Missouri pins first SEC loss on Alabama
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Way ahead, it looked as if No. 18 Missouri might beat 10thranked Alabama in a laugher.
The joke was almost on the Tigers.
Dru Smith and Missouri built a 22-point lead in the second half, then held off a frantic rally by the Crimson Tide for a 68-65 victory on Saturday.
The Tigers held their largest lead with 13:05 left and were up by 20 with less than six minutes remaining.
Missouri’s only points down the stretch came on four free throws. Herb Jones had two chances to give Alabama the lead in the final 20 seconds, but he missed a layup and had another try blocked by Mitchell Smith.
Dru Smith had 16 points for the Tigers (13-3, 6-3 Southeastern Conference). Kobe Brown added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Mark Smith finished with 12 points.
Shackelford scored 15 to lead Alabama (15-5, 10-1 SEC).
NO. 11 TENNESSEE 82 KENTUCKY 71
Keon Johnson scored 17 of his career-high 27 points after halftime, Jaden Springer added a careerhigh 23 points and the Volunteers rallied past the Wildcats at Lexington, Ky.
Trailing 58-48 with 12 minutes remaining, the Volunteers (13-4, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) scored 12 straight points for the lead thanks to the freshmen.
The lead traded hands twice more before Tennessee took control with another 12-0 run for a
74-64 advantage and went on to its second consecutive victory at Rupp Arena and sixth in nine games against Kentucky (5-12, 4-6).
NO. 14 VIRGINIA 73 PITTSBURGH 65
Sam Hauser scored 10 of his 23 points during a key second-half stretch, and the host Cavaliers beat the Panthers.
Hauser, Jay Huff and Tomas Woldetensae all hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a 23-9 surge for the Cavaliers (13-3, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Justin Champagnie led the Panthers (9-6, 5-5) with 18 points.
NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA 91 NO. 23 KANSAS 79
Miles McBride scored a career-high 29 points, Taz Sherman had a career-best 25 and the Mountaineers won at home.
The Mountaineers (13-5, 6-3 Big 12) never trailed and Kansas (12-7, 6-5) lost its fifth straight road game.
“We usually don’t have just guards go whip us,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “That’s what happened tonight with those two. McBride totally dominated the game. He was a firstteam all-American tonight the way he played. Made every big shot. Of course, Sherman had a big game.”
NO. 9 OKLAHOMA 79 IOWA ST. 72
Austin Reaves returned and had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Sooners won at Norman, Okla.
Brady Manek who returned to the starting lineup for the first time since being out with COVID-19, had nine points and a career-high 15 rebounds for the Sooners (12-5, 7-4 Big 12).
Rasir Bolton scored 21 points along with 1,000th career point for the Cyclones (2-11, 0-8). The Cyclones have not won since Dec. 20.
NO. 16 VIRGINIA TECH 80 MIAMI 76 (OT)
Justyn Mutts scored 22 points and Keve Aluma added 16 as the Hokies beat the host Hurricanes in overtime.
Nahiem Alleyne hit a go-ahead jumper with 25 seconds remaining in the extra period and Hunter Cattoor’s two free throws with four seconds left as the Hokies (14-4, 8-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) needed a late 3-pointer to avoid consecutive losses.
NO. 12 ILLINOIS 75 WISCONSIN 60
Guard Ayo Dosunmu had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists — only the third triple-double in Illinois history — and center Kofi Cockburn added 23 points and 14 rebounds, leading the host Illini to victory against the Badgers.
The victory helped the Illini (13-5, 9-3) add some space in the Big Ten race, in which they trail only conference leader Michigan (13-1, 8-1).
Wisconsin (14-6, 8-5) entered Saturday’s game only 1½ games behind the Illini but lost for the third time in its last five games.
SOUTHERN CAL 66 NO. 21 UCLA 48
Ethan Anderson had career highs of five 3pointers and 19 points, and the Trojans upset the Bruins at Los Angeles to tie the short-handed Bruins atop the Pac-12.
Tahj Eaddy added 16 points for the Trojans (15-3, 9-2), who have won four in a row and 10 of 11.
Johnny Juzang led the Bruins (13-4, 9-2) with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
NO. 15 CREIGHTON 71 MARQUETTE 68
Christian Bishop scored 14 points and the visiting Bluejays withstood a late comeback attempt to hold off the Warriors.
NO. 24 PURDUE 75 NORTHWESTERN 70
Jaden Ivey scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Boilermakers to a win at home.
NO. 25 DRAKE 80 VALPARAISO 77
ShanQuan Hemphill scored 18 points, including a dunk that jump started a late 11-0 run, as the Bulldogs won on the road.