Kentucky has to hang on

De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points, Malik Monk added 14 and No. 5 Kentucky beat Mississippi State, 88-81, on Tuesday night in Starkville, Miss.

Kentucky (16-2, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) looked like it would cruise to the win after building a 66-49 lead midway through the second half, but Mississippi State responded with 13 straight points to make things interesting down the stretch.

In the end, the Wildcats were too potent offensively. Fox, a 6-foot-3 freshman, had two impressive drives for baskets in the final minutes to thwart a final Mississippi State rally.

Mississippi State (12-5, 3-2) was led by freshman Lamar Peters, who scored a career-high 25 points.

(6) Baylor 74, Texas 64: Johnathan Motley set career highs with 32 points and 20 rebounds and the host Bears (17-1, 5-1 Big 12) rolled past the Longhorns (7-11, 1-5). BIG TEN

(22) Purdue 91, Illinois 68: Center Isaac Haas had 24 points and six rebounds, and power forward Caleb Swanigan added 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Boilermakers (15-4, 4-2) overpowered the Fighting Illini (12-7, 2-4). STATE

Concordia (Wis.) 83, MSOE 74: Josh Hau had 28 points and Eric Kittel added 26 to carry the visiting Falcons (8-6, 7-4 NACC) past the Raiders (7-6, 6-3).

Edgewood 72, Wisconsin Lutheran 68: Adam Freitag scored 19 points and the Eagles (311, 3-6 NACC) surprised the host Warriors (8-7, 6-5).

Maranatha at Crown: The game between the Sabercats and the Storm scheduled for Tuesday night in St. Bonifacius, Minn., was postponed due to travel concerns. No makeup date was announced.

WOMEN

UW-Green Bay 56, Valparaiso 35: Jen Wellnitz’s 15 points paced the host Phoenix (16-2, 7-0 Horizon League) in a romp past the Crusaders (5-13, 0-7).