CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Marcus Domask scored 15 points, including four free throws in the closing minutes that helped No. 10 Illinois hold off Michigan State 71-68. Coleman Hawkins and Ty Rodgers also scored 15 points apiece for the Illini (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten), who bounced back after a close loss at then-No. 1 Purdue last Friday. Tyson Walker scored 17 points and A.J. Hoggard added 16 for the Spartans (9-7, 1-4), who fell into a last-place tie with Michigan in the conference standings. Walker and Hoggard each missed tying 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is heading to the NFL draft. The only player with consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in school history announced his decision on social medial Thursday. Harrison is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr. The younger Harrison is considered the No. 2 prospect in the draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Harrison opted out of his team’s 14-3 loss to Missouri at the Cotton Bowl last month. He finished the season with 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
UNDATED (AP) — It’s been a rough few days for the headliners in the AP Top 25. Four of the top five and half of the top 10 have lost on the road to unranked teams. No. 1 Purdue lost at Nebraska. No. 2 Houston lost at Iowa State. No. 3 Kansas lost to UCF. No. 5 Tennessee lost to Mississippi State. And No. 9 Oklahoma lost to TCU. Each came in the past two days. It’s a reminder how much college basketball’s natural order has changed in the era of older teams, the transfer portal and talent dispersed across the country.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Donta Scott scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half, Julian Reese had 14 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and Maryland beat short-handed Michigan 64-57. Scott made a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:56 remaining in the second half to give Maryland its first lead, 49-48, since it was 15-13. Scott added another 3-pointer on their next possession for his fourth make from distance in the second half that put the Terrapins in the lead for good 52-50. Reese came up big on defense in the final minute, blocking Nimari Burnett twice before getting fouled with 23.2 seconds left. Reese, a 58.6% free-throw shooter, sank two free throws for a 62-57 lead. Michigan was without leading scorer Dug McDaniel.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Madison Greene scored 16 points and No. 17 Ohio State blitzed Rutgers 90-55, the seventh-straight loss for the Scarlet Knights. Ohio State had 10 players play at least 15 minutes and none played more than 25. Along the way they had 20 assists on 30 baskets with Greene having five. Among the 28 Rutgers turnovers, the Buckeyes had 13 steals and scored 36 points on miscues. Destiny Adams had 18 points for Rutgers. Without putting a player in double figures, the Buckeyes raced to a 51-22 lead at the half. An early 15-2 run had the Buckeyes up 15-4 and a late 10-2 run helped make it 27-13 after one quarter. The second quarter featured a 17-2 run and Diana Collins drilled a 3-pointer just before the buzzer for the 29-point spread.
UNDATED (AP) — College basketball is undergoing a shift, a new era ushered in by the transfer portal, NIL compensation for athletes and conference realignment. Programs like Baylor and Virginia have won national championships. Upsets have become more commonplace in the NCAA Tournament. Even The Associated Press Top 25 poll has been affected. Teams like Buffalo, Furman, Wofford and Florida Atlantic have been ranked for the first time in the past five years. New teams have moved atop the poll.
