Alabama halts No. 8 Auburn's winning streak
Mark Sears had 22 points and eight assists and made two free throws with 9 seconds left to seal Alabama's 79-75 win over visiting No. 8 Auburn on Wednesday night, ending the Tigers' 11-game winning streak.
The Crimson Tide (13-6, 5-1 SEC) moved into a tie with their rival atop the league standings. It was a big rebound from a 20-point loss to No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday.
Auburn (16-3, 5-1) had a chance to tie with 13 seconds left when Alabama fouled Chad Baker-Mazara on a 3-point attempt. Baker-Mazara hit the first two but missed the third, cutting the Tide's lead to 75-74.
Grant Nelson, who had six points over the final 1:39, grabbed the rebound,was fouled and went to the line with 12 seconds to play. He made both.
Alabama then fouled Jaylin Williams. He made 1 of 2 and Sears iced it at the other end.
Rylan Griffen came off the bench and responded with 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Nelson had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Johnni Broome led Auburn with 25 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.
NORTHWESTERN 96, NO. 10 ILLINOIS 91, OT >>
Boo Buie scored 29 points, Brooks Barnhizer added 23 and the host Wildcats beat the Fighting Illini.
Northwestern (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten) scored the first nine points in overtime after Illinois' Marcus Domask missed a jumper at the end of regulation.
Buie put the Wildcats on top in overtime with a 3-pointer. Barnhizer hit one from the corner, got fouled by Quincy Guerrier and made the free throw to complete the four-point play.
Coleman Hawkins had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Illinois (14-5, 5-3). Domask scored 22. Guerrier added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
NO.14 MARQUETTE 86, DEPAUL 73 >>
David Joplin made six of the Golden Eagles' 15 3-pointers in the host Blue Demons' first game under interim coach Matt Brady, who was elevated after Tony Stubblefield was fired on Monday.
Marquette (14-5, 5-3 Big East) shot 54.5% from the field in its third consecutive win. Joplin finished with 21 points. Oso Ighodaro finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
OKLAHOMA 91, NO. 10 TEXAS 87 >>
Skylar Vann had 19 points and 12 rebounds and the visiting Sonners beat the Longhorns.
Texas (18-3, 5-3 Big 12), which trailed by as many as 13 in the third, cut the deficit to one on a basket by Madison Booker with 59 seconds left. But Lexy Keys made a 3-pointer 19 seconds later for Oklahoma (12-6, 6-1).
Booker then banked in a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left, but Nevaeh Tot's free throw put the game out of reach.
Booker, a freshman, scored a season-best 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter. Texas senior Shay Holle scored a career-high 22.