Hunter, Ford lead Gaels over Bethune-Cookman

Center Jordan Hunter put up career highs of 24 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Jordan Ford added 23 points as St. Mary’s overcame a sluggish start to throttle Bethune-Cookman 93-61 at McKeon Pavilion on Tuesday night.

Hunter and Ford each went 8-for-10 from the floor. The Gaels hit on 32 of their 54 fieldgoal attempts (59.3 percent).

Barely eight minutes into the game, the Wildcats (4-5) led 18-11. The Gaels (5-4) responded with a 21-7 spurt to go in front 32-25. St. Mary’s was up 36-31 at the break.

The Gaels blew open the game in the second half. They led by 10 before going on an 18-2 blitz that Ford capped with a three-pointer. That made it 69-43 with 11:20 remaining.

Other men’s games: Dedric Lawson had 20 points and eight rebounds, and No. 2 Kansas (7-0) won at home, 72-47 over Wofford, after center Udoka Azubuike left with a right highankle sprain. Azubuike was injured after landing awkwardly on a block attempt midway through the first half, and head coach Bill Self said the 7-footer will be out indefinitely . ... No. 5 Michigan (9-0, 2-0 Big Ten) got two big plays from Jordan Poole in the last 2½ minutes to hold off host Northwestern, 62-60. Dererk Pardon led the Wildcats (6-3, 0-2) with 20 points on 9-for-10 shooting . ... No. 8 Auburn (7-1) won 67-41 at home against UNC Asheville despite a season low in points . ... Lamar Peters scored 27 points, Reggie Perry added 15 and No. 22 Mississippi State (7-1) used a 19-0 run in the second half to pull away from visiting McNeese State, 90-77 . ... Alex Hunter scored all of his 18 points in the second half, and No. 25 Furman (9-0) won its first game since the program’s debut in the AP Top 25, 98-77 over host Elon . ... D’Shawn Schwartz and Evan Battey each scored 14 points as host Colorado (6-1) routed South Dakota 82-58 for its fourth straight win. It was win No. 1,300 in program history.

Women: Napheesa Collier had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Katie Lou Samuelson scored 20 points, and top-ranked UConn (8-0) won its 123rd straight regular-season game, 98-42 at Saint Louis (4-5) . ... Asia Durr scored 25 points, Arica Carter had 16 and the defense of No. 5 Louisville (9-0) stifled visiting Tennessee-Martin in a 102-62 rout.