Josh Howard scored a career-high 31 points and Wake Forest beat No. 23 Wisconsin 90-80 Wednesday night, giving the Atlantic Coast Conference its fourth 5-4 victory in as many years in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Justin Gray added 20 points and Taron Downey 15 for Wake Forest (3-0), which made all 15 of its free throws in the second half, including several down the stretch to hold off Wisconsin (4-1).
Howard, Gray and Downey combined to go 13-for-13 from the line for Wake Forest, which was 17-of-19 as a team.
Devin Harris and Freddie Owens each scored 19 points to lead Wisconsin, which saw its 14-game home winning streak ended.
Wake Forest was the only road team to win in this season’s Challenge.
Gophers, Spartans win
Rick Rickert scored 17 points, including the go-ahead turnaround jumper with 9 seconds left, and 20th-ranked Minnesota beat visiting Georgia Tech 64-63.
Jerry Holman had 21 points for Minnesota (3-0), which beat Georgia on Saturday on Michael Bauer’s three-pointer at the buzzer.
Ed Nelson had 17 points for the Yellow Jackets (3-1), whose youth showed with 21 turnovers.
Tech had a chance to win in the final seconds, but freshman point guard Jarrett Jack lost the ball at the top of the key under heavy pressure and a desperation fling by Marvin Lewis at the buzzer hit the rim and fell out.
In East Lansing, Chris Hill scored 22 points and Aloysius Anagonye added 10 points and nine rebounds as No. 21 Michigan State beat No. 22 Virginia 82-75.
The Spartans (3-2) avoided their first three-game losing streak since the 1996-97 season, and their first losing record since 1995 when they started 1-2 in coach Tom Izzo’s first season.
Eagle grounded
Boston College forward Uka Agbai, who is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after breaking a bone in his neck, will likely sit out the rest of the season and apply for a medical redshirt.
The 6-foot-8-inch, 262-pound senior was wearing a neck brace while sitting at the end of the bench Wednesday night in the Eagles’ 105-96 overtime victory over St. Bonaventure.
RESULTS, WEDNESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
#7 Oregon 96 vs. Portland 66
Luke Jackson had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Ducks (4-0) who lost to Portland last season.
#14 Kansas 97 vs. Central Missouri 70
Keith Langford had 23 points to lead four Kansas players with at least 20 and the Jayhawks improved to 3-2.
#19 Tulsa 80 vs. Wichita State 69
Jason Parker scored a career-high 30 points for 4-0 Tulsa, which has beaten Wichita (2-2) 13 straight times.
#20 Minnesota 64 vs. Georgia Tech 63
The Gophers and Yellow Jackets both beat Georgia last week, knocking the Bulldogs from the Top 25.
#21 Michigan State 82 vs. #22 Virginia 75
The Spartans took control with a 17-0 run, holding Virginia scoreless for over six minutes late in the first half.
#23 Wisconsin 80 vs. Wake Forest 90
The Badgers, who entered the game shooting 81 percent as a team from the foul line, were just 15-of-24.
#24 Miss. State 71 vs. Jackson State 56
Timmy Bowers scored 18 points to lead the Bulldogs (4-1), who won despite 26 turnovers. Jackson State fell to 0-5.
Drake 62 at Northern Illinois 77
Reserve Al Sewasciuk had a career-high 25 points and Marcus Smallwood added 17 for the Huskies (3-3).
