HORNETS-GETTING DEFENSIVE
Hornets’ strong defense since Jan. 1 has led to turnaround
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have had the No. 1 scoring defense in the NBA since Jan. 1, a dramatic improvement has them on a charge up the Eastern Conference standings.
It has allowed them to go 11-4 in 2015 despite injuries that have kept top players Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson and key reserves Bismack Biyombo and Marvin Williams out of games.
The Hornets are limiting opponents to a league-low 89.4 points per game and 39.7 percent field goal shooting during that span.
Second-year coach Steve Clifford attributes that to players realizing “that is our way to win games.”
The Hornets (21-27) are tied for the seventh-best record in the East after starting the season 10-23.
HORNETS-MOVES
Hornets sign PG Elliot Williams; waive PG Jannero Pargo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Coach Steve Clifford announced the Hornets have signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract and waived point guard Jannero Pargo.
Clifford announced the moves following Wednesday’s practice.
The 6-foot-5 Williams was playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League and was averaging 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
He’s expected to fill the role of backup point guard behind Brian Roberts while Kemba Walker is recovering from a knee surgery.
Clifford says the team was “playing with fire” not having a true healthy backup point guard on the roster. Pargo missed the last 19 games with back soreness.
Williams was the 22nd pick in the 2010 NBA draft by Portland. He signed two 10-day contracts with Utah earlier this season.
CLEMSON-FLORIDA ST
Clemson holds off Seminole charge for 62-56 victory
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Jaron Blossomgame scored 14 points while Jordan Roper and Donte Grantham added 13 apiece to lead Clemson to a 62-56 win Wednesday night at Florida State.
It was the fourth straight win for Clemson (14-8, 6-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) since losing to the Seminoles 59-55 on Jan. 19.
Florida State closed to 58-56 with 29 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Devon Bookert, but Josh Smith countered with a pair of his own four seconds later and teammate Roper added two with 13.6 seconds left to secure the Clemson win.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes led the Seminoles in scoring with 15 points while 7-3 Boris Bojanovsky added 13 points and 10 rebounds to earn his second double-double of the season.
Florida State (12-11, 4-6) led by six points in the opening few minutes, but succumbed to poor shooting and turnovers.
Clemson outscored the Seminoles 18-6 over the last 10:46 of the opening half to take a 27-21 lead at the break. The Tigers held Florida State scoreless for seven minutes and allowed just two baskets in the final 9:12.
ST ANDREWS-SC STATE
SC State handles NAIA St. Andrews 80-48
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — Darryl Palmer had 13 points, Gabe McCray added 10 points and 10 rebounds, and South Carolina State beat NAIA St. Andrews 80-48 on Wednesday.
Greg Mortimer added 11 points for SC State (9-15), which had a 33-19 halftime lead and extended it to 32 with 5:19 left. The Bulldogs took the lead for good midway through the first half at 15-14 as Toshombe Riley’s basket sparked an 18-2 run.
Titus Gary had four 3-pointers to lead St. Andrews with 14 points and Jeff Gulley grabbed 11 rebounds. The Knights took 29 of their 48 field-goal attempts from behind the arc, making 11 of their 18 total field goals on 3s.
SC State (6-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) came into the game with a two-game winning streak and returns to conference play at Coppin State on Saturday.
LIBERTY-WINTHROP
Winthrop beats Liberty 74-61 behind Smith’s 21 points
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Andre Smith scored 21 points with five 3-pointers and Keon Moore added 18 with four treys as Winthrop buried 10 shots from long range to beat Liberty 74-61 on Wednesday night.
Winthrop (13-10, 8-4 Big South) has won two in a row and remains tied for third in conference.
Keon Johnson scored 12 for the Eagles with Xavier Cooks adding 10 points and five blocked shots. Winthrop shot 48 percent (23 of 48) and was 10 of 25 from 3-point range.
Liberty (6-18, 0-11) suffered through a scoreless stretch of more than 11 minutes in the first half and has an 11-game losing streak for the first time since the 1980-81 season. The Flames are 0-11 in conference for the first time.
Theo Johnson scored 14 and David Andoh 13 for the Flames, who shot 36 percent (21 of 59) and made just 3 of 12 from 3-point range.
SIGNING DAY-S CAROLINA
Spurrier salvages top 20 class at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is trying to put behind a disappointing 7-6 season and a recruiting period which saw several commitments to the Gamecocks change their minds.
South Carolina signed 32 players on Wednesday, a class nearly evenly spread out between offense and defense. The class also included seven junior college players.
Spurrier says several recruits could find playing time quickly, especially on defense. South Carolina fell from fifth to 13th in total defense in the SEC last season, allowing nearly 73 more yards a game.
There was plenty of talk about Spurrier’s age on the recruiting trail too. He will be 70 when the season starts in the fall. But Spurrier says he told every recruit he plans to stay as long as they are in school.
SIGNING DAY-SEC
SEC collects another impressive talent haul, led by Alabama
UNDATED (AP) – The Southeastern Conference is off to a good start in trying to get back to winning national titles.
The league’s talent haul on Wednesday included top defensive linemen Trenton Thompson and Byron Cowart and blue-chip prospects at every other position as well, including a restocking of talent at quarterback. Thompson signed with Georgia and Cowart opted for Auburn.
Half of the top 12 recruiting class were SEC teams, according to the 247Sports composite of all the recruiting services.
Alabama led the way again with a class that was ranked either No. 1 or 2 by those services. Butch Jones’ haul at Tennessee ranked fourth in the composite rankings, one spot ahead of LSU. That’s followed by No. 9 Auburn, No. 10 Georgia and No. 12 Texas A&M.
