STORRS, Conn. — Junior Adama Sanogo scored 24 points to lead No. 25 UConn to an 86-50 victory over UNC Wilmington on Friday night.
Sophomore Jordan Hawkins returned from concussion protocol to add a career-high 20 points for the unbeaten Huskies (4-0). Hawkins was 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. Freshman Alex Karaban finished with 12 points.
“It just felt good to play basketball again,” said Hawkins, who also missed postseason play last year with the Huskies due to a concussion. “There’s been ups and downs this last year, but when I got back on the court it felt great.”
The Seahawks (1-3) were led by Shykeim Phillips and Jamarii Thomas, who each had 16 points.
The Huskies led 40-28 at the half with 17 points coming from Sanogo and 11 from Hawkins. After battling foul trouble and scoring a season-low 11 points against Buffalo, Sanogo was dominant inside, hitting 6 of 9 shots in the half and 8 for 12 overall, with two misses coming on 3-pointers.
“He did what he was supposed to do today and he played great,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “Obviously, the other night he was disappointed in his performance.”
Hawkins returned to the lineup after missing two games with a concussion, which he suffered in the season opener against Stonehill. The sophomore went 3 for 3 on 3-pointers in the opening half and scored six of the Huskies’ final nine points on a trey and a three-point play.
The second half was all UConn, which outscored the Seahawks 26-6 in the opening 10 minutes to take a commanding 32-point lead, 66-34.
“I thought we were good and then they kind of blew it open at the end of the first half,” UNC Wilmington coach Takayo Siddle said. “In the middle of the second half they blew it open even more, but we fought the whole game.”
The Seahawks wrapped up their two-game road trip and will host Mount Olive on Monday before heading to The Bahamas for the Baha Mar Hoops.
Campbell 63, Appalachian State 58
BOONE — Devon Dunn’s 18 points helped Campbell defeat Appalachian State 63-58 on Friday night.
Dunn shot 7 for 11, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc, for the Fighting Camels (2-1). Jesus Carralero scored 11 points while shooting 5 for 10 and added seven rebounds.
The Mountaineers (3-1) were led by Donovan Gregory, who recorded 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. CJ Huntley added 12 points and seven rebounds for Appalachian State.
Both teams next play Saturday. Campbell squares off against SE Louisiana and Appalachian State hosts Kennesaw State.
Davidson 69, South Carolina 60
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Foster Loyer scored 18 points and Sam Mennenga added 15 as Davidson used a 10-2 run in the second half to beat South Carolina 69-60 on Friday night.
The Gamecocks led 29-25 halftime, but after the break Connor Kochera made a layup and followed with a 3-pointer to give Davidson (4-1) a 42-38 lead and the Wildcats stayed ahead the rest of the game.
Kochera scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting.
Davidson sank mid-range baskets and 3s against the Gamecocks’ zone defense and continued their strong shooting when South Carolina (2-2) went to man-to-man. The Wildcats moved the ball effectively distributing 17 assists on 26 made baskets.
The Wildcats held off South Carolina’s Chico Carter Jr. who missed tying his career high with 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting including 6 of 8 from 3-point range.
Greg Jackson II scored 12 points and Hayden Brown 10 for South Carolina.
Davidson will take on Old Dominion in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic on Sunday morning.
Wake Forest 75, La Salle 63
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Tyree Appleby scored 23 points for the second straight game, Damari Monsanto had four 3-pointers and 14 points, and Wake Forest beat La Salle 75-63 on Friday at the Jamaica Classic.
Appleby scored nine straight Wake Forest points early in the second half to take a 48-42 lead. He also scored nine points during a 17-5 run later in the half for a 19-point lead at 73-54.
Freshman Zach Keller added 11 points and Andrew Carr had 10 points for Wake Forest (4-0), which plays again in the Montego Bay Division on Sunday.
Appleby was also the hero on Tuesday when made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in overtime, after a floor-length pass, for a 68-65 victory over Utah Valley. The Demon Deacons threw the inbounds pass to 7-foot-1 Matthew Marsh, who passed it out to a trailing Appleby for the wide-open winner.
