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O’Bryant pulls inside job for LSU

LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant (center) drives to the basket against South Carolina’s Michael Carrera (left) and Bruce Ellington during the second half of the Tigers’ 64-46 victory over the Gamecocks on Thursday in Columbia, S.C. O’Bryant had a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers.
LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant (center) drives to the basket against South Carolina’s Michael Carrera (left) and Bruce Ellington during the second half of the Tigers’ 64-46 victory over the Gamecocks on Thursday in Columbia, S.C. O’Bryant had a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers.

— Johnny O’Bryant had a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds as LSU won for the fourth time in five games with a 64-46 victory over South Carolina on Thursday night, saddling first-year Gamecocks coach Frank Martin with a five-game losing streak - the longest of his college career.

O’Bryant, a 6-9 sophomore, led the inside game for the Tigers (14-8, 5-6 SEC), making 13 of 19 shots. It was the most points scored by a LSU player since Tasmin Mitchell had 38 against Auburn in 2010. O’Bryant recorded at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in the same game for the seventh time in the past eight games, and he wasn’t alone in dominating underneath. Andrew Del Piero, a 7-3 center, added seven rebounds on 3-for-3 shooting. Jalen Courtney, a 6-8 forward, was 3 of 4 from the field with four rebounds.

Lakeem Jackson scored 10 points to lead the Gamecocks (12-12, 2-9).

TOP 25 MEN NO. 12 LOUISVILLE 72, ST. JOHN’S 58

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Russ Smith scored 21 second-half points, including 12 in a row over a 3:03 stretch that put No. 12 Louisville ahead for good and helped the Cardinals beat St. John’s 72-58 on Thursday night.

In a game of spurts for both teams - who traded the lead five times - Smith led the last and crucial one for Louisville. The junior guard’s 12 points led the Cardinals’ 14-5 run for a 46-38 lead.

Smith finished with 24 points for Louisville, which dominated points in the lane 32-16 and out rebounded St.

John’s45-37.

Peyton Siva added 12 points, Chane Behanan 10 and Gorgui Dieng 10 with a career-high 17 rebounds as the Cardinals (20-5, 8-4) bounced back from Saturday’s five-overtime loss at Notre Dame to climb into a three-way tie for second place in the Big East Conference.

Phil Greene IV scored 21 points for St. John’s (15-10, 7-6), losers of three of four.

NO. 13 OHIO STATE 69, NORTHWESTERN 59

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Deshaun Thomas scored 22 points and No. 13 Ohio State (18-6, 8-4 Big Ten) used a late 12-0 run to beat Northwestern (13-12, 4-8), the Buckeyes’ 32nd consecutive home victory against the Wildcats.

Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 12 points - all in the first half - with Sam Thompson adding 11 and Amir Williams a career-high 10 for the Buckeyes.

Pesky Northwestern led throughout the second half despite having only seven scholarship players because of injuries. Tre Demps led the Wildcats with 16 points, Reggie Hearn had 12 and Dave Sobolewski 10.

MINNESOTA 58, NO. 20 WISCONSIN 53, OT

MINNEAPOLIS - Andre Hollins hit the go-ahead three-pointer midway through overtime to finish with 21 points and lead Minnesota (18-7, 6-6 Big Ten) over No. 20 Wisconsin (17-8, 8-4).

It was third consecutive game Wisconsin went to overtime.

Austin Hollins added 11 points for the Gophers, who held the Badgers without a basket for about 11 minutes until Jared Berggren’s put back with 10 seconds left in the extra period. Hollins went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line over the final 18 seconds of overtime to seal it.

Sam Dekker scored 14 points and Ben Brust added 11 for the Badgers. They were 7 for 28 from three-point range, negating their 18 offensive rebounds, and scored a total of four points over the last 10-plus minutes of the game.

TOP 25/SEC WOMEN NO. 9 KENTUCKY 78, NO. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA 74

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kastine Evans hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, and No. 9 Kentucky (22-3, 10-2 SEC) fought back from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat No. 14 South Carolina (20-5, 8-4).

Jennifer O’Neill scored 19 points for the Wildcats.

The loss was the first in 19 games this season for South Carolina when it led at halftime. Aleighsa Welch and Elem Ibiam led the Gamecocks with 15 points apiece.

South Carolina shot 18 of 32 in the first half, and its efficiency improved early in the second. The Gamecocks made their first five attempts after halftime and did not miss a shot until 11:05 was left.

The Wildcats answered methodically, limiting their turnovers and maximizing opportunities despite a rebounding disadvantage. A’dia Mathies hit a three-pointer with 3:50 to play that gave Kentucky its first lead of the second half at 69-68.

South Carolina looked ready to pull away early in the game. It went on a 13-2 run over a four-minute stretch in the first half, silencing the 5,828 fans at Memorial Coliseum. Each time the Wildcats worked their way back into close range in the first half, South Carolina had an answer.

Asia Dozier hit a three-pointer as time expired in the first half to give the Gamecocks a 44-30 lead at the break, and South Carolina’s lead reached its widest margin at 46-30 with 19:41 to play.

NO. 11 TEXAS A&M 78, FLORIDA 71

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Kelsey Bone had 31 points and 10 rebounds help No. 11 Texas A&M to a victory that pulled it into a tie with Tennessee for the SEC lead.

Kristi Bellock scored 13 points and Adrienne Pratcher had 12 points and five assists for the Aggies (20-5, 10-1 SEC), who have won eight in a row.

Jaterra Bonds had 17 points and eight assists, Lily Svete scored 15 on five three-pointers, and January Miller finished with 11 points for the Gators (15-10, 4-7).

Sports, Pages 22 on 02/15/2013

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