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UNDATED (AP) — LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow head into the national championship game with a record-setting offense and an improving defense. Clemson is looking for its third national title in four seasons and second straight. Both teams have high-powered offenses and defenses that rely on strong coverage to befuddle opponents. AP's Ralph Russo says top-ranked LSU will win Monday night's game, 35-27.
ATLANTA (AP) — Tre Jones hit two key baskets down the stretch and No. 2 Duke extended its decade-long domination of Georgia Tech, holding off the Yellow Jackets 73-64. The Blue Devils extended their winning streak to eight in a row, and their firm hold on this series goes back much further. Georgia Tech has lost 13 straight to Duke since its last victory over the Blue Devils on Jan. 9, 2010 — almost 10 years ago to the day. The Yellow Jackets rallied from a double-digit deficit but couldn't make a basket in the closing minutes, missing 14 of their last 15 shots.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Trey McGowens scored 24 points and Pittsburgh ended a 22-game losing streak in conference road games with a 73-65 victory against North Carolina. Justin Champagnie added 22 points for the Panthers (11-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the first half.Pittsburgh won on the road in league play for the first time since it defeated Boston College 83-72 on Feb. 8, 2017. McGowens snapped a 56-56 tie by scoring eight consecutive points in a 90-second span, giving the Panthers the lead for good with seven minutes remaining.Garrison Brooks had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead North Carolina (8-7, 1-3).
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Devin Vassell scored 17 points and No. 10 Florida State pulled away in the final 10 minutes to beat Wake Forest 78-68. M.J. Walker scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half for the Seminoles. They trailed early in the second half before going ahead for good on RaiQuan Gray’s 3-pointer at the 14:04 mark. Florida State has won seven straight and 14 of 15 games. Brandon Childress scored 20 points to lead the Demon Deacons. They played without injured starter Chaundee Brown.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Freshman guard Joe Girard has become an important player for Syracuse as the Orange try to make some headway in the Atlantic Coast Conference. New York state's all-time leading high school scorer has started all but two games and is averaging just under 12 points to rank third on the team. Girard ranks second nationally in free throw percentage with 41 makes in 43 attempts, a 95.1% conversion rate. That's on pace to break the school season record held by Gerry McNamara.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Markell Johnson scored 27 points and D.J. Funderburk added 16 more, including two tie-breaking free throws with 1:38 remaining as N.C. State bounced back from a 12-point, second half deficit to edge Notre Dame 73-68. N.C. State improved to 11-4 and 2-2 in the ACC. Prentiss Hubb led Notre Dame (10-5, 1-3) with a career-high 24 points, and T.J. Gibbs and John Mooney contributed 14 points apiece. Funderburk’s free throws put N.C. State ahead 68-66 for its first lead since the game’s fourth minute, and a Johnson layup extended the advantage to four points.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh basketball coach Jeff Capel has agreed to a two-year contract extension that could keep him with the Panthers through the 2026-27 season. The deal gives Capel more time to continue the rebuilding project he took on when he arrived at Pitt in the spring of 2018. Capel is 24-23 with the Panthers including a 10-4 mark so far this season. Interest in the program has spiked since he came on board. Average attendance at the Petersen Events Center has doubled under his tenure compared with the final season of predecessor Kevin Stallings.
UNDATED (AP) — LSU’s Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson were easy selections for The Associated Press all-bowl team. The two connected for four first-half touchdowns in a College Football Playoff semifinal blowout of Oklahoma. Holiday Bowl victor Iowa, Cotton Bowl champion Penn State and Alamo Bowl winner Texas join LSU in having multiple selections on the informal team announced each year by the AP.
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