Baylor in line for No. 1 after rout
WACO — James Akinjo had 16 points with seven rebounds and second-ranked Baylor defensively dominated No. 6 Villanova 57-36 on Sunday, a victory that’s likely to put the defending national champion Bears in the top spot in the new poll.
The Bears (9-0) never trailed in their first nonconference home game ever against a topsix 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 percent.
Adam Flagler had 10 points as Baylor, which won its 15th game in a row dating to last season, shot 39 percent (22 of 56) and was held under 69 points for the first time this season. Jeremy Sochan had nine points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Justin Moore had 15 points for the Wildcats.
Top-ranked Purdue lost to Rutgers on Thursday night, clearing the way for Baylor to move up to the No. 1 spot when the new Associated Press poll comes out Monday.
NO. 1 PURDUE 82 NORTH CAROLINA ST. 72 (OT)
Trevion Williams had a season-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and a career-best nine assists to help the Boilermakers rally past the Wolfpack in overtime in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational at New York.
Jaden Ivey added 22 points for the Boilermakers (9-1), who had to rally from 13 down midway through the second half to win.
Purdue never led in regulation, taking its first lead Sasha Stefanovic’s 3-pointer 15 seconds into the extra period.
NO. 17 IOWA ST. 47, JACKSON ST. 37
T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the Cyclones to a win at Ames, Iowa.
The Cyclones improved 10-0 after ending last season with 18 straight losses. Iowa State beat Jackson State last Dec. 20, then didn’t win again in finishing 2-22.
Aljaz Kunc led Iowa State with 12 points and Gabe Kalscheur added 11.
Jonas James scored 11 points for Jackson State (2-7).
Women
NO. 2 NORTH CAROLINA ST. 101 SAINT MARY’S 73
Elissa Cunane had 15 points and nine rebounds as the host Wolfpack won their 10th straight game.
Cunane scored nine points during an early 18-0 run that put the Wolfpack (10-1) in control.
Jade Kirisome led the Gaels (5-4) with 17 points.
TCU 87, NO. 18 TEXAS A&M 75
Lauren Heard scored a season-high 33 points, Aja Holmes added a career-high 22 off the bench, and the Horned Frogs surprised the Aggies at Fort Worth.
Kayla Wells scored 20 points to lead the Aggies (9-2), who have lost two of their last three games. Qadashah Hoppie scored 17, Jordan Nixon 13, and Sydnee Ropy 10.
TCU (4-4) had lost eight in a row at home in the series and Texas A&M had won 15 of 18 all-time at Fort Worth. The loss also snapped the Aggies’ 11-game winning streak in nonconference road games.
NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA 66 NO. 8 MARYLAND 59
Zia Cooke scored 20 points, including the go-ahead layup with 5:13 to play, as the host Gamecocks beat the Terrapins for their fourth victory over a top-10 opponent this season.
Aliyah Boston added 16 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Gamecocks, who improved to 10-0 for the first time in six seasons.
NO. 4 STANFORD 91, PACIFIC 62
Cameron Brink scored a career-high 25 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the host Cardinal won going away.
NO. 7 LOUISVILLE 64 NO. 14 KENTUCKY 58
Ahlana Smith and Hailey Van Lith each made two late baskets and the host Cardinals held off the Wildcats to beat their in-state archrivals for the fifth straight time.
Smith hit a go-ahead jumper with 2:47 remaining. Chelsie Hall added three free throws in the final 17 seconds as the Cardinals (8-1) won their eighth consecutive game.
NO. 17 SOUTH FLORIDA 64 VA. COMMONWEALTH 57
Elisa Pinzan scored a careerhigh 24 points and Dulcy Mendjiadeu Fankam scored 10 straight in a fourth-quarter rally to lead the Bulls to victory at Richmond, Va.
NO. 22 NOTRE DAME 78 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 41
Olivia Miles scored seven of her 12 points to help open the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run for and the Fighting Irish breezed to a victory at South Bend, Ind.
VILLANOVA 56
NO. 23 OREGON ST. 52
Lior Garzon knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to kick off the second half, Maddy Siegrist scored 28 points and the host Wildcats defeated the Beavers.
NO. 24 LSU 96, TEXAS SOUTHERN 55
Faustine Aifuwa had a seasonhigh 14 points.in a victory at Baton Rouge. La.
LSU (7-1) has won six in a row. TSU (0-6) was led by Jala Buster with 13 points.
NO. 6 ARIZONA 77 NEW MEXICO 60
Freshman Madi Conner came off the bench to score a careerhigh 15 points as the Wildcats won at home.