Havener, BU top Lafayette, extend hot start

Nick Havener scored a career-high 21 points off the bench to spark Boston University to a 75-72 victory against Lafayette in a Patriot League men’s basketball game last night in Easton, Pa. It was the Terriers’ seventh win in their first nine Patriot League games, surpassing their total from a year ago. BU is off to its best league start since 2014.

Tyler Scanlon converted two free throws with 30 seconds left to give BU (11-9, 7-2) a 74-64 lead, but Alex Petrie hit a 3-pointer and Matt Klinewski added two free throws to halve that margin.

Scanlon and Javante McCoy each finished with 13 points for the Terriers. Max Mahoney added 12 points.

Petrie had 22 points to lead the Leopards (5-15, 3-6).

BU hosts Patriot League leader Bucknell on Sunday.

Syracuse 81, Boston College 63 — Five players scored in double figures and the Orange (14-6, 3-4 ACC) rode an 11-0 run early in the second half to defeat the Eagles (138, 3-5) in Syracuse, N.Y.

Tyus Battle led Syracuse with 24 points.

BC was led by Jerome Robinson’s 21, and Ky Bowman added 20 points.

LaSalle 87, Massachusetts 72 — In Philadelphia, B.J. Johnson and Amar Stukes combined to score 48 points and Saul Phiri grabbed 12 rebounds to carry the Explorers (9-12, 3-5 Atlantic 10) past the Minutemen (1011, 3-5), who were led by Luwane Pipkins’ 25 points.

UMass-Lowell 82, Stony Brook 79 — Jahad Thomas matched his career high with 30 points and Matt Harris had two critical 3-pointers, one in overtime, to lead the River Hawks (8-12, 2-5 America East) past the Seawolves (8-13, 3-4) in Lowell.

MIT 89, Clark 58 — Hamilton Forsythe scored 22 points, Bradley Jomard had a triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and the Engineers (16-2, 6-1 NEWMAC), ranked No.12 in Division 3, crushed the Cougars (3-15, 0-7) in Cambridge.

Springfield 86, WPI 67 — Jake Ross had 39 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to help the Pride (126, 6-1 NEWMAC) keep pace with MIT by hammering the Engineers (10-8, 4-3) in Springfield.

Babson 84, Emerson 72 — Brandon Johnson scored 27 points, Nick Comenale and Brian Kelley added 15 each and the Beavers (10-8, 5-2 NEWMAC) tamed the Lions (9-9, 3-4) in Babson Park.

Wheaton 82, Coast Guard 68 — Ryan Fogarty scored 29 points, Alex DuBrow added 16 off the bench and the Lyons (11-7, 3-4 NEWMAC) tamed the Bears (9-7, 1-6) in Norton.

UMass-Dartmouth 71, R.I. College 68 — Brandon Williams Jr. (12 points) made the wininng 3-pointer with seven seconds left as the Corsairs (11-7, 4-4 Little East) edged the Anchormen (4-13, 2-6) in Dartmouth.

UMass-Boston 69, Southern Maine 66 — Charles Mitchell scored 17 points, Michael Boyd made the goahead 3-pointer with 14 seconds left and the Beacons (9-9, 3-4 Little East) held off the Huskies (2-15, 1-6) at the Clark Center.

Keene State 95, Plymouth State 81 — Ty Nichols (25 points) and James Anozie (14 points, 16 rebounds) helped the Owls (13-5, 7-1 Little East) rout the Panthers (6-11, 0-8) in Keene, N.H.

Wentworth 62, Curry 58 — Cesar Fulcar scored five of his 11 points in overtime, Stephen Azums had 14 points and 17 rebounds and the Leopards (13-5, 8-3 Commonwealth Coast) edged the Colonels (1-17, 0-11) at Tansey Gym.

Gordon 126, UNE 108 — Eric Demers made seven 3-pointers and had 37 points as the Fighting Scots (12-6, 8-3 Commonwealth Coast) blew away the Nor’easters (8-10, 6-5) in Wenham. In Top 25 games:

Xavier 89, Marquette 70 — In Cincinnati, point guard Quentin Goodin scored 13 of his team-high 15 points while the No. 8 Musketeers (19-3, 7-2 Big East) took control in the first half of a blowout against the Golden Eagles (13-7, 4-4) to remain unbeaten at home.

South Carolina 77, Florida 72 — Wesley Myers scored a season-high 22 points, Chris Silva added a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) and the Gamecocks (13-7, 4-4 SEC) upset the No. 20 Gators (14-6, 6-2) in Gainesville, Fla.

Rhode Island 78, Fordham 58 — Andre Berry scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting, Jared Terrell had 17 points and six assists, and No. 24 URI (16-3, 8-0 Atlantic 10) cruised past Fordham (6-14, 1-7) in a battle of Rams at historic Rose Hill Gym in New York.

Stan Robinson added 16 points, seven steals and six rebounds for newly ranked Rhode Island, which moved into the AP Top 25 this week.

Women’s hoops

UConn 93, Memphis 36 — Napheesa Collier scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the top-ranked Huskies (19-0, 8-0 American) routed the Tigers (7-13, 2-5) in Memphis, Tenn.