EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Rocket Watts scored a career-high 23 points to help No. 8 Michigan State beat Detroit Mercy 83-76. The Spartans started out flat coming off their road win over No. 6 Duke earlier in the week and it almost led to a huge upset. The Titans led by five points midway through the second half of a closely contested game with 10 lead changes and nine ties. Detroit’s last win over a Top 10 team on the road was in 1979 at Marquette when the Titans had future NBA players, including the late Terry Duerod.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Hakim Hart scored 20 of his career-high 33 points in the second half and Maryland beat Saint Peters 90-54. It was the most points by a Maryland player since Diamond Stone scored 39 against Penn State during the 2015-16 season. Hart was 11-of-13 shooting, with five 3-pointers and four steals. He combined for 28 points in 18 games as a freshman last season. Saint Peters was led by Daryl Banks III with 11 points.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Isaiah Thompson scored eight of his 14 points in the last 5:32, Sasha Stefanovic led with 19 and Purdue rallied past stubborn Valparaiso 68-61 after trailing for most of the game. Zach Edey’s free throws with 6:48 remaining gave Purdue a 54-53 lead — its first since 3-2 with just over two minutes gone. Thompson extended the lead to 58-53 with a free throw and a 3-pointer and made four more from the line in the last 51 seconds to secure the comeback. Valparaiso, which hadn’t beaten Purdue since 1965, leapt out to a 34-23 halftime lead thanks to 55% shooting and deadeye 3-point shooting from Jacob Ognacevich (3-for-3) and Donovan Clay (2-for-2).
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Both Gach had 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds to help Minnesota beat North Dakota 76-67. Marcus Carr had 10 of his 17 points in the second half and finished with nine assists and Brandon Johnson added 15 points for the Gophers. Filip Rebraca had 23 points to lead North Dakota. Caleb Nero added 16 points and Tyree Ihenacho scored 10.
