NCAA Basketball Recap

## Overview of Wednesday’s Men’s NCAA Action
Wednesday, December 17 featured a full midweek slate of Division I men’s college basketball, highlighted by conference openers in the Big East and marquee performances across Power Five leagues. No. 5 UConn and Creighton kicked off Big East play with decisive wins, while SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 squads flexed their depth in nonconference matchups. The top-25 also saw No. 3 Duke remain unbeaten, No. 17 Kansas continue its bounce-back, and No. 20 Tennessee snap its skid in Knoxville. Here is a detailed look at the scores, key highlights, and top performers to fuel your article.

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## UConn 79, Butler 60
At Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., No. 5 UConn opened Big East play with a commanding 79-60 victory over Butler. After trailing 11-4 early, the Huskies unleashed a 35-14 run to seize control, led by guard Solo Ball’s 26 points on efficient shooting and free throws. Freshman Braylon Mullins added his second straight double-digit scoring game, and Silas Demary Jr. dished a career-high 11 assists while chipping in six rebounds. UConn shot 52 percent overall and outrebounded Butler 40-29, showcasing balanced offense and lockdown defense under Dan Hurley’s coaching. ([ctinsider.com](https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/dick-vitale-espn-21248462.php?utm_source=openai))

Highlights:
- Trailed early, then surged with a 35-14 run
- Ball: 26 points (10-of-15 FG), 4 rebounds
- Demary Jr.: 11 assists, 6 rebounds
- UConn outrebounded Butler 40-29

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## Creighton 98, Xavier 57
In their Big East opener at Cintas Center, No. 6 Creighton dismantled Xavier 98-57. The Bluejays, coming off a tough nonconference slate, reeled off a 25-4 surge late in the first half to lead 49-22 at intermission. Senior Austin Swartz poured in a career-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting and knocked down 7-of-11 three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and four assists in just 23 minutes. Creighton shot 60.3 percent from the floor and 48 percent beyond the arc, with Nik Graves (12 points), Jasen Green (11), and Blake Harper (11) also in double digits. Xavier’s five-game win streak ended as the Musketeers struggled offensively. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/creighton-thrashes-xavier-behind-austin-swartzs-career-high-27--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai))

Key Performers:
- Swartz: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
- Graves: 12 points
- Creighton FG% = 60.3, 16 three-pointers made

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## Ole Miss 80, Alabama A&M 66
At a neutral site in Tupelo, Miss., Ole Miss bounced back from a four-game skid with an 80-66 victory over Alabama A&M. Senior Malik Dia poured in a season-high 27 points and hauled in seven rebounds, pacing the Rebels’ wire-to-wire performance. AJ Storr chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Ole Miss shot 54 percent overall and dominated the paint 34-18. The Bulldogs rallied late with a 12-2 run but never got closer than nine down the stretch. Sami Pissis and Koron Davis each scored 17 for Alabama A&M. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/malik-dia-leads-ole-miss-wire-to-wire-win-over-alabama-am--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai))

Game Notes:
- Dia: 27 points (17 in first half), 7 rebounds
- Ole Miss shooting: 54 percent, 34-18 paint scoring edge
- A&M: Pissis and Davis each 17 points

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## Stanford 76, UT Arlington 60
In a nonconference matchup at Maples Pavilion, Stanford improved to 9-2 with a 76-60 win over UT Arlington. Benny Gealer and Chisom Okpara each scored 17 points, combining to shoot 9-of-20 from the floor and 14-of-15 from the charity stripe. AJ Rohosy added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Jeremy Dent-Smith chipped in 10 points and five assists. Stanford raced to a 21-7 start and led 40-25 at halftime, maintaining double-digit advantage throughout. The Cardinal shot 47.9 percent overall and forced UT Arlington into 15 turnovers. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/stanford-jumps-out-big-lead-dominates-ut-arlington--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai))

Highlights:
- Gealer & Okpara: 17 points each
- Stanford first-half run: 21-7
- Stanford FT%: 85% (17-of-20), 15 turnovers forced

