Four Big 12 teams tipped off their second games on Thursday.
Cincinnati played Green Bay, Utah took on Towson, No. 19 Tech Tech dueled Bethune-Cookman and No. 5 Arizona looked to bounce back against Cal Poly. All four teams won, with the Utes’ 10-point win being the night’s closest contest.
Cincy’s Myles Colvin led the scoring with 31 points (10-17 FG, 7-12 3PT, 4-5 FT), canning seven 3-pointers. He added seven boards and two blocks. Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas did his thing against the Mustangs, scoring 30 points (10-13 FG) with eight rebounds and two swats.
UA teammate Ivan Kharchenkov went for his second double-double, scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 boards and picking up four steals. He was three assists short of a triple-double.
Red Raiders guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn also stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 25 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3PT, 8-11 FT), along with three rebounds and two assists.
Utah guard Trey Campbell once again leveled his team with nine points, five rebounds and six assists.
Cincinnati defeats Green Bay, 81-64
Green Bay was a tougher challenge than American; Cincinnati only led 40-32 at the half. Yet, the Bearcats ultimately handled them just the same.
UC didn’t see any individual scoring bursts in game one. But the second night brought something else: Myles Colvin went for 31 points. The Wake Forest transfer sparked Cincy all night, playing 34 minutes.
Three others scored in double digits as the Bearcats shot 48.3% and made 10-of-31 3-point attempts. Amani Lyles scored 14 points, and MJ Collins and Eric Mahaffey added 11 each. Ultimately, the consistent offense led UC to a win.
While GB shot 47.9% from the field and Orlando Lovejoy scored a team-high 16 points, they committed 21 turnovers.
Cincy offers a disruptive defensive presence early in the season. It forced 18 turnovers against American.
Forward Jayden Hastings (shoulder) and guard Akai Fleming (knee) did not play.
Who’s next: vs. Minnesota (11/09 - 6 p.m. - ESPN+)
Utah defeats Towson, 67-57
After another defensive showdown, Utah is 2-0.
And this time, it didn’t take a 17-point comeback. The Utes led the Tigers 27-19 at halftime before winning by 10.
The game wasn’t pretty, as Utah committed 18 turnovers – three more than in its opener. It also shot just 38.5% in the first half. Yet, led by Taison Chatman (15 points) and Alec Anigbata (15 points), the Utes shot much better in the second half and pulled out the win. Anigbata added five rebounds and three assists.
Towson also shot better in the second half, hitting 60% from the field and winning the final 20 minutes by two points. Jaquan Womack and Ben Roseborough both scored 13 points. The Tigers also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.
Given the road team’s physical play, though, the Utes shot eight more free throws. But they also shot 79.2% from the charity stripe while Towson was a measly 43.8%. The disparity ultimately made the difference.
Trey Campbell had a cooler scoring night, only hitting three shots. But he had five rebounds and six assists.
Jackson Holcombe left the game in the second half with a head injury.
Who’s next: vs. Weber State (11/10 - 8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
No. 19 Texas Tech defeats Bethune-Cookman, 76-58
Bethune-Cookman kept it closer than its SWAC counterpart, Jackson State, but Texas Tech handled both. The Red Raiders won 76-58 after leading by 13 at the half.
Ultimately, TTU could have won by more. Shots just didn’t fall; it shot 42.1% from the field.
Yet it held the Wildcats to sub-40% shooting, won offensive glass by seven and forced seven more turnovers. Texas Tech shot better on 13 more field goal attempts.
The backcourt showed up. Dra Lawhord-Gibbs scored 25 points and hit three 3-pointers. Guard Cruz Davis scored 15 points and added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Davis has nine steals through two games.
TTU will have a far tougher challenge in a few days.
Who’s next: vs. No. 3 Illinois (11/10 - 7 p.m. CT - Peacock/NBCSN)
No. 5 Arizona defeats Cal Poly, 104-84
Arizona bounced back after its season-opening loss with a 20-point victory. It did so handsomely, shooting 54.5% from the field as its returners thrived.
Ivan Kharchenkov went for another double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds), just missing a triple-double by three assists. Motiejus Krivas bounced back with 30 points (10-13 FG, 10-12 FT), eight rebounds and two blocks. Five-star freshman Caleb Holt settled in, posting 21 points (8-13 FG, 5-6 FT) and seven boards.
UA scored 56 points in the paint and 23 second-chance points. Cal Poly also committed 19 turnovers and was whistled for nine more fouls; the Wildcats shot 15 more free throws.
With Arizona leading the whole game, Mustangs guard Mousa Hamad went for 30 points (10-14 FG, 8-10 3PT, 2-3 FT). Jason Scott added 17.
Who’s next: vs. Northern Arizona (11/10 - 8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
Upcoming Big 12 games
Friday, Nov. 6
- Baylor vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- West Virginia vs. Stetson (6 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- UCF vs. Yale (6 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- TCU vs. Southern (7 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- No. 18 Iowa State vs. Southern Mississippi (7 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- Kansas State vs. CSUN (8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- No. 17 Kansas vs. Middle Tennessee (8 p.m. CT - ESPNU)
- No. 25 BYU vs. Omaha (8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- Oklahoma State vs. Queens (NC) (8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
- Arizona State vs. Northern Colorado (8 p.m. CT - ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 7
- Colorado vs. San Diego State (Neutral) (2:30 p.m. CT - USA Network)
Sunday, Nov. 8
- No. 10 Houston vs. California (Neutral) (7:30 p.m. CT - CW)
