Lucas’ half-court buzzer-beater lifts Nevada to win at Colorado State

Jarod Lucas, a senior guard at Nevada, ranks among the nation’s top 20 in free-throw percentage at 90.07. But late Tuesday night, with a chance to seal the Wolf Pack’s victory on the road at Colorado State, Lucas missed three of four shots from the line, giving the host Rams hope before a loud Moby Arena crowd in Fort Collins.

Isaiah Stevens accepted that opportunity and dropped in backto-back jumpers that tied the score with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

Following a timeout, Nevada got the ball to Lucas on the run. He raced up the right side and just before hitting mid-court, he let the ball go just before time expired. What he couldn’t accomplish from the free-throw line, he did from beyond half court, banking in a 3-pointer that lifted Nevada to a 77-74 victory that left the home crowd — giddy and celebrating just seconds before — stunned.

Lucas, from Hacienda Heights Los Altos High, finished with 23 points and Tre Coleman had 16 points for Nevada (23-6, 10-5 Mountain West Conference).

Stevens had 23 points and six assists for Colorado State (20-9, 8-8).

NO. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 72, SAN JOSE STATE 64 >>

Jaedon Ledee had 27 points — 21 in the second half — and 11 rebounds as the Aztecs held off the Spartans in San Diego. It was Ledee’s 11th double-double of the season.

“He’s a dangerous player and to his credit, everybody knows it, and he still ends up with another double-double,” Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said. “That’s a firstteam All-american to me.”

Ledee, continually pounded inside by double teams, drew 11 fouls and made nine of 11 free throws.

“We’re going to get everyone’s best shot,” he said. “Everybody gears up and gives us their best effort.”

The defending regular-season and MWC tournament champion Aztecs (22-7, 11-5) beat San Jose State for the 13th straight time to remain just behind conference co-leaders Utah State and Boise State. The Aztecs get six days off before playing at UNLV next Tuesday night and then finishing the regular season at home against

Boise State on March 8.

BYU 76, NO. 7 KANSAS 68 >> The Cougars rallied from a 12-point deficit to snap the Jayhawks’ 19-game home winning streak.

BYU (20-8, 8-7 Big 12) took a 66-63 lead when Noah Waterman drained a 3-pointer with 2:43 left. Hunter Dickinson answered with a 3 for Kansas, but Robinson hit two free throws and Hall drained another 3, sending BYU to a win in its first trip to storied Allen Fieldhouse since December 1971.

Dickinson had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Kansas (21-7, 9-6).

NO. 1 HOUSTON 67, CINCINNATI 59 >> L.J. Cryer scored 22 points, J’wan Roberts added 15 and the topranked Cougars won their sixth straight game. Houston (25-3, 12-3 Big 12) extended its conference lead to 1 1/2 games over Iowa State.

NO. 16 KENTUCKY 91, MISSISSIPPI STATE 89 >>

Reed Sheppard made a runner from just inside the foul line with less than a second remaining and finished with a career-high 32 points, lifting the Wildcats on the road in Starkville.

Josh Hubbard made seven 3-pointers and scored 34 points for Mississippi State.

NO. 22 UTAH STATE 77, FRESNO STATE 73, OT >> Great Osobor had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Darius Brown II drained two clutch 3-pointers and the Aggies won on the road in Fresno to remain atop the Mountain West Conference standings.

Utah State (23-5) and Boise State are both 11-4 in league play with three games left in the regular season. Utah State swept its two matchups with the Broncos.