Baylor in line for No. 1 after rout
WACO — James Akinjo had 16 points with seven rebounds and secondranked Baylor defensively dominated No. 6 Villanova 57-36 on Sunday, a victory that’s likely to put the defending national champion Bears in the top spot in the new poll.
The Bears (9-0) never trailed in their first nonconference home game ever against a top-six opponent, this one a rematch of an NCAA Sweet 16 game last March in Indianapolis.
Villanova (7-3) shot only 22 percent.
Top-ranked Purdue lost to Rutgers on Thursday, clearing the way for Baylor to move up to No. 1 when the new Associated Press poll comes out Monday.
NO. 1 PURDUE 82 N. CAROLINA ST. 72 (OT)
Trevion Williams had a season-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and a career-best nine assists to help the Boilermakers rally past the Wolfpack in overtime in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational at New York.
MARYLAND 70, NO. 20 FLORIDA 68
Donta Scott scored on a leaning shot in the post with 16.8 seconds left, and the Terrapins beat the Gators in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational at New York.
NO. 16 USC 73 LONG BEACH ST. 62
Isaiah Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Trojans (10-0) continued their best start since the 2016-17 season, when they opened 14-0.
NO. 17 IOWA ST. 47 JACKSON ST. 37
T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the Cyclones to a win at Ames, Iowa.
The Cyclones improved 10-0.
Women
NO. 2 N. CAROLINA ST. 101 SAINT MARY’S 73
Elissa Cunane had 15 points and nine rebounds as the host Wolfpack won their 10th straight game.
Cunane scored nine points during an early 18-0 run that put the Wolfpack (10-1) in control.
TCU 87
NO. 18 TEXAS A&M 75
Lauren Heard scored a season-high 33 points, Aja Holmes added a careerhigh 22 off the bench, and the Horned Frogs surprised the Aggies at Fort Worth.
Kayla Wells scored 20 for the Aggies (9-2).
HOUSTON 63, LOUISIANA 51
Britney Onyeje led all scorers with 16 points and Tatyana Hill had 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars over the Ragin’ Cajuns at Fertitta Center.
NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA 66 NO. 8 MARYLAND 59
Zia Cooke scored 20 points, including the goahead layup with 5:13 to play, as the host Gamecocks beat the Terrapins for their fourth victory over a top-10 opponent this season.
Aliyah Boston added 16 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Gamecocks, who improved to 10-0.
NO. 4 STANFORD 91 PACIFIC 62
Cameron Brink scored a career-high 25 points to go with 11 rebounds, and the host Cardinal won going away.
NO. 7 LOUISVILLE 64 NO. 14 KENTUCKY 58
Ahlana Smith and Hailey Van Lith made two late baskets as the host Cardinals held off the Wildcats.
NO. 24 LSU 96, TEXAS SOUTHERN 55
Faustine Aifuwa had a season-high 14 points.in a victory at Baton Rouge. La.
LSU (7-1) has won six in a row. TSU (0-6) was led by Jala Buster with 13 points.
NO. 10 INDIANA 86 NO. 20 OHIO ST. 66
Mackenzie Holmes scored a career-high 30 points and the Hoosiers won at Columbus, Ohio.
NO. 6 ARIZONA 77 NEW MEXICO 60
Freshman Madi Conner came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points as the Wildcats won at home.