Bruins take down No. 1 Kentucky

Only briefly did UCLA appear vulnerable against top-ranked Kentucky in its usual charged environment that has made the Wildcats one of the hardest teams to beat at home.

Each time, the 11th-ranked Bruins coolly responded with a timely basket or rebound, a consistent combination that grabbed momentum and eventually the game from the Wildcats.

Isaac Hamilton scored 19 points, T.J. Leaf had 17 with 13 rebounds and UCLA shot 53 percent to beat Kentucky 97-92 Saturday in Lexington, its second upset of the Wildcats in as many years.

More impressively, the Bruins did it in their firstever visit to Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats had won 42 straight.

“I don’t think there was anything about them today that was a feeling-out process,” UCLA coach Steve Alford said. “We talk about, ‘Don’t go in and jab around the ring to see if you belong. You’re 8-0. You’re playing well. Trust that you belong.’ That was the key thing that guys did from the tip.”

The Bruins (9-0) matched their season scoring average. Kentucky (7-1) cut a 14-point second-half deficit to 95-92 on Derek Willis’ 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining, but Bryce Alford’s two free throws with 7.4 left sealed the victory.

Baylor 76, Xavier 61: Manu Lecomte scored 24 points to help No. 9 Baylor defeat No. 7 Xavier in Waco, Texas.

Johnathan Motley added 17 points for the Bears (8-0), who have beaten three Top 10 teams in the same season for first time.

Xavier (7-1) took a 51-50 Edmond Sumner’s 3-pointer with 11:15 remaining. The Musketeers then went almost nine minutes before making another field goal.

West Virginia 66, Virginia 57: Esa Ahmad hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining as No. 25 West Virginia scored 11 of the game’s final 13 points to end No. 6 Virginia’s 24game home winning streak.

Jevon Carter led West Virginia (6-1) with 11 points. Darius Thompson scored 14 points to lead Virginia (7-1).

West Virginia junior Daxter Miles Jr. was ejected late in the first half after elbowing Virginia junior Isaiah Wilkins.