Clark, Huff help Virginia survive Stony Brook

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. » Virginia coach Tony Bennett still ranks as the NCAA’s career leader in 3-point shooting percentage at 49.7%, so he might be more able to tell his players what not to do to get themselves out of a shooting slump. The players take his words to heart. “You can’t obsess to the best of your abilities on your shot,” Bennett said Wednesday night after Virginia struggled again on offense, but did enough to beat Stony Brook (7-6) 56-44. “You have to be a plus in all the other areas: defensively, not turning it over, being sound and at times you pass up some shots. You need to, and then there’s times you have to take them.”

Kihei Clark scored 14 points and Jay Huff had eight of his 12 during a second-half run for the Cavaliers (9-1), who haven’t let their offensive difficulties affect their defense. They came into the game leading the nation in scoring defense (44.2) and field goal percentage defense (31.6%) and hit their marks again.

Until the offense improves, Bennett said, “this may sound funny, but we started trying to tighten up our defense even more to keep us in there.” CINCINNATI 78, (21) TENNESSEE 66 » Trevon Scott scored 15 points and Cincinnati (7-4) recovered from back-toback losses by knocking off Tennessee (7-3).

The Bearcats got the better of a backand-forth game by getting inside one of the country’s stingiest defenses for close-up baskets. Forty-six of Cincinnati’s points came in the paint.

(15) MICHIGAN STATE 77, NORTHWESTERN 72 » Cassius Winston scored 21 points and Xavier Tillman had 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping Michigan State (8-3, 2-0 Big Ten) beat Northwestern (5-5, 0-2).

Winston went 8 for 16 from the field in the Spartans’ 11th consecutive victory against the Wildcats. He also moved into 12th on the school’s career scoring list with 1,601 points, passing Morris Peterson (1,588) and Raymar Morgan (1,597).

Women

(7) BAYLOR 111, ARKANSAS STATE 43 » Juicy Landrum set an NCAA record by making 14 3-pointers for all of her careerhigh 42 points, leading the Baylor (9-1) to a victory over Arkansas State (3-7).

(8) FLORIDA STATE 70, NORTH FLORIDA

41 » Freshman forward River Baldwin scored a season-best 19 points, Kiah Gillespie added 13 points and eight rebounds and Florida State (11-0) routed North Florida (5-6).

(13) MARYLAND 114, GEORGIA STATE 41 » Taylor Mikesell and Blair Watson each scored 23 points for Maryland (9-2) against Georgia State (1-8).