Clemson withstands charge from North Carolina
No. 6 Xavier wins 20th game of season
CLEMSON, S.C. — Marcquise Reed had 20 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer after No. 20 Clemson blew a 16-point lead, and the Tigers ended a 10-game losing streak to North Carolina with an 82-78 victory over the 19th-ranked Tar Heels.
The Tigers (18-4, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) were up 44-28 at the half and looked like they would cruise to their first win over the Tar Heels (16-7, 5-5) since January 2010. Instead, Cameron Johnson and Joel Berry II rallied UNC back, with Berry’s jumper tying it at 74 with 2:03 to play.
That’s when Reed struck with his 3 from the left side to put Clemson ahead for good. Reed rebounded Johnson’s miss moments later, and Elijah Thomas made an inside shot to go up 79-74.
North Carolina has its first three-game losing streak since the 2013-14 season. No. 6 XAVIER 73, ST. JOHN’S 68: In New York, Trevon Bluiett scored 14 points to lead Xavier over St. John’s.
Bluiett was one of four players in double-figure scoring for the Musketeers (20-3, 8-2 Big East). Kerem Kanter and Quentin Goodin each had 13 points, and J.P. Macura added 11.
Despite a 31-point performance from Shamorie Ponds, the Red Storm (10-13, 0-11) dropped its 11th straight. No. 11 AUBURN 79, MISSISSIPPI 70: In Oxford, Miss., Bryce Brown scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead Auburn over Mississippi.
Auburn (20-2, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) beat Ole Miss for the second time this season.
Mustapha Heron added 16 points for the Tigers.
Ole Miss (11-11, 4-5) lost for the first time at home during conference play. No. 12 OKLAHOMA 98, BAYLOR 96: In Norman, Okla., Trae Young scored 31 of his 44 points
in the second half to help Oklahoma hold off Baylor.
Rashard Odomes scored 18 points for the Sooners (16-5, 6-3 Big 12). Manu Lecomte scored 29 points for Baylor (12-10, 2-7). No. 17 OHIO STATE 71, INDIANA 56: In Columbus, Ohio, Jae’Sean Tate scored 16 points and Ohio State took control early in cruising to a win over Indiana.
Kaleb Wesson added 14 points and Keita Bates-Diop had 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Buckeyes (19-5, 10-1 Big Ten) bounced back from last week’s buzzer-beater loss to Penn State that dropped them three places in the AP Top 25 poll.
Devonte Green scored 20 for the Hoosiers (12-11, 5-6).
No. 21 KENTUCKY 83,
VANDERBILT 81 (OT): In Lexington, Ky., Quade Green’s layup with 5 seconds remaining gave Kentucky an overtime victory against Vanderbilt.
Kentucky (17-5, 6-3 SEC) overcame a 57-46 deficit with 9½ minutes left in regulation.
Vanderbilt is 8-14, 2-7. No. 22 RHODE ISLAND 85,
UMASS 83: In Amherst, Mass., Jeff Dowtin had 19 points and 10 assists as Rhode Island escaped with a win over Massachusetts after the Minutemen botched an intentional missed free throw in the final seconds.
The Rams (18-3, 10-0 Atlantic 10) led by three with 1.8 seconds left when UMass’ Luwane Pipkins went to the free-throw line. Pipkins made the first shot and missed the second on purpose, but he was called for a lane violation while grabbing the rebound after throwing the ball off the front of the rim.
Pipkins paced the Minutemen (10-13, 3-7) with 27 points. GEORGIA 72, No. 23 FLORIDA 60: In Athens, Ga., Yante Maten scored 20 points and Georgia recovered after blowing a halftime lead to beat Florida.
Florida (15-7, 6-3 SEC) began the night in second place in the SEC, one game behind No. 11 Auburn. Georgia (13-8, 4-5) has lost three straight and five of six.
Women
No. 22 TCU 75, IOWA STATE
52: In Ames, Iowa, Jordan Moore scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds as TCU beat Iowa State for its seventh straight victory.
Amber Ramirez added 12 points for TCU (16-5, 7-3 Big 12), which outrebounded ISU 41-24.