Chuck Harris and Matt Cross both made 12 points and SMU had a successful debut in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and defeated Syracuse 73-53 in Wednesday night’s second round game in Charlotte.
SMU’s defense did most of the good work that Syracuse, which had a season-low point in total, could not be unlocked during the second half. Boopie Miller and Keon Ambrose-Hylton each contributed 10 points for Mustangs, which is in their first season in ACC.
SMU has to strict victories to get in position for an NCAA tournament bid and this was a good start and beat Orange for the second week in a row. The sixth-seeded Mustangs (23-9) meet third seeded Clemson (26-5) in Thursday’s late night finals.
JJ Starling scored 11 of his 16 points during the first half for 14-seeded Syracuse (14-19). Jyare Davis added 14 points and Eddie Lampkin Jr. Had 10 returns, but Orange has never won more than one game in the ACC tournament since he joined 2013-14.
North Carolina 76, Notre Dame 56
Jae’lyn Withers joined seven 3 points to take into account his career high 21 points and takes Heels rolled to a victory against Fighting Irish in Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament’s second round in Charlotte, NC
Ven-Allen Lubin provided 17 points and 10 returns, and RJ Davis had 13 points for North Carolina, who competed for an early lead and did not let go. Withers band a team record in North Carolina for 3-points baskets in the ACC tournament. Fifth-seeded North Carolina (21-12), who has won seven of her last eight matches, meets fourth-seeded Wake Forest (21-10) in Thursday afternoon’s quarterfinale.
ACC points leader Markus Burton scored 11 points for 12-seeded notre Dame (15-18).
Stanford 78, CAL 73
Maxime Raynaud’s 23 points and Jaylen Blakes 21 points in combination with clutch baskets from Backrum Benny Geals and Chisom Okpara enabled Cardinal to survive its first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament game with a second round over Golden Bears.
Stanford’s late Burst counteracted a 37-point excursion by Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic. DJ Campbell’s 19 points and 10 returns and Mady Sissokos 11 points strengthened No. 15 Seed Cal (14-19), who shot 52.8 percent from the field. Stojakovic went 13-for-22, which included four 3 points.
Seventh-seeded Stanford (20-12), who had a first round, meets No. 13 Louisville (25-6), the second seed, in Thursday night’s quarterfin. Oziyah sellers added 13 points and Okpara had 12 points for Stanford.
Georgia Tech 66, Virginia 60
Duncan Powell scored 21 points in his first tournament game in the Atlantic Coast Conference when Yellow Jackets defeated Cavaliers in a second round competition.
Baye Ndongo provided 16 points and 10 returns and Naithan George added 13 points, 10 returns and eight assists when the yellow jackets avenge a loss of regular season. Eighth-seeded Georgia Tech (17-15) will meet top-seeded Duke (28-3), no. 1 team in the country, in the first quarter finals on Thursday afternoon.
Isaac McKneely led the Ninth-seeded Virginia (15-17) with 27 points and shot 7-for-11 on 3-points. Cavaliers played during interim coach Ron Sanchez and ended his first losing season in 15 years. He was raised to the position a few weeks before the beginning of the season after the sudden retirement of coach Tony Bennett.
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