Baylor set to be No. 1 again

No matter where Villanova guards Justin Moore and Collin Gillespie turned, there was another Baylor defender smothering them.

And now the defending national champion Bears are poised to be No. 1 for the first time this season.

James Akinjo had 16 points and No. 2 Baylor defensively dominated in a 5736 victory Sunday over the sixth-ranked Wildcats, who scored their fewest points and had their worst-shooting game in coach Jay Wright’s 21 seasons.

“We’re a pretty good shooting team. I really chalk up our missed shots to their defense,” Wright said, describing the Bears as physical, tough and quick.

“They did a great job of being physical with us, getting up in us,” Moore said. “Then we make the extra pass, they’re recovering.”

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. This Big East/Big 12 Battle matchup featured the teams that won three of the last five NCAA titles.

Villanova (7-3) shot only 22% (12 for 54) with several extended scoring droughts. The 36 points tied the fewest by a top-10 team in the shot clock era (since 1985-86) and marked Nova’s first game under 40 points since 1979.

No. 1 Purdue 82, North Carolina State 72 (OT):

Trevion Williams had a season-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and a careerbest nine assists to help the Boilermakers (9-1) rally to win in overtime in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational. Jaden Ivey added 22 points for Purdue, which never led in regulation, taking its first lead on Sasha Stefanovic’s three-pointer 15 seconds into the extra period. Stefanovic also hit a driving layup with 21.5 seconds left to force the overtime, helping Purdue bounce back from a last-second loss at Rutgers.

Mar yland 70, No. 20 Florida 68:

Donta Scott scored on a leaning shot in the post with 16.8 seconds left, the Gators missed their finalplay three-point attempt, and the Terrapins got their first win under interim coach Danny Manning in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.

at No. 17 Iowa State 47, Jackson State 37:

T.J. Otzelberger became the first Cyclones coach to win his first 10 games with the team. Iowa State beat Jackson State last Dec. 20, then ended the season with 18 straight losses in finishing 2-22.

at No. 23 Seton Hall 77, Rutgers 63:

Bryce Aiken scored 22 points in the Garden State Hardwood Classic to lead the Pirates (9-1) to a sixth straight win.