College basketball players from around the Wilmington area returned to the hardwood over the weekend as they continue conference play moving through the month of January.
Redshirt junior Kadeem Allen took part in the longest game ever for the University of Arizona on Saturday as the Wildcats fell to University of Southern California 104-101 in four overtimes. The Wildcats trailed by 12 points when they closed regulation on a 14-2 run to tie the game at 73-all. Allen’s layup forced overtime after USC briefly regained the lead.
Arizona was ranked at No. 7 in last week’s AP Top 25 poll, but dropped consecutive PAC-12 games to USC and UCLA over the past five days. The Wildcats also lost their leading scorer, Allonzo Trier, to a broken hand during the setback to USC.
Allen has started all 16 games for Arizona, averaging 24.8 minutes per game. The former New Hanover standout continues to run the offense at point guard, with 8.4 points per game and team-high 62 assists.
Laney product Elijah Wilson went just 1 of 11 from the floor for Coastal Carolina in a 76-61 setback to Longwood University on Saturday. Wilson is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game, but the reigning Big South Champions are 8-8 overall and 2-4 in league play.
T.J. Williams (Ashley) netted a career-high 26 points, but the University of North Georgia men’s basketball team’s late rally came up just short as the Nighthawks fell 76-74 to Clayton State in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Williams made his first 15 free throw attempts and connected on an eventual career-high 16-of-17 attempts from the charity stripe.
North Georgia is 4-11 overall, but Williams is the leading scorer for the Nighthawks, averaging 14 points per game. He’s started all 15 games, while freshman Tyre Gathright has appeared in 11 games this season. The rookie from Ashley is averaging 13.5 minutes and 5.6 points per game.
Freshman Saadiq Johnson (West Brunswick) saw five-minutes of action for Averett University in a 75-59 win over Greensboro on Saturday. Johnson went 2 of 5 from the field and knocked down both free throw attempts to finish with seven points.
Ridell Camidge (New Hanover) has appeared in all 15 games for UNC-Charlotte this season, averaging 4.7 points per game under Coach Mark Price. The 49ers are 4-11 overall and 1-2 in conference following a 93-90 defeat at Louisiana Tech.
Hampden-Sydney Basketball cruised to a 65-42 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win over the Shenandoah University Hornets on Saturday afternoon. Gray Cheers (West Brunswick) saw 17 minutes of action, with seven points and seven rebounds. Cheers has seen action in 12 games for Hampden-Sydney this season, averaging about 10 minutes per game. They are 10-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.
At Appalachian State University, former Hoggard standout Julia Buehler earned a roster spot this season after a walk-on tryout for the Mountaineers. Buehler has seen action in four games as a commit to play lacrosse in Boone this spring.
Three local products were on the floor at the same time during the Mount Olive versus North Greenville matchup on Saturday.
Felecity Havens (Ashley) scored four points in 17 minutes of action and Jada Bacchus (Ashley) added two points for Mount Olive in a 71-49 victory. Paulette Addison (Laney) had three points for North Greenville.
Brianna Baham (Laney) has also come on strong for Brunswick Community College as the Dolphins cruised past Patrick Henry CC 83-62 on Saturday. In 12 games this season, the sophomore is averaging 18.8 points per game, ranked 23rd in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
