Jeff Hart

A winter storm packing heavy snow walloped the central United States, causing at least 5 deaths and dozens of injuries as multi-car pileups forced authorities to close parts of several major highways.

Dwayne Curtis and Chris Warren both scored 19 points to lead Mississippi to an 85-83 victory over No. 15 Clemson on Saturday night in a matchup of unbeaten teams in the championship game of the San Juan Shootout.

One week after knocking off Oregon State on the road former East Hall standout Frank Davis and Tennesse Tech could not pull off the same magic Saturday at Rupp Arena. Davis scored nine points but kentucky's Patrick Patterson posted season-highs with 24 points and 15 rebounds for Kentucky leading the Wilcats to a 69-47 win.

Winning at home after 10 games was no big deal for Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt. Lewis Clinch and Maurice Miller each scored 13 points and Anthony Morrow added 11 as Georgia Tech routed Centenary 86-41 Saturday, giving the Yellow Jackets their first home game win of the season.

Even in its home state, Arkansas can't win on the road. Freshman Donald Sims scored 24 points off the bench Saturday including 10 in a row in the first half as Appalachian State defeated Arkansas 74-67 on a neutral court ringed with red-clad Razorbacks fans.

Curtis Brown had 12 points off the bench to help Savannah State beat High Point 62-59 on Saturday.

Jack Leasure scored 18 points, all on 3-pointers, to rally Coastal Carolina to a 79-68 victory over Georgia State on Saturday night.

Savannah State hired Benedict College defensive coordinator Robert Wells was named as head coach on Saturday. Wells replaces second-year coach Theo Lemon, who was fired in November.

Derek Nesbitt notched two assists to bring his total to 28 on the season and climb closer to the league lead in assists and Jon Awe scored his third goal in the last two games, but it was not enough as the Gwinnett Gladiators fell to the Pensacola Ice Pilots 6-5 Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Chestatee coach Russ Triaga admits there are few things that leave him speechless. But after watching Parker Smith pour in a career-high and school-record 52 points Friday night in a 89-76 win over Johnson, even Triaga had trouble finding words to describe his senior leader.