A career high points haul from Callum McRae highlights the latest news on Kiwi men playing NCAA Division I basketball
The freshman centre recorded his second career double-double posting a career high 16 points to accompany 10 rebounds in his latest outing for the University of California Riverside . Despite the efforts of the former Palmerston North Boys High standout the Highlanders fell 71-67 in overtime to Long Beach State in Big West Conference action.
McRae is having a fine debut season averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. Impressively he has averaged 10 points and 5.6 rebounds since claiming a starting spot ten games ago.
A perfect shooting game from Yanni Wetzell couldn’t prevent Vanderbilt University Commodores falling to its fourteenth straight Southeastern Conference defeat at the hands of Alabama University (68-61). The former Westlake forward compiled ten points on 4 from 4 shooting from the floor plus 2 from 2 free throws – he also totalled 8 rebounds.
Jackson Stent scored 9 points (3/5FG, 3/4FT) as Houston Baptist University Huskies suffered an agonising 119-113 double overtime loss at Sam Houston State. The Huskies are 6-8 in Southland Conference play with four regular season games to play.
Izayah Le’afa scored 8 points as Sacramento State Hornets defeated Weber State 78-76 in a come from behind victory. Sacramento State only led for 2:49 in the game as they secured a sixth Big Sky Conference victory.
Miami University Hurricanes secured its fourth Atlantic Coast Conference win of the campaign defeating Georgia Tech 80-65. Sam Waardenburg scored 7 points and was also a defensive pest snatching a pair of steals and also blocking 2 shots.
Six points (3/4FG) from Matt Freeman helped Oklahoma University Sooners beat Texas 69-67 in an exciting contest. The win also kept the Sooners outside chance of making the NCAA Tournament alive – currently they are 5-9 in conference play and 17-10 overall for the season.
LACEY LOWDOWN 