NCAA Basketball Recap

## Big 12 Showcase: Kansas Cruises Past Davidson

No. 17 Kansas (10–3) peppered Davidson with balanced scoring in a 90–61 victory at Allen Fieldhouse, never trailing after establishing a 51–30 halftime lead. Six Jayhawks reached double figures, with Flory Bidunga and Tre White each recording 18 points and eight rebounds to anchor the inside game ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/no-17-kansas-uses-depth-cruise-easy-win-over-davidson--flm-2025-12-23/?utm_source=openai)). Bryson Tiller added 11 off the bench, while Melvin Council Jr. contributed a near triple-double with 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Kansas shot 58% overall and knocked down 11-of-21 three-pointers, dishing 27 assists on 37 made baskets to overpower Davidson’s 35% shooting on the night ([thetelegraph.com](https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/no-17-kansas-uses-balanced-scoring-to-defeat-21258287.php?utm_source=openai)).

Davidson (8–4) was led by Roberts Blums’ 13 points, its lone double-figure performance, but shot just 22.7% (5-of-22) from three “in what became a two-possession game for most of the evening” ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAB_20251222_DAVID%40KANSAS/?utm_source=openai)). Head coach Bill Self praised his team’s depth: “We shared the ball, got every man involved and defended the way we needed,” setting a strong tone for Big 12 play ahead.

## ACC Nonconference Highlights

### Virginia Rolls Over American, 95–51
No. 21 Virginia (11–1) closed its nonconference slate with a commanding 95–51 home win against American University. Freshman Thijs De Ridder exploded for a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds, shooting 11-of-15 overall—including 3-of-4 from deep—and pacing a 44-point victory margin, Virginia’s largest this season ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/blog/transfer-talk79post/2835214/Message?utm_source=openai)). Malik Thomas, Sam Lewis and Elijah Gertrude each chipped in 11 points. The Cavaliers shot 62.3% from the field, dominated the paint for 56 points and held American to just 31.7% shooting on the night ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/thijs-de-ridders-big-night-lifts-no-21-virginia-over-american--flm-2025-12-23/?utm_source=openai)).

### North Carolina Crushes East Carolina, 99–51
Freshman Caleb Wilson became the first UNC freshman since Phil Ford to record 20+ points in five straight games, totaling 21 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in Carolina’s 99–51 rout of East Carolina ([tarheelblog.com](https://www.tarheelblog.com/unc-basketball/50295/unc-basketball-final-score-east-carolina?utm_source=openai)). Chief contributors Henri Veesaar (16 points, 10 rebounds), Luka Bogavac (15 points) and Seth Trimble (12 points, five assists) helped the Tar Heels hit a season-high 12 three-pointers while shooting 54% overall. East Carolina’s Jordan Riley, who entered averaging 21.7 PPG, was held to 11 points on 4-of-24 shooting, and the Pirates committed 15 turnovers, leading to 21 UNC points ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/caleb-wilsons-21-point-night-carries-no-12-north-carolina-past-east-carolina--flm-2025-12-23/?utm_source=openai)).

## Big Ten Action

### Wisconsin Dominates Central Michigan, 88–61
Wisconsin (8–4) erupted for a 26–6 second-half run to pull away from Central Michigan at the Kohl Center, finishing with an 88–61 win ([cmuchippewas.com](https://cmuchippewas.com/news/2025/12/22/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-falls-to-wisconsin-88-61?utm_source=openai)). Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp led the Badgers with 18 points apiece; Winter added eight rebounds and entered the game tied for 11th nationally with six double-doubles, while Rapp’s 4-of-7 three-point shooting and seven boards off the bench kept the Chippewas at bay. Wisconsin shot 53.7% overall, forced 12 turnovers for 15 points and outscored CMU 14–3 on the fast break ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/cbk/winter-rapp-combine-for-36-points-as-wisconsin-beats-central-michigan-8861?utm_source=openai)).

### Minnesota Cruises Past Campbell, 78–50
Cade Tyson poured in 24 points—after a career-high 38 last time out—and added seven rebounds and five assists as Minnesota (7–5) overwhelmed Campbell in Minneapolis, jumping to a 41–22 halftime lead and never looking back ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401827236?utm_source=openai)). All five Gophers starters scored in double figures: Isaac Asuma (15), Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (14), Langston Reynolds (12) and Bobby Durkin (11) ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401827236?utm_source=openai)). Minnesota shot 58% in the first half and 61% in the second, capitalizing on a 15-of-19 edge at the rim and 33 bench points to improve to 7–0 at home under coach Niko Medved ([startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/gophers-mens-basketball-routs-campbell-to-improve-to-7-0-at-home/601536631?utm_source=openai)).

## Lone Star State Standout: Texas Downs Maryland-Eastern Shore, 94–71

Texas (9–4) never trailed, building a 40–34 lead by halftime before extending it behind Matas Vokietaitis’ 22 points and eight rebounds, including 14-of-21 free throws, and Jordan Pope’s five three-pointers en route to 21 points ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/vokietaitis-scores-22-pope-adds-21-to-help-texas-beat-maryland-eastern-shore-94-71/?utm_source=openai)). Freshman Dailyn Swain added 14 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double, and Tramon Mark chipped in 17 points. The Longhorns shot 53% from the field and forced Maryland-Eastern Shore into 14 turnovers, converting them into 21 Texas points. UMES guard Joseph Locandro led his team with 12 points before fouling out ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/vokietaitis-scores-22-pope-adds-21-to-help-texas-beat-maryland-eastern-shore-94-71/?utm_source=openai)).

## Mid-Major Tune-Up: Syracuse Overwhelms Stonehill, 77–48

Syracuse (9–4) closed nonconference play in rout fashion, holding Stonehill to 26.4% shooting while cruising to a 77–48 win at the JMA Wireless Dome ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20251222_STONEH%40CUSE?utm_source=openai)). Naithan George led the Orange with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and J.J. Starling added 20—becoming the 67th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points early on—with Sadiq White Jr. (13 points, nine rebounds) and Nate Kingz (13 points, seven rebounds) contributing. The Skyhawks trimmed the deficit to 45–31 early in the second half, but a late 9–0 Syracuse run and suffocating defense sealed the outcome ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20251222_STONEH%40CUSE?utm_source=openai)).

These performances highlight a busy Monday slate that saw ranked teams assert dominance, emerging freshmen break records, and traditional powers maintain momentum as the holiday break approaches. Journalists will watch how each conference contender builds upon these nonconference tune-ups when league play resumes.