Alford scores 24 to lead UCLA past Cal
Gonzaga stays perfect behind Williams-Goss’ career game
LOS ANGELES — Bryce Alford scored 16 of his 24 points in a dominant first half, TJ Leaf had a double-double, and No. 4 UCLA defeated California 81-71 on Thursday night.
Leaf finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double in the Bruins’ fifth straight win over the Golden Bears at Pauley Pavilion. Alford hit five 3-pointers for UCLA (151, 2-1 Pac-12).
Grant Mullins scored 19 points, and Ivan Rabb had 17 points and a career-high 20 rebounds for the Bears (10-5, 1-2), who went from being down by 20 with 5½ minutes left to trailing by five.
The Bruins made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 22 seconds.
(5) GONZAGA 95, SAN FRANCISCO 80: In San Francisco, Nigel Williams-Goss scored a careerhigh 36 points, and Gonzaga used its accurate shooting all over the court to remain unbeaten.
Jordan Mathews scored 16 points for the Zags (15-0, 3-0 WCC).
Williams-Goss shot 12 for 15 as Gonzaga shot 61 percent, made all nine of his free throws and also had 11 rebounds and six assists for the perennial West Coast Conference favorites in their eighth straight win against USF and fifth in a row on the Dons’ home court.
Jordan Ratinho scored 20 points as an inexperienced USF team (11-5, 1-2) hung tough against the more athletic, physical Zags.
(17) ARIZONA 66, UTAH 56: In Tucson, Ariz., Dusan Ristic scored 18 points, Lauri Markkanen added 11 and Arizona wore down Utah.
Arizona (14-2, 3-0 Pac-12) had offensive lapses at times, but used its size advantage to get the Utes into foul trouble and prevent them from getting many open looks on the perimeter.
The Wildcats held Utah (10-4, 1-1) to a long scoreless drought in the first half and 4-of-21 shooting from 3-point range overall to win their 14th straight home game.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright had nine assists while controlling Arizona’s offense much of the night in his third game back from a sprained ankle.
(20) PURDUE 76, OHIO ST. 75: In Columbus, Ohio, Caleb Swanigan hit a free throw with 5 seconds left for Purdue.
Ohio State’s Trevor Thompson tied the score at 75 with a layup with 15 seconds left but missed a subsequent free throw. Swanigan was fouled on the other end and hit his first free throw and missed the second. Micah Potter grabbed the rebound and got it to JaQuan Lyle but his 3-point try at the buzzer was off the mark.
Swanigan and Vincent Edwards paced with Boilermakers (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten) with 16 points apiece, and Dakota Mathias added 14.
Jae’Sean Tate scored 17 points for Ohio State (10-6, 0-2) and Marc Loving added 14.
Top 25 women
(4) MISSISSIPPI ST. 59, ARKANSAS 51: In Fayetteville, Ark., Chinwe Okorie had 14 points and a career-best 15 rebounds and Mississippi State
led throughout to remain undefeated.
The Bulldogs (16-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) are two victories from matching the school record for best start — 18-0 in 2014-15.
Malica Monk led the Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2) with 17 points.
(5) SOUTH CAROLINA 73, AUBURN 47: In Auburn, Ala., Kaela Davis scored all 21 of her points in the first half in South Carolina’s victory over Auburn.
Bianca Cuervas-Moore added a season-high 19 points, and A’ja Wilson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Gamecocks (12-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference).
Katie Frerking led Auburn (11-5, 1-1) with 16 points.
(6) FLORIDA STATE 90, NORTH CAROLINA 77: In Chapel Hill, N.C., Imani Wright scored 22 points to lead Florida State past North Carolina.
Ivey Slaughter added 16 points for the Seminoles (14-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Stephanie Watts scored 19 points for the Tar Heels (11-4, 0-2).
(7) NOTRE DAME 92, WAKE FOREST 72: In South Bend, Ind., Arike Ogunbowale scored 22 points to help Notre Dame beat Wake Forest.
Brianna Turner added 15 points and six rebounds for the Irish (14-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), Marina Mabrey had 14 points, and Lindsay Allen added 12.
Notre Dame was coming off six straight road games, the program’s longest trip ever, and had not played at Purcell Pavilion since losing there to No. 1 Connecticut a month ago.
Ariel Stephenson scored 17 points for Wake Forest (9-5, 0-1).
(8) LOUISVILLE 86, VIRGINIA 81 (OT): In Charlottesville, Va., Myisha Hines-Allen had career highs of 31 points and 17 rebounds and scored four points in overtime, helping Louisville beat Virginia.
Mariya Moore scored 18 of her 23 points after halftime for the Cardinals (14-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Louisville erased a 15-point, thirdperiod deficit and led by six points with under two minutes to go in regulation, but Virginia rallied and freshman Dominique Toussaint’s 3-pointer at the buzzer forced the overtime.
Aliyah Huland El scored 23 points, and Lauren Moses had 19 for Virginia (11-4, 0-2).
(13) DUKE 75, GEORGIA TECH 68: In Atlanta, Lexie Brown scored 25 points and Duke beat Georgia Tech for its 10th straight victory.
Rebecca Greenwell added 17 points for Duke (14-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Francesca Pan had 23 points for Georgia Tech (11-4, 0-2).
(14) MIAMI 67, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 64: In Raleigh, N.C., Keyona Hayes had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Miami.
Adrienne Motley added 16 points to eclipse 1,600 for her career at Miami (13-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Jennifer Mathurin had 17 points for the Wolfpack (12-4, 2-1).
(24) KENTUCKY 64, MISSOURI 62: In Lexington, Ky., Makayla Epps scored 17 points and Kentucky held off Missouri.
Evelyn Akhator added 14 points for the Wildcats (10-5, 1-1 Southeastern Conference).
Sierra Michaelis had 22 points for Missouri (11-5, 1-1).