Texas A&M rides defense to runaway win over HBU
COLLEGE STATION — Based on its typical clamping defense under coach Buzz Williams, Texas A&M turned its second half against Houston Baptist into a dunk contest following swipes and a swift transition game.
But a couple of nearhighlight-reel offerings from guard Aaron Cash during the Aggies’ 73-39 romp over HBU on Wednesday in Reed Arena had Williams coaching up his enthusiastic transfer. The Aggies collected nine dunks, including eight in the second half, but Cash missed two attempted slams in getting too theatrical on the throwdowns.
A&M led 20-15 with seven minutes remaining in the first half before outscoring the Huskies 53-24 the rest of the way. The Aggies opened the second half on a 22-0 run, and the Huskies didn’t score their first basket after the break until 11 minutes remained.
Forward Darius Lee led the Huskies with 13 points, the only HBU player in double figures, and the Huskies shot 27 percent (13 of 49) from the field.
Brent Zwerneman
TEXAS 62 NORTHERN COLORADO 49
Newcomer Tre Mitchell had 16 points and seven rebounds as the No. 8 Longhorns romped to a home win.
BAYLOR 92 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 47
LJ Cryer scored 20 points for the second game in a row and freshman Kendall Brown had 19 as the ninthranked Bears tied a school record with 21 steals in a home victory.
James Akinjo, a senior transfer from Arizona, had
his first career doubledouble with 18 points and 10 assists for Baylor.
AIR FORCE 61, TSU 57
John Walker III scored 16 points for the visiting Tigers in a losing cause, while Justin Hopkins and Joirdon Karl Nicholas each added 10.
GRAND CANYON 91 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 64
D’Rell Roberts led the way with 18 points, but the Panthers couldn’t stop the Antelopes from running away in the second half for an easy win in Phoenix.
UCLA 98, N. FLORIDA 63
Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 points and four other teammates reached double figures as the No. 2 Bruins romped at Pauley Pavilion.
ARKANSAS 93 NORTHERN IOWA 80
Chris Lykes scored 26 points as the No. 16 Razorbacks reeled off 13 straight points in the final minutes at home.
GEORGE MASON 71 MARYLAND 66
D’Shawn Schwartz scored a career-high 24 points as the visiting Patriots
withstood a frantic comeback bid to topple the 20th-ranked Terrapins.
UCONN 93, LIU 40
Tyler Polley scored 17 points as the host No. 23 Huskies used stifling defense to rout the overmatched Sharks.
Women
TEXAS 88 S.E. MISSOURI STATE 47
Joanne Allen-Taylor scored 13 points and Lauren Ebo had 11 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 12 Longhorns won in Austin.
UT ARLINGTON 69 HOUSTON 66
Terryn Milton made three of four free throws in the final 39 seconds to break a 66-66 tie in overtime to give the host Mavericks a victory over the Cougars.
RICE 59, TSU 47
Behind freshman forward Malia Fisher’s first doubledouble of her career, the Owls took down the Tigers at Tudor Fieldhouse.
SOUTH CAROLINA 76 CLEMSON 45
Destanni Henderson had 16 points off three 3-pointers and Zia Cooke scored 13 points as the top-ranked Gamecocks pulled away at home in the second half for their 11th straight win over the Tigers.
IOWA 87, SOUTHERN 67
Caitlin Clark had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her second career triple-double as the No. 8 Hawkeyes won at home.
LOUISVILLE 62 UT MARTIN 30
Emily Engstler scored 18 of her 20 points in the first half to help the 1oth-ranked Cardinals cruise to a home win.