Cooper scores 20 as S.C. runs away from Kentucky
Ta’lon Cooper scored 20 points and Jacobi Wright had 14 with four 3-pointers as South Carolina pulled away in the second half and beat No. 6 Kentucky 79-62 on Tuesday night.
The Gamecocks (16-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) beat their highest-ranked opponent at home since taking down No. 1 Kentucky 68-62 14 years ago. In that game, South Carolina overcame future NBA All-stars John Wall and Demarcus Cousins for the victory.
In this one, they held the nation’s top scoring team that averaged more than 91 points to its lowest output of the season.
Fans easily burst through the thin yellow ropes to rush the court and celebrate the lastest high point in surprising season. It should cost South Carolina a $100,000 fine from the SEC under league policy, but no one was concerned about that at the moment.
TEXAS 75, NO. 11 OKLAHOMA 60
Max Abmas scored 22 points to help Texas roll past Oklahoma.
Dylan Disu had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Dillon Mitchell added eight points and 13 boards for the Longhorns (13-6, 3-3 Big 12), who shot 50% from the floor to win their sixth straight in the series. Texas was coming off a victory over thenno. 9 Baylor on Saturday.
Abmas went 4 of 8 on 3-pointers and shot 8 of 14 from the field overall.
NO. 12 DUKE 83, LOUISVILLE 69
Tyrese Proctor scored a career-high 24 points, including 13 after halftime with several clutch baskets, Mark Mitchell returned from injury to add 20 with 12 rebounds and Duke outlasted Louisville.
Seeking a rebound from an 80-76 home loss to Pitt, the Blue Devils (14-4, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) got a big lift with the returns of Mitchell and Jeremy Roach from knee injuries to lead 45-34 at halftime. They still had to work to stay ahead of the stubborn Cardinals and Proctor came up big when they needed him, delivering a critical 3-pointer with 7:08 remaining to make it 68-60.
NO. 13 WISCONSIN 61, MINNESOTA 59
Tyler Wahl had 16 points and hit two free throws with 5 seconds left to help Wisconsin beat rival Minnesota.
A.J. Storr had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Big Ten-leading Badgers (15-4, 7-1), who beat the Gophers (12-7, 3-5) for the seventh straight time. Max Klesmit scored 11 points.
NO. 16 DAYTON 66, LA SALLE 54
Daron Holmes II scored 22 points and Javon Bennett and Nate Santos each scored 13 to lead to its 13th straight win.
The Flyers (16-2, 6-0 Atlantic 10) made the biggest upward move this week in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, gaining six places after wins over Saint Louis and Rhode Island.
Women
NO. 8 UCONN 85, MARQUETTE 59
Paige Bueckers scored 28 points and beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-point shot from about 40 feet away as No. 8 Uconn topped Marquette.
Uconn (17-3, 9-0 Big East) endured a scare just over three minutes into the game when Bueckers clutched her surgically repaired left knee after taking a charge. Bueckers missed 19 games in 202122 and sat out all of last season with knee injuries.