Hart leads Wildcats to first win as No. 1 in 86-59 victory over DePaul
The Associated Press
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Josh Hart scored 18 points and No. 1 Villanova celebrated its first game as the nation’s top team with an 86-59 victory over DePaul on Tuesday night.
Kris Jenkins made three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points as the Wildcats (21-3, 11-1) rolled to their 13th win in their last 14 games. They moved two games clear of fifth- ranked Xavier for the Big East lead after the Musketeers lost 70-56 at Creighton.
Villanova turned 19 DePaul turnovers into 19 points in its debut in the top spot of The Associated Press’ poll. The Wildcats had climbed to No. 2 on six occasions before Oklahoma and North Carolina lost last weekend, clearing the way for them to ascend to No. 1.
Eli Cain scored 15 points for DePaul (8-16, 2-10), which shot 41 percent from the field in its fourth loss in five games.
No. 2 Maryland 93,
Bowie St. 62
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland got 16 points from Rasheed Sulaimon in its school-record 27th consecutive home victory.
Taking a break from their rigorous Big Ten schedule, the Terrapins ( 22- 3) enjoyed a stress- free encounter with Bowie State, a Division II school in Maryland.
Backup center Michal Cekovsky, who usually sees little playing time behind Diamond Stone and Damonte Dodd, scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half to help the Terrapins take a 47- 29 lead. His previous career high was 10.
Maryland’s home winning streak eclipses a 26- game run at Cole Field House from Feb. 10, 1979, to Jan. 10, 1981. The Terrapins are 140 at home this season and haven’t lost on their own court since falling to Virginia on Dec. 3, 2014.
Creighton 70, No. 5 Xavier 56
OMAHA, Neb. — Maurice Watson scored a career-high 32 points and Creighton rode a fast start to the upset.
The Bluejays (16-9, 7-5 Big East) used an early 16- 0 run to take a 17- point lead 9 minutes into the game and then held off the Musketeers after they pulled within
Villanova guard Josh Hart (right) shoots over DePaul guard Eli Cain during the first half of Tuesday’s game in Rosemont, Ill.
five with 6 minutes left.
Watson scored 22 points in the second half and finished off the Musketeers with a bank- in high off the glass, a layup and then a steal and layup to make it 66- 53 with 1:54 to play.
No. 6 Kansas 75, No. 10 West Virginia 65
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Perry Ellis had 21 points and Landen Lucas pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds as Kansas forged a threeway tie atop the Big 12.
Frank Mason III added 14 points for the Jayhawks ( 20- 4, 8- 3), who handled the Mountaineers’ pressure well in avenging a loss lost month in Morgantown.
Now, they are tied with the Mountaineers (19-5, 8-3) and No. 3 Oklahoma (20-3, 8-3) as they pursue their 12th consecutive championship. All three teams have seven games remaining.
Devin Williams had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Jaysean Paige also had 14 points for the Mountaineers — though their leading scorer was just 5 of 16 from the field.
No. 7 Virginia 67, Virginia Tech 49
— Anthony Gill scored 16 points and Virginia turned the tables on its state rival Virginia Tech for its seventh straight win.
Nam Y. Huh /
The Associated Press
Isaiah Wilkins added a careerbest 14 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 12 for the Cavaliers ( 20- 4, 9- 3 Atlantic Coast Conference). Virginia avenged a 70- 68 loss to the Hokies in Blacksburg on Jan. 4 in what rates as their worst performance of the season, and extended their winning streak at John Paul Jones Arena to 17 games.
No. 9 North Carolina 68,
Boston College 65
BOSTON — Playing most of the second half without coach Roy Williams, who left the bench after complaining of vertigo, North Carolina rallied for the win thanks to 20 points from Justin Jackson.
The Eagles, who have not won an Atlantic Coast Conference game this season, led the whole way until Theo Pinson hit two free throws with under 4 minutes remaining. After BC retook the lead, Marcus Paige hit a 3- pointer to make it 62-60.
The Tar Heels (20-4, 9-2) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Dennis Clifford had 14 points and 13 rebounds for BC ( 7- 17, 011).
BC’s Matt Milon hit a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left to make it a one- point game. But after Paige made two free throws, Eli Carter’s 3-point attempt from halfcourt at the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the backboard.
Carter scored 26 points.