Bulldogs add more suffering to Aggies

MISSISSIPPI STATE 93, TEXAS A&M 81

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Abdul Ado scored 19 points and Mississippi State stunned Texas A& M 93-81 on Tuesday night.

The Aggies, ranked 21st last week, dropped out of the rankings this week following consecutive road losses at Missouri and Arkansas. Mississippi State overwhelmed Texas A& M in points off turnovers (19-5) and bench points (23-6).

The Bulldogs ( 20- 8, 8-7 SEC) improved to 2-7 in conference road games, while the Aggies (17-11, 6-9) fell to 5-3 at home against league competition.

Bulldog forward Aric Holman was questionable for Tuesday’s game after hurting his knee Saturday in a victory over Mississippi, but played 19 minutes and contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds. Quinndary Weatherspoon added 17 points as five Bulldogs scored in double figures

A&M center Tyler Davis led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. TJ Starks added 19 points.

The Bulldogs are likely still on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament, but no tat their current rate. Mississippi State won its second consecutive and likely needs to close out the regular season with three more victories to make a strong case for the postseason.

NO. 2 MICHIGAN STATE 81, ILLINOIS 61

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Miles Bridges scored 19 points, Joshua Langford had 16 and No. 2 Michigan State beat Illinois 81- 61, sealing a share of the Big Ten championship.

The Spartans (27-3, 15-2 Big Ten) have won 11 in a row and can claim the conference title outright if they win at Wisconsin on Sunday.

The Fighting Illini (13-16, 3-13) were coming off a victory over Nebraska and looked like they were building momentum, competing well enough to trail the Spartans by just three points at halftime.

Cassius Winston scored 12 points, Jaren Jackson had 8 points and 5 blocks and Kenny Goins added a season-high 9 points.

Illinois’ Leron Black had 20 points and Trent Frazier scored 14 on 4-of-13 shooting.

NO. 16 OHIO STATE 79, RUTGERS 52

COLUMBUS, Ohio — C.J. Jackson scored 18 points to help No. 16 Ohio State rout Rutgers.

Kaleb Wesson added 14, and Kam Williams, playing his last home game, had 13 as the Buckeyes (23-7, 14-3 Big Ten) got a feel-good victory on senior night, coming on the heels of tough road losses to Penn State and Michigan that dropped them out of first place in the conference.

Corey Sanders had 12 points for the Scarlet Knights (13-17, 3-14). They’ve lost eight of their last nine games.

Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State’s best player who missed most of last season to a leg injury, continued to struggle with his shooting. After starting the month as the likely candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, he has had trouble

scoring against more aggressive defenses. He had just six points against Rutgers on 3-for-11 shooting.

Jae’Sean Tate, also playing his last game at Value City Arena, had 9 points and 10 rebounds.

NO. 18 RHODE ISLAND 95, LA SALLE 94, OT

PHILADELPHIA — Jeff Dowtin scored 23 points, including four key free throws in the final seconds, as Rhode Island (22-4, 14-1 Atlantic 10) clinched a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a hard-fought overtime victory at La Salle ( 11- 17, 5-10).

Five Rams had at least 10 points. Stanford Robinson had 20 points, Jared Terrell had 14, E.C. Matthews had 13 and Fatts Russell had 10.

La Salle was led by B. J. Johnson, who posted a career-high 23 rebounds to go with 29 points. Johnson a doubledouble in the first half with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rams trailed 30- 18 midway through the first half before going on a 14-0 run and taking a 39-37 halftime lead.

Rhode Island never trailed in the second half and led 81-78 with three seconds left. The Rams purposely fouled Pookie Powell, who made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Tony Washington snared the long rebound and made the putback to tie the game at 81 at the end of regulation.

Cyril Langevine scored four consecutive points to give the Rams a 91-87 lead with 2:20 left in overtime. Trailing 91- 90, La Salle had two chances to take its first lead since the first half, but couldn’t convert.

Saul Phiri added 16 points, and Miles Brookins scored 13 for La Salle.

NO. 21 WEST VIRGINIA 71, BAYLOR 60

WACO, Texas — Jevon Carter and Esa Ahmad both scored 15 points as No. 21 West Virginia beat Baylor, ending the Bears’ five-game winning streak that had been the longest in the Big 12 Conference.

The Mountaineers (20-8, 9-6 Big 12) were pretty much in control throughout the game, and led by as many as 28 points early in the second half.

Baylor (17-11, 7-8) managed to get within 55-43 with after Terry Maston’s jumper. But that was the last of eight consecutive points for the Bears that capped off a 21-5 run.

Sagaba Konate had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks for West Virginia. James Bolden and Daxter Miles both scored 10 points.