In Houston, defense is in DNA

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson has made defense a big part of the Cougars’ DNA.

With No. 25 Cincinnati (20-4, 92), threatening an upset at Houston, the 12th-ranked Cougars (231, 10-1) clamped down completely.

Houston held Cincinnati scoreless over the final 6:11, staving off the Bearcats 65-58 for a key American Athletic Conference win.

Oregon

The No. 3 Oregon women (23-1, 12-0 Pac-12) beat No. 11 Stanford (19-4, 9-3), 88-48, handing the Cardinal’s Tara VanDerveer the worst loss of her coaching career and notching the Ducks’ first win at Maples Pavilion since 1987.

Maryland

Kaila Charles scored 17 points and the No. 10 Terrapin women extended their lead in the Big Ten with a 62-48 victory against No. 20 Rutgers. The Terrapins (22-2, 112), who have won seven in a row, own a 1½-game advantage on the Scarlet Knights (17-6, 9-3).

Associated Press Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu, from left, Satou Sabally and Ruthy Hebard celebrate in the last minute of a 40-point rout of Stanford Sunday.