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## Michigan State 92, Toledo 69
No. 9 Michigan State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) dominated Toledo 92-69 at the Breslin Center. The Spartans led 58-28 at halftime behind a red-hot 53.8 percent shooting clip, then coasted in the second half. Junior Jaxon Kohler posted a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double, drilling a fast-break three and asserting dominance inside. Jeremy Fears Jr. added 15 points and eight assists, while Coen Carr and Kur Teng chipped in 14 points apiece. Michigan State totaled 26 assists on 34 made field goals and won the rebounding battle 54-24. Sonny Wilson poured in a career-high 29 points for Toledo. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/no-9-michigan-state-goes-up-big-early-beats-toledo--flm-2025-12-17/?utm_source=openai))

Key Stats:
- Kohler: 16 pts, 13 rebs
- Fears Jr.: 15 pts, 8 asts
- Team assists: 26 on 34 FGs, rebounding margin +30

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## Duke 97, Lipscomb 73
No. 3 Duke (11-0, 6-0 ACC) celebrated Coach Jon Scheyer’s 100th win by opening a rocky first half and then exploding for a 97-73 victory over Lipscomb at Cameron Indoor. Cameron Boozer led the charge with 26 points and 13 rebounds, making all six free throws and adding three assists. Patrick Ngongba posted a double-double (10 pts, 11 rebs), while Darren Harris and Maliq Brown each contributed 11 points off the bench. After a sloppy first half featuring 16 turnovers, Duke turned up its defense and rebounding (55-21) to run away in the second half. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/cameron-boozer-no-3-duke-use-second-half-surge-down-lipscomb--flm-2025-12-17/?utm_source=openai))

Game Highlights:
- Boozer: 26 pts, 13 rebs, 6 FTM
- Ngongba: 10 pts, 11 rebs
- Duke rebounding: 55-21

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## Kansas 73, Towson 49
No. 17 Kansas (9-3, 4-1 Big 12) relied on a balanced attack to trounce Towson 73-49 at Allen Fieldhouse. Flory Bidunga led the Jayhawks with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Tre White added 16 points and a career-high six assists. Melvin Council Jr. chipped in 15 points, while Kansas shot 46.7 percent overall and opened with an 11-0 run. Towson managed just 27.5 percent shooting and struggled from deep (3-of-24). Dylan Williamson scored 19 points in the losing effort. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/no-17-kansas-trounces-towson-thanks-balanced-attack--flm-2025-12-17/?utm_source=openai))

Details:
- Bidunga: 18 pts, 10 rebs
- White: 16 pts, 6 asts
- Kansas early run: 11-0

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## Tennessee 83, Louisville 62
No. 20 Tennessee snapped its three-game skid by downing No. 11 Louisville 83-62 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Ja'Kobi Gillespie poured in 23 points—20 coming in the second half—while Nate Ament contributed 14 points. The Volunteers used their size to shut down Louisville’s offense, forcing 16 turnovers and holding the Cardinals to a season-low 62 points. Tennessee shot 52.8 percent from the floor and dominated the glass 48-36. Sananda Fru led Louisville with 22 points, but his teammates combined for just 7-of-34 from three. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/top-25-roundup-no-20-tennessee-beats-no-11-louisville-snap-skid--flm-2025-12-17/?utm_source=openai))

Stat Line:
- Gillespie: 23 pts (20 in 2H)
- Tennessee FG%: 52.8, rebounding +12
- Louisville turnovers: 16, 3-point % = 21%

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In other top-25 action, No. 1 Arizona stayed perfect, No. 10 BYU and No. 12 North Carolina secured comfortable wins, and No. 19 Texas Tech leaned on a 36-point outing from LeJuan Watts in a 101-90 victory. This December 17 slate set the table for conference play and provided compelling storylines across the nation. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/top-25-roundup-no-20-tennessee-beats-no-11-louisville-snap-skid--flm-2025-12-17/?utm_source=openai))