Josh Nickelberry led La Salle (2-2) with six 3-pointers and 24 points. Fousseyni Drame had eight points and nine rebounds. Khalil Brantley, averaging 17 points per game, was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.
Charlotte 68, Tulsa 65
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Aly Khalifa had 14 points in Charlotte’s 68-65 victory against Tulsa on Friday night.
Tim Dalger made a 3-pointer for Tulsa to cap the scoring with 16 seconds remaining. The Golden Hurricane had the final possession, but Igor Milicic Jr. blocked Sam Griffin’s 3-point attempt to end it.
Khalifa added eight rebounds and six assists for the 49ers (4-0). Lu’Cye Patterson scored 14 points, going 5 of 8 and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Jackson Threadgill was 5-of-12 shooting (0 for 4 from distance) to finish with 10 points.
Griffin led the Golden Hurricane (2-2) in scoring, finishing with 21 points. Anthony Pritchard added 13 points and four assists for Tulsa. Dalger also had 13 points.
Patterson put up nine points in the first half for Charlotte, who led 40-27 at the break. Charlotte was outscored by 10 points in the second half but held on for the victory. Khalifa led the way with eight second-half points.
Charlotte’s next game is Wednesday against Detroit Mercy on the road.
Western Carolina 88, McNeese 69
LAKE CHARLES, La. — Tre Jackson’s 21 points helped Western Carolina defeat McNeese 88-69 on Friday night.
Jackson shot 7 for 10, including 7 for 9 from beyond the arc, for the Catamounts (2-2). Tyzhaun Claude scored 19 points while shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 5 for 9 from the line, and he added 11 rebounds. Russell Jones recorded 17 points and shot 5 for 6 (4 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Christian Shumate led the way for the Cowboys (1-2) with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Johnathan Massie added 10 points for McNeese. In addition, Trae English finished with 10 points.
Queens 81, Green Bay 65
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Kenny Dye scored 23 points and reserve Kalib Matthews scored 15 points and Queens beat Green Bay 81-65 in a Jamaica Classic contest on Friday.
Following the Royals’ (3-1) 35-34 lead at halftime, Queens outscored Green Bay 25-10 over an 11-minute stretch in the second half to take control. Dye’s basket with 14:54 remaining put the first-year Division I program up 47-46 and the Royals led the rest of the way. AJ McKee’s layup with 5:55 left extended the margin to 69-52.
McKee scored 14 points for Queens, which had 11 players enter the scoring column. The Royals finished shooting 27 for 54.
Cade Meyer scored 10 points for the winless Phoenix (0-4). Green Bay started the 2020-21 season with nine straight defeats and 2021-22 losing five straight.
UNLV 78, High Point 68
LAS VEGAS — Elijah Harkless had 15 points in UNLV’s 78-68 victory over High Point on Friday night.
Harkless had five rebounds and seven assists for the Rebels (4-0). Luis Rodriguez added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. David Muoka recorded 12 points and shot 6 of 10 from the field.
The Panthers (3-1) were led by Zach Austin, who posted 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Abdoulaye Thiam added 20 points, six rebounds and four steals. Jaden House scored 13.
Muoka scored eight points in the first half and UNLV went into halftime trailing 36-33. UNLV outscored High Point by 13 points in the second half. Harkless led the way with 10 second-half points.
High Point plays Central Michigan on Monday.
Wofford 60, Gardner-Webb 58
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — B.J. Mack scored 26 points as Wofford beat Gardner-Webb 60-58 on Friday night.
Julien Soumaoro made a 3-pointer to pull Gardner-Webb to 59-58 with 12 seconds left. Messiah Jones added a free throw for Wofford and Anthony Selden missed a layup for Gardner-Webb.
Mack also contributed six rebounds for the Terriers (2-2). Jones scored 11 points while shooting 2 of 10 from the field, 7 for 10 from the line and added six rebounds. Jackson Paveletzke recorded 11 points and shot 1 of 5 from the field and 8 for 10 from the line.
Kareem Reid finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks for the Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-4). Selden added 11 points for Gardner-Webb. In addition, Soumaoro had 11 points.
Both teams play N.C. A&T next, Wofford at home on Sunday and Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
UNC Asheville 72, Texas A&M-Commerce 64
