No. 3 Kansas ends No. 1 Baylor’s 23-game run
Udoka Azubuike and No. 3 Kansas returned the favor in a Big 12 showdown that lived up to the hype.
The Jayhawks share the Big 12 lead again, and could return to the No. 1 spot in the AP poll, as well.
Azubuike had 23 points and a careerhigh 19 rebounds in a 64-61 win Saturday at Baylor, ending the Bears’ 23-game winning streak and likely ending the Bears’ fiveweek run as the nation’s No. 1 team.
“You could just feel the buzz. It was an exciting time and a huge win,” Jayhawks guard Devon Dotson said. “We’re a solid team that can make a run in late March.”
Kansas (24-3, 13-1 Big 12) has won 12 in a row since its first-ever home loss to Baylor on Jan. 11. The Jayhawks had a 10-point lead with 6 1⁄2 minutes left in the rematch before holding off Baylor’s late charge.
Baylor (24-2, 13-1) has never won a Big 12 title.
Aztecs fall: Elijah Mitrou-Long scored 19 points, including two free throws with 11.5 seconds left, and UNLV handed San Diego State its first loss of the season, ending the No. 4 Aztecs’ 26-game winning streak.
San Diego State (26-1, 15-1 Mountain West), which had been the nation’s only undefeated team since Jan. 15, erased most of a 14-point deficit when it pulled to 64-63 on Malachi Flynn’s 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left. Mitrou-Long was fouled by Matt Mitchell with 11.5 seconds left and made both free throws.
Flynn missed a contested 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left and the ball went to the Runnin’ Rebels (15-14, 10-6). After a long pass down the court, Mitchell ended up with the ball and his desperation shot at the buzzer fell short.
Fan ejected in Tigers’ win: Samir Doughty scored 22 points and Auburn (23-4, 10-4 SEC) rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to beat Tennessee in a game marred by an ugly incident involving a fan.
A student was ejected from the game after directing a derogatory comment toward Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi and will face a disciplinary hearing, an Auburn official said. The fan was overheard on TV calling out, “Go back to Uruguay! This is America!”
Also: Obi Toppin had 28 points as No. 5 Dayton won its 16th game in a row, beating visiting Duquesne 80-70 . ... Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 26 points as 10th-ranked Kentucky (22-5, 12-2 SEC), pushed past Florida 65-59 for its sixth consecutive win . ... Saddiq Bey scored 22 points and No. 12 Villanova (21-6, 10-4 Big East) beat Xavier 64-55 for its fourth straight win . ... Tyger Campbell had 15 points and 11 assists as visiting UCLA (17-11, 10-5 Pac-12) rallied to beat No. 18 Colorado 70-63 and tie the Buffaloes atop the Pac-12.