Nationally ranked SIU remains tied atop MVC

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Tony Young scored 25 points to lift No. 21 Southern Illinois to a 60-50 victory Wednesday night over late-charging Bradley and remain tied atop the Missouri Valley Conference.

Randal Falker added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Southern Illinois (20-5, 11-3), which led by as many as 19 in the first half but saw its margin dwindle to five in the closing minutes.

The Salukis have won seven straight heading into their showdown Saturday against visiting Creighton, which won at home against Evansville

Will Franklin had 15 points for the Braves (16-10, 7-7), whose only lead came on the first basket of the game -- a layup by Matt Salley.

Zach Andrews added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Bradley, which beat the Salukis at home Jan. 10 on a buzzer-beater by Franklin.

Illinois 58,Northwestern 43

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Warren Carter scored 17 points and Shaun Pruitt grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds to lead.

Carter had eight rebounds, while Pruitt finished with 13 points.

North Carolina 79,Duke 73

Freshman Brandan Wright scored 19 points while Tyler Hansbrough added 16 to lead the fifth-ranked Tar Heels past No. 16 Duke, earning their second straight win in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Rookie Ty Lawson added 15 points for the Tar Heels (21-3, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who trailed by 10 points early in the second half before finally going ahead to stay in the final minutes.

Freshman Jon Scheyer had a career-high 26 points for the Blue Devils (18-6, 5-5), who have lost three straight games for the first time since 1999 -- when they lost to Connecticut in the NCAA championship and opened the 1999-2000 season with two straight losses.

Last year, Hansbrough led a youth-laden group into Cameron to close the regular season and spoil All-American J.J. Redick's final home game.