Green Jr.’s layup lifts No. 1 Auburn over Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Wendell Green Jr. made a tie-breaking layup with four seconds remaining and No. 1 Auburn got past Georgia 74-72 Saturday, extending the nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games.

Auburn (22-1, 10-0 Southeastern Conference) continued its dominant run through the league. But the Tigers, who won their first nine SEC games by about 12 points per game, were tested in the second half by lastplace Georgia (6-17, 1-9).

Following Green’s go-ahead layup, Georgia’s Aaron Cook missed a long jumper. A drive by Cook had given Georgia a 72-70 lead before K.D. Johnson tied the game with a layup.

Johnson, who led Auburn with 20 points, transferred to Auburn following his freshman season at Georgia and was loudly booed during pregame introductions. Green had 19 for the Tigers, while standout freshman Jabari Smith had seven points and six rebounds. Walker Kessler had 10 points with nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

NO. 12 VILLANOVA 85,

NO. 17 UCONN 74

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Eric Dixon scored a career-high 24 points as Villanova won its fifth game of the season against a Top 25 team.

Dixon had the breakout game of his twoyear career and cruised past his previous best high of 15 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (17-6, 10-3) and keyed a 12-0 run in the second half that busted the game open.

Villanova sealed the win at the free-throw line, making 21 of 22 overall.

Collin Gillespie scored 19 before he left with an injury late in the game. Villanova’s leading scorer grimaced as he was helped off the court and went straight to the locker room. He sat on the bench at the end of the game.

RJ Cole led the Huskies (15-6, 6-4) with 25 points.

NO. 18 ILLINOIS 74,

INDIANA 57

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Trent Frazier scored 23 points and Kofi Cockburn added 17 as Illinois surged to its fourth straight win.

Cockburn also had eight rebounds, falling two short of tying Skip Thoren’s school record for double-doubles. Thoren had 41 from 1963-65.

The Fighting Illini (17-5, 10-2 Big Ten) have won the last two on the Hoosiers’ home floor.

Indiana (16-6, 7-5) was led by Race Thompson with 13 points and six rebounds. Xavier Johnson had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.