eight points in the last 35 seconds to pull off a 90-89 Big Ten upset of No. 12 Illinois on Wednesday night in State College, Pa.

Nick Kern Jr. scored 18 of his career-high 22 points in the second half to pace five players in double figures for Penn State (13-14, 7-9 Big Ten), which played its first game at Rec Hall since Dec. 12, 2015.

Hicks and Qudus Wahab contributed 13 points apiece while Ace Baldwin Jr. notched 10 points and 12 assists in the Nittany Lions' first Big Ten game at their 95-year-old campus gymnasium since January 1996.

Terrence Shannon Jr.'s career-high 35 points and his 11 rebounds went for naught for Illinois (19-7, 10-5), which led by as much as 14 points in the second half and owned an 87-77 lead after Shannon's three-point play with 2:30 to go.
 

No. 7 Marquette 105, DePaul 71

Tyler Kolek set a program record with 18 assists and Kam Jones scored a career-high 34 points to lead the Golden Eagles over the visiting Blue Demons in Milwaukee.

Jones shot 12 of 15 from the floor and, more notably, 8 of 10 from beyond the arc. Four players scored in double figures for Marquette (20-6, 11-4 Big East), led by 15 from Oso Ighodaro. Kolek attempted just two shots and scored on a 3-pointer.

Jaden Henley and Elijah Fisher each scored 19 to lead DePaul (3-23, 0-15). Keyondre Young and Chico Carter Jr. each scored 10.

No. 8 Duke 84, Miami 55

Kyle Filipowski showed his varied skills with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks as the Blue Devils defeated the Hurricanes in an Atlantic Coast Conference game in Coral Gables, Fla.

Duke (21-5, 12-3 ACC), which never trailed, has won five straight and 16 of its past 18 games. Jeremy Roach led Duke in scoring with 16 points. Duke also got 15 points from Mark Mitchell and 11 from Caleb Foster.

Miami (15-12, 6-10), which reached the Final Four last season, has lost a season-worst five consecutive games. The Hurricanes were led by Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph, who each scored 15. Miami center Norchad Omier posted nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, including six offensive boards.

No. 13 Alabama 98, No. 24 Florida 93 (OT)

Grant Nelson had 22 points and eight rebounds and Aaron Estrada recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Crimson Tide escape with an overtime victory over the Gators in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Mark Sears had 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Crimson Tide (19-7, 11-2 SEC), who trailed for most of the game in regulation. Sam Walters had 14 points, Nick Pringle added 13 points before fouling out and Rylan Griffen added 10 points for Alabama, which won for the 13th time in its last 15 games to remain in first place in the conference.

Walter Clayton Jr. had 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Gators (18-8, 8-5), who lost for just the second time in their past nine games. Will Richard and Zyon Pullin scored 17 points apiece, Tyrese Samuel had 14 points and eight rebounds and Alex Condon added 10 points.

George Mason 71, No. 16 Dayton 67

Baraka Okojie scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures as the host Patriots upset the Flyers in Fairfax, Va.

Okojie sealed the outcome by canning two foul shots with 14 seconds left. That was fitting since George Mason (18-8, 7-6 Atlantic 10) won the game at the line, going 24 of 29 on the night and 19 of 22 in the second half.

DaRon Holmes II starred in defeat for Dayton (21-5, 11-3) with a game-high 26 points, going 8 of 15 from the field. But the Flyers went cold in the second half, making just 10 of 28 (35.7 percent) from the field.

LSU 75, No. 17 Kentucky 74

Tyrell Ward scored 17 points and made a game-winning follow-up hoop at the buzzer as the Tigers defeated the Wildcats in Baton Rouge, La.

Jordan Wright and Jalen Reed added 13 points each for the Tigers (14-12, 6-7 Southeastern Conference), who beat a ranked team for the second time in five days after upsetting then-No. 11 South Carolina on Saturday.

Antonio Reeves scored 25 points and Rob Dillingham put up 21 of his 23 in the second half to lead the Wildcats (18-8, 8-5). Kentucky lost for the fourth time in seven games.

New Mexico 68, No. 22 Colorado State 66

Donovan Dent converted a three-point play with 3.2 seconds left to lift the Lobos over the Rams in Albuquerque, N.M.

New Mexico (21-6, 9-5 Mountain West) has defeated three ranked teams in The Pit at Albuquerque in the same season for the first time in program history. The Lobos topped then-No. 19 San Diego State on Jan. 13 and beat then-No. 16 Utah State three days later.

Colorado State (20-7, 8-6) lost its first game after returning to the AP Top 25 this week. The Rams had won five of their previous six contests.

--Field Level Media

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