Creighton humbles UConn, posts first victory over top-ranked team
Steven Ashworth scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half as Creighton built a double-digit lead, and the No. 15 Bluejays knocked off UConn 85-66 at home Tuesday night for the program’s first win over a No. 1-ranked team.
Creighton (20-7, 10-6 Big East) led by 23 points with 10 minutes left, but saw its lead cut to 10 before holding the Huskies scoreless on five straight possessions, rebuilding their cushion and prompting students to leave their seats to prepare to storm the court — which they did as soon as the buzzer sounded.
UConn (24-3, 14-2) had its 14-game win streak end three days after it beat then-No. 4 Marquette by 28 points for one of the most impressive victories of the season — and one day after it was voted as the first unanimous No. 1 this season in the AP poll.
“We played a really good game and we beat an incredible team, a team that has a legitimate chance to win a national championship,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “But we’re pretty good as well.” No. 5 Tennessee 72, Missouri 67: Dalton Knecht scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, Tobe Awaka had 18 points and 10 rebounds and visiting Tennessee overcame a slow start to beat Missouri.
Jonas Aidoo added 14 points and Zakai Zeigler 10 for the Volunteers (20-6, 10-3 SEC), who closed within a half game of No. 13 Alabama in the conference race.
Sean East II scored 24 points and Noah Carter had 20 for the Tigers (8-18, 0-13).
No. 18 Saint Mary’s 70, San Francisco 66: Mitchell Saxen scored 20 points, Alex Ducas added 18 and Saint Mary’s (22-6, 13-0 West Coast) extended the longest active winning streak in the nation to 14 games with a
victory over San Francisco (21-7, 10-3) in Moraga, California.
The Gaels remained the only team in the country unbeaten in conference play. Utah State 68, No. 19 San Diego State 63: Darius Brown II scored a season-high 25 points and Utah State (22-5, 10-4) beat San Diego State (20-7, 9-5) at home to take sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference.
Jaedon LeDee scored 23 points for the Aztecs. No. 23 Texas Tech 82, TCU 81:
Pop Isaacs scored 19 points and put Texas Tech ahead to stay with a three-point play with 39 seconds remaining as the Red Raiders (19-7, 8-5 Big 12) rallied from a double-digit deficit and beat TCU (18-8, 7-6) in Lubbock.
Texas Tech trailed 69-59 with 6:55 left. No. 25 BYU 78, No. 11 Baylor 71:
Aly Khalifa had 14 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to lead BYU (19-7, 7-6 Big 12) to a home victory over Baylor (19-7, 8-5).
Jalen Bridges finished with 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bears.
ACC
Syracuse 87, North Carolina
State 83: Chris Bell scored all 26 of his points in the first half, backup Quadir Copeland added a career-high 25 points and Syracuse (17-10, 8-8) spoiled North Carolina State’s second-half rally, beating the Wolfpack (16-10, 8-7).
Wake Forest 91, Pittsburgh 58: Kevin Miller scored 18 points, Hunter Sallis added 17 and Wake Forest (17-9, 9-6) routed Pittsburgh (17-9, 8-7). Florida State 84, Boston College 76: Jamir Watkins had 22 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, Chandler Jackson added a careerhigh 19 points and Florida State (14-12, 8-7) beat Boston College (15-11, 6-9) at home.
State
Massachusetts 74, VCU 52:
Josh Cohen had 20 points as Massachusetts (17-9, 8-6 Atlantic 10) beat VCU (17-9, 9-4) at home.
Joe Bamisile led the Rams (17-9, 9-4) with 13 points.