Despite trailing by as much as 16, Georgia Tech outscored Memphis by 23 in the 2nd half to win 92-85. Veterans, Jeremis Smith and Ra'Sean Dickey led the comeback in the paint as Smith finished with 21 pts and 9 rebs while Dickey added 14 pts and 10 rebs. Lewis Clinch added some perimeter helping with 17 pts and 5 rebs while the freshmen duo of Javaris Crittenton (10 pts, 5 rebs, 6 tos) and Thaddeus Young (11 pts, 14 mins, 5 fouls) added double-figures as well.
Duke led for most of the game before Dominic James decided to take over for Marquette and lead the Golden Eagles to a 73-62 win. The 5'11" James is a strong, quick point guard, something that Duke teams have had trouble with. James got into the lane constantly and either took it to the rim or found a teammate open due to Duke's help defense.
For Duke, Josh McRoberts led the way with 15 pts, 8 rebs, and 4 asts but on 4-16 shooting from field. Duke went to McRoberts posting up several times in the second half, but McRoberts simply couldn't put the ball into the basket. It appears McRoberts doesn't yet have a "go to" post move, and seems to be thinking quite a bit when he gets the ball in the post, instead of simply reacting. Demarcus Nelson finished with 13 pts and 5 rebs as the only other Blue Devil in double-figures.
Clemson got a hard earned win, 69-66 over Mississippi St, on Tuesday night. Cliff Hammonds led the way with 20 pts and 5 rebs, and showed that he can take the ball to the basket and shoot the perimeter shot. Hammonds hit his trademarked lefty perimeter shots, going 2-5 from behind the arc, but also took the ball to the rim, making 6-8 from the charity stripe. James Mays added a double-double with 17 pts and 12 rebs, although he did have 5 turnovers.
The Wolfpack got 25 pts and 12 rebs from Gavin Grant in the NC State 78-64 win over Valpo. Brandon Costner had his 2nd consecutive effective game scoring 17 pts and adding 8 rebs and 4 asts while Courtney Fells finished with 13 pts.
In the final game of the night, Wake Forest beat Vanderbilt 88-78. The young Demon Deacons put 5 players (including 3 freshmen) in double-figures, led by 17 pts and 9 asts from freshman point guard, Ish Smith. Jamie Skeen (16 pts, 10 rebs), Michael Drum (13 pts, 9 rebs), Kyle Visser (12 pts, 9 rebs), and LD Williams (12 pts, 6 rebs) rounded out the Wake Forest players in double-figures. Wake outrebounded Vanderbilt 44-36 and had a decided advantage from the free throw line where they made more than the Commodores attempted.
More Headlines
