RALEIGH, N.C. — Markell Johnson scored a career-high 28 points, including his third halfcourt shot this season, to help North Carolina State beat No. 6 Duke 88-66 on Wednesday night.
Devon Daniels added a career-high 25 points for the Wolfpack (17-9, 8-7 Atlantic Coast Conference). They led by 15 at halftime and 27 late in a surprisingly lopsided victory over the ACC-leading Blue Devils (22-4, 12-3).
It was a desperately needed marquee win to boost the NCAA Tournament resume for the Wolfpack, who never trailed on the way to extending Duke’s recent frustrations in Raleigh. Duke has lost six of eight in PNC Arena dating to 2010, with five of those coming against the Wolfpack and one to Mercer in the NCAA Tournament.
Vernon Carey Jr. scored 27 points for Duke. The Blue Devils made just 4 of 17 3-pointers and 10 of 22 free throws.
GEORGIA 65, No. 13 AUBURN 55
ATHENS, Ga. — Anthony Edwards scored 18 points for Georgia, including a late 3-pointer to slow Auburn’s comeback attempt, and the Bulldogs beat the Tigers.
Auburn (22-4, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) suffered its second straight loss to a team with a losing record following seven straight wins. The winning streak ended Saturday with an 85-73 loss at Missouri.
Edwards’ 3-pointer with 2:15 remaining stretched the advantage to eight points.
J’Von McCormick led Auburn with 22 points. Samir Doughty, who had 15 points, cut Georgia’s lead to 58-53 with a three-point play with 1:02 remaining. Toumani Camara sank seven of eight free throws in the final 1:01 to help protect the Bulldogs’ lead.
It was a much-needed win for Georgia (13-13, 3-10), which had lost eight of nine, including four straight under second-year coach Tom Crean.
No. 11 LOUISVILLE 90, SYRACUSE 66
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jordan Nwora scored 17 points, Dwayne Sutton added 16 and Louisville routed Syracuse 90-66 to end a two-game losing streak.
The Cardinals (22-5, 13-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed against the Orange after losses at Georgia Tech and Clemson dropped them six spots in the rankings and out of the conference lead. They stretched a 41-34 halftime lead to double digits early in the second half and an 18-2 run made it 69-44.
Buddy Boeheim had 15 points for Syracuse (14-12, 7-8). The Orange have lost five of six.
No. 12 VILLANOVA 91, DEPAUL 71
CHICAGO — Saddiq Bey and Collin Gillespie each made five of Villanova’s 18 3-pointers and the Wildcats used their long-range shooting to beat DePaul.
Villanova went 18 for 26 from deep in its 20th straight victory against DePaul. The Wildcats (20-6, 9-4 Big East) have made at least nine 3s in their last five games, including 17 during Sunday’s 76-56 victory at Temple.
Bey finished with 20 points and seven assists. Gillespie and Justin Moore had 17 points apiece.
DePaul (13-13, 1-12) dropped its eighth straight game. The Blue Demons took the Wildcats to overtime in a 79-75 loss on Jan. 14, but the rematch was a blowout. Jalen Coleman-Lands had 17 points for DePaul.
No. 16 SET0N HALL 74, No. 21 BUTLER 72
NEWARK, N.J. — Sandro Mamukelashvili hit an off-balance shot in the lane at the buzzer to give Seton Hall a stunning victory over Butler.
The winning shot came on an inbounds play after the officials reviewed a missed shot by Quincy McKnight and added two tenths of a second, putting 0.6 on the clock.
McKnight inbounded the ball and Mamukelashvili caught it and tossed it at the basket. It hit the rim and rolled. Knight led the Pirates (19-7, 11-3 Big East) with 18 points.
Kamar Baldwin had 20 points for Butler (19-7, 7-7).
No. 22 HOUSTON 76, TULSA 43
HOUSTON — Caleb Mills scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half to help Houston rout Tulsa..
Mills shot 9 of 16, making 5 of 9 on 3-pointers. Nate Hinton added 15 points for Houston (21-6, 11-3 American).
Martins Igbanu had 15 points for Tulsa (17-9, 9-4).
