BULLS-HORNETS
Gasol scores 19, Bulls defeat Hornets 102-95
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Pau Gasol had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic each posted double-doubles, and the Chicago Bulls handed the Charlotte Hornets their 10th straight loss, 102-95 on Wednesday night.
Noah had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Mirotic added 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulls bounced back from a double- overtime loss to Dallas on Tuesday night.
Kirk Hinrich, who had the costly foul on a 3-point shot in the loss to the Mavericks, came up with two big 3-pointers in the final three minutes to help the Bulls (12-7) hold on and improve to 10-3 on the road.
It is the fifth straight game the Bulls have scored at least 100 points.
Kemba Walker had 23 points, and Lance Stephenson had a season-high 20 points to lead the Hornets (4-15), who have lost 12 of 13.
PRESBYTERIAN-WOFFORD
Allen leads Wofford to 66-45 win over Presbyterian
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Jaylen Allen came off the bench for career-highs of four 3-pointers and 16 points to lead Wofford to a 66-45 over Presbyterian on Wednesday night.
Spencer Collins and Karl Cochran had 11 points apiece for the Terriers (6-2), who used 16 offensive rebounds and 17 turnovers by Presbyterian to get up 18 more shots. Wofford was 25 of 63 from the field (39.7 percent) but hit 11 of 24 3-pointers (45.8 percent).
The Blue Hose (3-5) shot 37.8 percent (17 of 45), including 5 of 16 from 3-point range and 6 of 12 from the line. They were out-rebounded 40-32 with just five offensive boards.
Wofford led 32-24 at the half but a Cochran layup and Collins 3 pushed the lead to double figures to open the second half. Presbyterian got it back to three midway through the half but a 4Β½ minute scoring drought allowed Wofford to pull away.
WINTHROP-JACKSONVILLE ST
Jacksonville State outlasts Winthrop 79-76 in OT
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) β JaQuail Townser scored 24 points and hit a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left in overtime, lifting Jacksonville State over Winthrop 79-76 on Wednesday night.
The Gamecocks (5-3) had a 10-point lead with 9:18 remaining, but Winthrop (3-3) fought back into the lead on Keon Johnson’s layup. Townser followed with two layups, but Johnson tied it up twice in the final minutes with a 3-pointer and two free throws to force overtime.
DJ Felder hit two free throws to give Jacksonville State a 76-75 lead in overtime. Johnson was sent to the line and made the first, but couldn’t sink the go-ahead free throw with 11 seconds left, setting up Townser’s game-winner. Winthrop didn’t get a shot off as time expired.
Darion Rackley had 16 points, and Jamal Hunter had 11 with 16 rebounds for the Gamecocks.
Johnson led Winthrop with 22 points and Tevin Prescott had 15 with 11 boards.
ACC AWARDS
Pitt’s Conner named ACC player of year
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) β Pittsburgh running back James Conner is the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year.
In voting results released Wednesday by the league, Conner also was picked as its offensive player of the year while Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was selected as the defensive player of the year.
Conner received 16 of 55 votes cast by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association β three more than Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, last year’s winner.
Beasley, who was third in overall voting with eight votes, had 24 votes for the defensive award.
Conner led the conference and ranks sixth nationally with an average of 139.6 yards rushing.
T25-DUKE-WISCONSIN
No. 4 Duke beats No. 2 Wisconsin 80-70
MADISON, Wis. (AP) β Tyus Jones scored 22 points, Rasheed Sulaimon added 14 and No. 4 Duke shot 65 percent to beat No. 2 Wisconsin 80-70 on Wednesday night in a highly anticipated matchup of college basketball heavyweights.
With 17 points, Wisconsin senior Frank Kaminsky outscored Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor (13 points) in a test for the two of the nation’s top big men.
But it was another touted freshman, Jones, who helped open things up for the Blue Devils (8-0) in the second half. The lightning-quick guard beat defenders into the lane and added two 3-pointers.
Jones followed a transition layup with an assist on Amile Jefferson’s jumper to cap a 6-0 run that gave Duke a 69-60 lead with about 3 minutes left against the Badgers (7-1).
