Jones, Texas record major upset; Moss, Davis also in action

It’s a new calendar year and that means it’s time for conference play in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) basketball. Bahamians experiencing action on the court this past weekend were Kai Kones and the University of Texas Longhorns, Annya Moss and the Mississippi Valley State University Devilettes and Radshad Davis and the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers.

Jones scored all 12 of his points in the first half as the Longhorns (8-1) dominated the University of Kansas Jayhawks (8-2), 84-59, recording a major upset on Saturday afternoon. The number eight ranked Longhorns rolled all over the number three Jayhawks on the road, at Allen Fieldhouse, in Lawrence, Kansas.

With the win, the Longhorns moved to 2-0 in Big 12 Conference play while the Jayhawks dropped to a 2-1 win/loss record in the conference.

This win was the Longhorns’ first win against an opponent ranked so high since a 76-63 home victory over number three at the time, the University of Oklahoma Sooners, on February 27, 2016. It was also the highest-ranked Associated Press opponent that Texas has beaten in a road game since a 74-63 win at number two Kansas on January 22, 2011.

Coming off the bench, sophomore Jones made the most of his minutes on the floor. He made his first shot, a three-pointer, with 17:19 remaining in the first half as his team went up 7-2. That three point shot was one of his two of the afternoon. He shot 4-for-7 from the field, and also grabbed five rebounds to help his team secure their fourth straight win.

The towering player was active in the first half, picking up a steal, grabbing rebounds and making a driving layup and a dunk. His second three point shot with 1:05 remaining in the first half and a made layup with 25 seconds on the clock gave his team a 37-29 cushion heading into the intermission.

In the second half, the Longhorns shot 16-for-28 from the field, 57.1 percent from the field. They were on fire from deep as they went 8-for-13, shooting 61.5 percent. The sizzling shooting gave the Longhorns a 47-30 scoring advantage in the second half, winning going away.

Jones was one of five Longhorns to score in double-figures. Courtney Ramey had 18, Andrew Jones scored 14, Matt Coleman III dropped in 13 and Jericho Sims finished with 11.

Jalen Wilson finished the afternoon with a game-high 20 points for the Jayhawks.

The Longhorns return to their home floor, the Frank Erwin Jr. Special Events Center in Austin, Texas, hosting the Iowa State University Cyclones (2-5) in another Big 12 matchup tomorrow night. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Over at the H.O. Clemmons Arena in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Moss had a career night as she posted a double-double stat line of a season-high 26 points and 11 boards on Saturday afternoon. However her school, Mississippi Valley State University (2-3), fell 85-70 to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Lions (2-5).

The loss gives the Devilettes a 0-1 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Lady Lions won their conference opener.

Moss shot a blistering 10-for-18 from the field to finish the afternoon shooting 55.6 percent. She had two shots from deep. The guard finished with three assists, two blocks and two steals in the loss.

Moss was subbed into the game with 7:21 left in the first quarter. She got on the scoreboard with a made layup with 5:57 left in the first quarter to stop a 12-2 scoring run by the Lady Lions. The score was 12-4 at that point.

The first quarter ended with the Lady Lions ahead 25-11. That 14-point lead got extended to 23 points at the half as the score read 56-33.

There was more dominance by the home team in the second half as they kept the lead to double figures.

Moss’ teammates Zakiya Mahoney (12) and Azaria Howard (10) also scored in double-figures.

Joyce Kennerson scored a team-high 21 in the win.

Moss and the Devilettes return to their home court, the Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, Mississippi, this Saturday at 2 p.m. to play the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs (2-2).

Davis posted his second double-double of the season when he recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday, and added four assists and one steal. However, Davis and the Panthers (5-3) fell 71-66 to the Old Dominion University Monarchs (7-3) on their home floor at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, Florida.

The two teams also faced each other on Friday but Davis and the Panthers won that game, 82-67, as they split the weekend series. Both are 1-1 in Conference USA (C-USA) play.

On Saturday, Davis shot the ball well going 6-for-12 from the field including 3-for-7 from deep in 34 minutes of play. In the first half, the forward had eight points and seven boards. The Monarchs led 33-22 at the half.

The game was tied at 61 with 1:03 remaining in the game. Good free throw shooting by the Monarchs down the stretch and missed shots late in the game by the Panthers was the difference in the game.

In the first game on Friday, Davis finished with 11 points and four rebounds in 23 minutes of play. The Panthers never trailed in that game.

The Panthers have another double C-USA matchup this Friday and Saturday when they take on the Middle Tennessee University Blue Raiders (2-4). Both games will be played at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Friday game starts at 7 p.m. and the Saturday game starts at 5 p.m.

The post Jones, Texas record major upset; Moss, Davis also in action appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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