Butler, No. 6 Baylor surge into Big 12 play with rout

WACO — Jared Butler scored 18 points, Freddie Gillespie had another double-double, and No. 6 Baylor won its ninth game in a row, beating Jackson State 83-57 on Monday in the Bears’ last game before Big 12 play.

Baylor (10-1) plays its Big 12 opener at home Saturday night against Texas.

TEXAS 89, HIGH POINT 58

Jase Febres scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, and the Longhorns beat the visiting Panthers.

Redshirt sophomore Andrew Jones made his first start for Texas (10-2) since Dec. 5, 2017 — before he was diagnosed with leukemia. Jones was absent for nearly two years while receiving treatment, rejoining the rotation this season as a reserve. He finished with 13 points.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 92 HUSTON-TILLOTSON 77

Devonte Patterson had 21 points as the host Panthers defeated the NAIA Rams to end a four-game skid and improve to 4-9.

GONZAGA 93 DETROIT MERCY 72

Filip Petrusev scored 22 points as the top-ranked Bulldogs beat the Titans in Spokane, Wash., to wrap up the non-conference season. Ryan Woolridge added 21 points and eight assists for Gonzaga (14-1), which earlier Monday retained the No. 1 ranking in the poll for the second week.

VILLANOVA 68, XAVIER 62

Collin Gillespie scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to lead the No. 10 Wildcats to a win over the visiting Musketeers in the Big East Conference opener for both teams.

Jermaine Samuels added 14 points for Villanova (10-2). Naji Marshall had 19 points to pace Xavier (9-3).

Women BAYLOR 94 MOREHEAD ST. 47

Lauren Cox had 10 points and six rebounds in her return for the No. 6 Lady Bears (10-1) in a win over the visiting Eagles after the preseason AP All-American missed more than seven weeks with a foot injury. Cox played 22 minutes, making four of eight shots in her first game since Nov. 8.

FORDHAM 63, HOUSTON 54

Julia Blackshell-Fair scored 17 points, but the Cougars (7-7) fell to the Rams in the title game of the Fordham Holiday Classic in New York.

TEXAS SOUTHERN 74 TEXAS-ARLINGTON 63

Ciani Cryor scored 32 points, and the Lady Tigers (5-6) defeated the host Lady Mavericks (6-6).