HORNETS-INJURIES
Hornets’ Walker to undergo surgery on knee; return unclear
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Hornets have announced that Kemba Walker will undergo surgery on Wednesday in New York to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee.
The team said in a press release Monday that a timeline for his recovery will be determined following surgery.
The fourth-year point guard is Charlotte’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.8 points per game and is tied for sixth in the NBA in assists per turnover ratio (3.1).
Walker flew to New York to have a second opinion on his knee. The Hornets say that Dr. David Altchek confirmed team orthopedic physician Marcus Cook’s previous diagnosis, although the team previously only listed Walker as having a cyst on the knee.
Brian Roberts is expected to start for Walker.
T25-TEXAS A&M-S CAROLINA
Wilson’s 18 lead No. 1 South Carolina to 79-61 victory
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Freshman A’ja Wilson scored 18 points, defending Southeastern Conference player of the year Tiffany Mitchell added 16 points and Alaina Coates had 12 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 South Carolina remained unbeaten with a 79-61 victory over 12th-ranked Texas A&M on Monday night.
The Gamecocks (19-0, 7-0 SEC), who remained on top of the rankings for a 10th straight poll earlier Monday, put away the Aggies with a 27-8 run in the second half after seeing their double-digit lead shrink to 40-38. That’s when Mitchell made four consecutive free throws to start the run. She added four more points and Coates scored six points as South Carolina took control.
Texas A&M (16-5, 4-3) had been the last time to beat the Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in 2013. But the Aggies struggled shooting as 14-point-a-game scorer Courtney Williams was 3 of 21 from the field.
HAMPTON-SC STATE
South Carolina State beats Hampton 65-56
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) β Jalen White scored 14 points, and Gabe McCray added a career-high 14, to help South Carolina State beat Hampton 65-56 on Monday night, extending the Pirates’ losing streak to four.
Edward Stephens finished with 11 points for South Carolina State (7-15, 5-3 Metro-Atlantic).
Jumpers by Dwight Meikle and Brian Darden cut Hampton’s deficit to 56-53 with 3:02 to play.
McCray answered with a layup and Darryl Palmer converted a three-point play with 56 seconds remaining to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to eight.
After Quinton Chievous made one free throw, pulling Hampton (8-12, 4-4) within 61-54 with 44 seconds left, White and Ty Solomon made two free throws apiece to seal it for South Carolina State.
Meikle had 16 points and nine rebounds for Hampton, which made just 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) field goals in the first half and finished 11 of 19 from the free throw line.
HIGH POINT-PRESBYTERIAN
High Point makes 10 3-pointers, beats Presbyterian 63-54
CLINTON, S.C. (AP) β Lorenzo Cugini was 3 of 4 from 3-point range with 15 points on Monday night and High Point beat Presbyterian 63-54.
John Brown and Devante Wallace both added 13 points for High Point (16-5, 7-2 Big South), which took a 61-51 lead on Cugini’s 3-pointer with 51 seconds left.
High Point broke a 34-all tie early in the second half with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. The Blue Hose (7-15, 3-6) stayed within eight points and got as close as 54-51 with 2:59 left until High Point’s 7-0 run.
Ed Drew led Presbyterian with 12 points. DeSean Murray scored 11 and Jordan Downing added 10. Presbyterian’s leading 3-pointer shooter, Downing (40.5 percent), was 1 of 8 from the arc and the Blue Hose were 3 of 16 as a team.
The Panthers were 10 of 21 from 3-point range and 23 of 44 from the field.
T25-WOMEN’S BKB POLL
Gamecocks still No. 1; Chattanooga joins women’s hoops poll
UNDATED (AP) – Jim Foster has become the first coach to lead four schools into The Associated Press women’s poll, with Chattanooga entering the rankings at No. 25 on Monday.
Foster guided Saint Joseph’s, Vanderbilt and Ohio State to the rankings before coming to Chattanooga in 2013. It’s the Mocs first appearance in the poll since 1984 when they were ranked for four weeks. Chattanooga hosts Samford on Monday night.
South Carolina remains No. 1 for the 10th straight week. The Gamecocks play No. 12 Texas A&M on Monday night.
South Carolina is followed by Connecticut, Baylor, Notre Dame and Maryland. Tennessee, Oregon State, Louisville, Florida State and Kentucky round out the first 10. The Seminoles jumped eight spots this week after beating the Cardinals and Wake Forest.
Oklahoma also entered the rankings for the first time this season at No. 24. Minnesota and Western Kentucky fell out.
CLEMSON-BLANKS
Clemson DB Blanks has 2nd surgery on rehabbed knee
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Clemson defensive back Travis Blanks has had surgery to repair a torn knee ligament and will miss spring practice for a second straight year.
The school announced Blanks status Monday but per school policy did not say which knee. He had torn his ACL in a win over Citadel in 2013 and missed last season.
Blanks re-injured his knee during practice In Orlando, Florida as the Tigers prepared for the Russell Athletic Bowl.
He had surgery two weeks ago. The Tigers hope he’ll return for the start of fall workouts.
Blanks had 51 tackles, an interception and seven passes broken up as a freshman in 2012. He played in 13 games, eight as a starter. The next season, Blanks started 10 games and had 35 tackles before tearing his ACL.
