Fox, Monk carry No. 5 Kentucky
De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points, Malik Monk added 14 and No. 5 Kentucky beat Mississippi State, 8881, in a chippy men’s basketball game last night in Starkville, Miss.
Kentucky (16-2, 6-0 SEC) looked like it would cruise to the win after building a 66-49 lead midway through the second half, but Mississippi State responded with 13 straight points to make things interesting down the stretch.
In the end, the Wildcats were too potent offensively. Fox, a 6-foot-3 freshman, had two impressive drives for baskets in the final minutes to thwart a final Mississippi State rally.
Mississippi State (12-5, 3-2) was led by freshman Lamar Peters, who scored a career-high 25 points.
It was an emotional game that featured scuffles and four technical fouls — two on each team.
Baylor 74, Texas 64 — Johnathan Motley set career highs with 32 points and 20 rebounds for the No. 6 Bears (17-1, 5-1 Big 12), who went ahead to stay with a big run before halftime on the way to beating the Longhorns (7-11, 1-5) in Waco, Texas.
Wisconsin 68, Michigan 64 — Bronson Koenig scored 16 points, 10 in a key run that turned the game around, and the No. 17 Badgers (15-3, 4-1) beat the Wolverines (12-7, 2-4) in Madison, Wis.
Purdue 91, Illinois 68 — Isaac Haas had 24 points and six rebounds, and Caleb Swanigan added 22 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 21 Boilermakers (15-4, 4-2 Big Ten) dominated the Illini (127, 2-4) in West Lafayette, Ind. In New England games: Assumption 87, Concordia (N.Y.) 81 — Karl Ziegler scored 23 points, Marcus Murray added 20 with 12 assists and the Greyhounds (4-13) raced past the Clippers (4-14) in Worcester.
Middlebury 104, Green Mountain 75 — Matt St. Amour scored 24 points, Eric McCord came off the bench to add 16 and the Panthers (13-2), ranked No. 15 in Division 3, routed the Eagles (7-6) in Middlebury, Vt.
Albertus Magnus 76, Lasell 75 — Grant Ellis made all three free throws after getting fouled behind the arc with one second remaining, and Jaqhawn Walters scored 28 points as the Falcons (12-3, 8-1) took over first place in the Great Northeast by edging the Lasers (10-6, 7-2) in New Haven, Conn.
Nichols 91, Salve Regina 60 — Marcos Echevarria made eight 3-pointers and scored 32 points to lead the Bison (12-4, 7-2 Commonwealth Coast) past the Seahawks (4-11, 2-7) in Dudley.
Eastern Nazarene 65, UNE 62 — Christian Lynch (22 points) made 8-of-11 shots to help the Lions (9-7, 6-3 CCC) edge the Nor’easters (5-11, 3-6) in Quincy.
Wentworth 86, Gordon 78 — Reserve Stephen Azums led five players in double figures as the Leopards (7-9, 5-4 CCC) beat the Fighting Scots (9-7, 6-3) in Wenham.
Lesley 80, Daniel Webster 65 — Xeo Golding had 25 points and seven rebounds as the Lynx (11-5, 5-2 NECC) routed the Eagles (9-5, 3-2) in Cambridge.
Mitchell 71, Regis 67 — Brayvon Young and Mack Bertram-Gregory combined for six 3-pointers and 27 points as the Mariners (1-12, 1-4 NECC) sunk the Pride (6-9, 3-3) in Weston.
Women’s hoops
UConn 98, Tulsa 58 — In Tulsa, Okla., Katie Lou Samuelson scored a careerhigh 34 points as the topranked Huskies (17-0, 5-0 American) pounded the Golden Hurricane (5-13, 1-4) for their 92nd consecutive victory.
Tufts 60, Babson 46 — Melissa Baptista had 23 points, five steals and four blocks as the Jumbos (16-0), No. 1 in Division 3, cruised past the Beavers (14-3) in Babson Park.
Men’s hockey
Dartmouth 8, Harvard 4 — In Hanover, N.H., Grant Opperman broke a 4-4 tie late in the second period and the Big Green (7-8-3, 4-5-2 ECAC) rallied for the win against the Crimson (11-5-1, 7-4-1), who got a goal and two assists from Ryan Donato.