College Basketball Roundup: Boeheim’s 26 helps Syracuse edge UNC

Campbell advaced to the Big South Tournament quarterfinals; Gardner-Webb, High Point and UNC Asheville were all knocked out of the conference tourney

UNC forward Day'Ron Sharpe and Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier battle for the ball during the Orange's win Monday. (Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard via AP)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Buddy Boeheim scored 26 to become a 1,000-point career scorer and Syracuse breathed some life into its NCAA Tournament hopes by holding on for a 72-70 win over North Carolina on Monday night.

The Orange were up 14 with 5:18 to play, 10 with less than two minutes to go and eight going into the final minute before it turned into a nail biter.

Advertisements

Twice in the last two minutes the Tar Heels tapped out a missed free throw and hit a 3-pointer for a four-point possession. The second time, when RJ Davis hit a 3, North Carolina was within 70-66 with 42.9 seconds left.

A second late turnover by Syracuse led to a Caleb Love layup to make it 70-68 with 19 seconds left.

Joe Girard made 1 of 2 free throws for a three-point lead and the Orange fouled. However Love missed two free throws and Girard was fouled again. He again made 1 of 2 at 10.1 seconds for a 72-68 lead before the Tar Heels got a putback at the buzzer.

Quincy Guerrier added 18 points for Syracuse (14-8, 8-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), which had lost two straight. Leading scorer Alan Griffin (15.5 points) went 1 for 10, the make coming with 3:26 to play, but added two clutch free throws at 1:06.

Armando Bacot had 18 points and 15 rebounds for North Carolina (14-10, 9-6), which won the first meeting 81-75. Garrison Brooks scored 11 and Love 10. The Tar Heels were plus-20 in rebounding but had 20 turnovers, shot 38.2%, going 4 of 20 behind the arc, and were just 14 of 22 from the foul line.

Boeheim hit three 3-pointers during an 11-0 run to close the half for a 34-28 lead — the last 3 to reach 1,001 points for his career. Boeheim had five of his six 3s and 17 points before the break as the Orange went 7 of 17 from distance to the Tar Heels’ 0 for 9.

Syracuse wraps up the regular season Wednesday at home against Clemson. North Carolina closes against visiting Duke on Saturday.

Campbell 63, Gardner-Webb 57

BUIES CREEK — Jordan Whitfield had 18 points as Campbell beat Gardner-Webb 63-57 in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tournament on Monday night.

Campbell (16-9), a No. 3 seed, will play No. 2 Radford on Thursday.

Joshua Lusane had 11 points and nine rebounds for Campbell.

Jordan Sears scored a season-high 20 points for the Runnin’ Bulldogs (11-15). D’Maurian Williams added 13 points.

Winthrop 83, High Point 54

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Adonis Arms scored 15 points, Chandler Vaudrin recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Winthrop beat High Point 83-54 in the Big South Conference Tournament on Monday night.

Top-seeded Winthrop (21-1) plays Longwood on Thursday in the semifinals.

D.J. Burns Jr. added 12 points, Charles Falden had 10 and Russell Jones Jr. had a career-high 10 assists for Winthrop, which posted a season-high 24 assists.

John-Michael Wright had 17 points for the Panthers (9-15).

Longwood 77, UNC Asheville 61

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Leslie Nkereuwem came off the bench to tally 18 points to carry Longwood to a 77-61 win over UNC Asheville in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tourney on Monday night.

Longwood (12-15) plays top-seeded Winthrop on Thursday.

DeShaun Wade had 17 points for Longwood. Jesper Granlund added 10 points. Juan Munoz had 10 points and six rebounds. Nkereuwem hit 9 of 11 shots.

Tajion Jones had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs (10-10). Jamon Battle added 13 points. Coty Jude had 12 points.