No. 2 Gonzaga hands North Carolina 4th straight loss

LAS VEGAS, Dec 19, (AP): Timmy Allen hit a tiebreaking floater with 1:14 left and Utah dodged a comeback try by No. 6 Kentucky for a 69-66 victory.

The Wildcats (8-2) used a 27-10 run to tie it at 68 on Ashton Hagans’ dunk with 1:43 remaining, but Allen put the Utes (9-2) back ahead with his basket.

Kentucky got off three more shots, including two in the final 11 seconds, but none connected.

Allen had 25 points and nine rebounds. Both Gach contributed 14 points and six rebounds, Rylan Jones had 12 points and Riley Battin added 10 for the Utes.

Utah shot a blistering 62.5% (10 of 16) from the floor in the second half and was 23 of 42 (54.8%) for the game, including 53.3% (8 of 15) from 3-point range.

Tyrese Maxey led Kentucky with 18 points, and Hagans added 16.

Gonzaga 94, N. Carolina 81 In Spokane, Washington, Corey Kispert scored 26 points, Filip Petrusev added 20 and Gonzaga handed North Carolina its fourth straight loss.

One of the most highly anticipated games ever inside Gonzaga’s gym was a party for most of the night for the home team.

The Bulldogs (12-1) won their fourth straight since suffering their only loss of the season against Michigan in the final of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Louisville 70, Miami of Ohio 46 In Louisville , Kentucky, Jordan Nwora scored 20 points and No. 3 Louisville pulled away with a 17-0 run to beat Miami of Ohio.

Ryan McMahon added 11 points for Louisville (11-1), and Dwayne Sutton

Gonzaga guard Ryan Woolridge (4) shoots over North Carolina forward Garrison Brooks (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane,

Washington, on Dec 18. (AP)

tied a career-high with 15 rebounds.

Mekhi Lairy led the Redhawks (5-6) with 10 points.

Oregon 81, Montana 48 In Eugene, Oregon, Oregon made a big addition to its lineup as 6-foot-11 N’Faly Dante played his first college game and contributed 11 points in a rout of Montana.

The much-anticipated debut of Oregon’s top freshman recruit probably wasn’t needed against the Grizzlies (4-6), but the Ducks want Dante comfortable with his role before Pac-12 play begins in two weeks. Oregon (9-2) has two more nonconference games.

Francis Okoro, a 6-9 sophomore who had been Oregon’s tallest player, posted the second double-double of his career with 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Payton Pritchard and Will Richardson led the Ducks with 14 points each, and Pritchard added seven assists.

Baylor 91, UT-Martin 63 In Houston, Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler scored 19 points each and Baylor won its eighth straight game.

MaCio Teague had 12 points and

Louisville forward Jordan Nwora (33) works around Miami (Ohio) guard Milos Jovic (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville,

Kentucky, on Dec 18. (AP) seven games. UT-Martin shot 35%.

Cincinnati78, Tennessee 66 In Cincinnati, Trevon Scott scored 15 points and Cincinnati recovered from back-to-back losses by knocking off Tennessee.

The Bearcats (7-4) got the better of a back-and-forth game by getting inside one of the country’s stingiest defenses for close-up baskets. Forty-six of Cincinnati’s points came in the paint.

Keith Williams had a steal and layup during a 9-0 run that put the Bearcats in control 67-57 with 3:27 left. Williams finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

Virginia 56, Stony Brook 44 In Charlottesville, Virginia, Kihei Clark scored 14 points and Jay Huff had eight of his 12 during a secondhalf run for Virginia.

Huff ended a 5-minute scoreless drought for the Cavaliers (9-1) with a putback dunk with 12:11 remaining and added six more points as Virginia turned a 35-30 lead into a 49-38 edge.

Elijah Olaniyi scored 11 for Stony Brook (7-6). Michigan St 77, Northwestern 72 In Evanston, Illinois, Cassius Winston scored 21 points and Xavier Tillman had 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping Michigan State beat Northwestern.

Winston went 8 for 16 from the field for the Spartans (8-3, 2-0 Big Ten) in their 11th consecutive victory against the Wildcats.

Boo Buie scored a career-high 26 points for Northwestern (5-5, 0-2). San Diego St 92, NAIA 48 In San Diego,Yanni Wetzell scored 17 points and No. 20 San Diego State beat NAIA San Diego Christian to remain undefeated.

SDSU (11-0) was playing for the first time in 10 days and for the first time since jumping into The Associated Press Top 25.