Jackson Listens, Fresno State Wins

A minor adjustment in Damon Jackson’s shot made a huge difference for Fresno State.

Jackson made seven of 11 three-point shots and scored a career-high 24 points, and the Bulldogs ended a losing streak at four with a 58-52 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma State in a nonconference game Sunday afternoon at Fresno.

Travis DeManby had a school-record 11 steals for Fresno State (15-10). Ivan McFarlin and Victor Williams each scored 12 points for Oklahoma State (18-6).

Jackson, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, had made 13 of his previous 54 three-point shots. He got some advice from Coach Jerry Tarkanian, who told him to look at the rim after shooting instead of following the flight of the ball.

“I give coach a lot of credit for having confidence in me,” Jackson said. “I gave him a big hug after the game and said, ‘Thanks.’”

Fresno State shot 34.5%. Oklahoma State shot 35% and committed 25 turnovers.

Melvin Ely, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer this season, was held to 11 points.

“I thought defensively we did a good job on Ely, and our defense was good enough to give us a chance to win,” Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton said. “But like someone told me a long time ago, if you don’t put the ball in the bucket you’re not going to win.”

No. 3 Maryland 92, North Carolina 77--Juan Dixon scored 18 points at Chapel Hill, N.C., and the Terrapins (19-3, 9-1) matched their best overall and Atlantic Coast Conference starts in school history.

The last time Maryland won nine of its first 10 conference games was 22 seasons ago.

North Carolina (6-15, 2-9) matched the school record for losses in a season. Kris Lang had 23 points for the Tar Heels.

No. 10 Virginia 85, Clemson 71--Roger Mason Jr. scored 23 points and sparked a 15-0 second-half run for the Cavaliers (15-6, 5-5 ACC) at Charlottesville, Va.

Clemson (11-13, 2-9) lost its eighth in a row. Jamar McKnight had 18 points for the Tigers.

Boston College 76, No. 12 Miami 63--Troy Bell scored 24 points and Ryan Sidney had 23 at Boston, and the Eagles (16-7, 5-5 Big East) beat the Hurricanes (20-4, 7-4) for the second time in 13 days.

Michigan State 67, No. 16 Ohio State 64--Marcus Taylor and Adam Ballinger each had 18 points at East Lansing, Mich., and the Spartans (14-9, 5-5 Big Ten) used two 13-0 runs to knock the Buckeyes (17-5, 8-3) out of first place.

Pittsburgh 75, No. 23 Syracuse 63--Brandin Knight scored 11 of his 16 points in the final 5:34, and the Panthers (21-4, 9-3 Big East) overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to win in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome for the first time since March 2, 1997.

Preston Shumpert had 28 points for Syracuse (18-7, 7-4). The Orangemen have lost five of their last seven games.