Lou Williams Powers Clippers to Win in Oracle Arena
The Golden State Warriors have had their success as of late against their division rival, the Los Angeles Clippers. Although, Lou Williams took over on the Warriors' home floor Wednesday night with 50 points en route to a 122-106 win over the top team in the West. Williams shot 16-of-27 from the floor for Los Angeles, with 27 of his points coming in the third quarter, as he set a personal career high in points, eight three-pointers, while also making all 10 of his free throws. His career night overcame Kevin Durant becoming the second-youngest player to reach 20,000 career points. At 29 years old, he is only behind LeBron James as the youngest to reach the mark. Last year's Finals MVP finished with 25 points in his first game after dealing with a strained calf, which kept him out for three games. Zaza Pachulia added 12 points, but Golden State was without Steph Curry due to a re-sprained ankle, and Klay Thompson for a scheduled rest. For the Clippers, Tyrone Wallace had 22 points off the bench, helping his team outscore the Warriors by 23 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit. They will stay on the road Thursday night to visit the Sacramento Kings, while the Warriors head to Milwaukee Friday night to battle the Bucks.
Villanova Cruises, Michigan State Survives
Two top-four teams came away with conference wins on Wednesday night, but one came much easier than the other. Phil Booth finished with 21 points, including five three-pointers, to lead top-ranked Villanova over No. 10 Xavier, 89-65, on their home floor. The Wildcats shot 55 percent from the floor, as Jalen Brunson chipped in 17 for Nova, who improved to 15-1 overall, including 3-1 in conference play. Xavier was coming off a tough loss to Providence, which snapped their win streak at 10 games. Their top two scorers, Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura shot just 3-for-11 combined, including just one three-pointer in Wednesday's loss. Meanwhile, No. 4 Michigan State had a tougher time on their home floor in Big Ten play. Coming off an upset loss to Ohio State this past weekend, the Spartans needed overtime to top unranked Rutgers, 76-72, and avoid the major upset. Miles Bridges didn't score until 7:43 left in regulation, and finished with just 11 points, while Nick Ward led the way with 17 on the night. Bridges had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but went just 1-for-2 at the free throw line to tie the game. MSU went on to outscore the Scarlet Knights, 17-13, in the extra period to prevent a second straight loss. Corey Sanders scored 22 to lead Rutgers, who had four players foul out in their near upset attempt. The Spartans are now 4-1 in conference play and 16-2 overall, but could still fall in next week's AP Polls.
TCU Upsets Texas in Thriller
The Texas Longhorns shot lights out on their home floor Wednesday night, but it took a game-winning free throw with five seconds left in the second overtime for them to pull off the upset. Jericho Sims hit that game-winner for a 99-98 Longhorns win over No. 16 TCU in double overtime. The Longhorns did this with heavy hearts after receiving the tough news that leading scorer, Andrew Jones, has been diagnosed with leukemia. Along with guard Kerwin Roach II out with an injury, the Longhorns pulled this win off with just seven players. Eric Davis had 22 points, while Eric Osetkowski added 20, as those two players held Jones's jersey during the pregame national anthem. The team left a spot on the bench open in another way to honor their teammate. Texas led by as many as 13 during regulation, but trailed by four late in the second half before forcing overtime. The Horned Frogs used 15 three-pointers to rally, but did not make any in the second-overtime, which helped keep Texas ahead for the upset. The Horned Frogs dropped to 1-3 in conference play and will visit ninth-ranked Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns improved to 2-2 in Big 12 play and will visit Oklahoma State that same day.
The Golden State Warriors have had their success as of late against their division rival, the Los Angeles Clippers. Although, Lou Williams took over on the Warriors' home floor Wednesday night with 50 points en route to a 122-106 win over the top team in the West. Williams shot 16-of-27 from the floor for Los Angeles, with 27 of his points coming in the third quarter, as he set a personal career high in points, eight three-pointers, while also making all 10 of his free throws. His career night overcame Kevin Durant becoming the second-youngest player to reach 20,000 career points. At 29 years old, he is only behind LeBron James as the youngest to reach the mark. Last year's Finals MVP finished with 25 points in his first game after dealing with a strained calf, which kept him out for three games. Zaza Pachulia added 12 points, but Golden State was without Steph Curry due to a re-sprained ankle, and Klay Thompson for a scheduled rest. For the Clippers, Tyrone Wallace had 22 points off the bench, helping his team outscore the Warriors by 23 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit. They will stay on the road Thursday night to visit the Sacramento Kings, while the Warriors head to Milwaukee Friday night to battle the Bucks.
Villanova Cruises, Michigan State Survives
Two top-four teams came away with conference wins on Wednesday night, but one came much easier than the other. Phil Booth finished with 21 points, including five three-pointers, to lead top-ranked Villanova over No. 10 Xavier, 89-65, on their home floor. The Wildcats shot 55 percent from the floor, as Jalen Brunson chipped in 17 for Nova, who improved to 15-1 overall, including 3-1 in conference play. Xavier was coming off a tough loss to Providence, which snapped their win streak at 10 games. Their top two scorers, Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura shot just 3-for-11 combined, including just one three-pointer in Wednesday's loss. Meanwhile, No. 4 Michigan State had a tougher time on their home floor in Big Ten play. Coming off an upset loss to Ohio State this past weekend, the Spartans needed overtime to top unranked Rutgers, 76-72, and avoid the major upset. Miles Bridges didn't score until 7:43 left in regulation, and finished with just 11 points, while Nick Ward led the way with 17 on the night. Bridges had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but went just 1-for-2 at the free throw line to tie the game. MSU went on to outscore the Scarlet Knights, 17-13, in the extra period to prevent a second straight loss. Corey Sanders scored 22 to lead Rutgers, who had four players foul out in their near upset attempt. The Spartans are now 4-1 in conference play and 16-2 overall, but could still fall in next week's AP Polls.
TCU Upsets Texas in Thriller
The Texas Longhorns shot lights out on their home floor Wednesday night, but it took a game-winning free throw with five seconds left in the second overtime for them to pull off the upset. Jericho Sims hit that game-winner for a 99-98 Longhorns win over No. 16 TCU in double overtime. The Longhorns did this with heavy hearts after receiving the tough news that leading scorer, Andrew Jones, has been diagnosed with leukemia. Along with guard Kerwin Roach II out with an injury, the Longhorns pulled this win off with just seven players. Eric Davis had 22 points, while Eric Osetkowski added 20, as those two players held Jones's jersey during the pregame national anthem. The team left a spot on the bench open in another way to honor their teammate. Texas led by as many as 13 during regulation, but trailed by four late in the second half before forcing overtime. The Horned Frogs used 15 three-pointers to rally, but did not make any in the second-overtime, which helped keep Texas ahead for the upset. The Horned Frogs dropped to 1-3 in conference play and will visit ninth-ranked Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns improved to 2-2 in Big 12 play and will visit Oklahoma State that same day.
