Cryer helps Baylor tame West Virginia

WACO — LJ Cryer scored 26 points to lead four players in double figures, and ninthranked Baylor beat West Virginia 79-65 on Monday night.

Cryer was 8 for 11 from 3point range to lead the Bears (20-6, 9-4 Big 12), who have won four straight games and 10 of their last 11 after an 0-3 start in the conference.

Adam Flagler added 13 points for Baylor, which shot 51 percent from the floor and was 14 for 27 from 3-point range.

West Virginia (15-11, 4-9) made seven field goals in a row to build an 18-11 lead with 11:38 to go in the first half but was just 2 for 18 the rest of the half, including an 0 for 11 stretch. Baylor outscored West Virginia 19-6 during that span and carried a 36-29 lead into halftime.

NO. 15 MIAMI 80 NORTH CAROLINA 72

Jordan Miller had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Hurricanes took over after halftime then had to hold off a late rally to win at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Nijel Pack added 23 points for Miami (21-5, 12-4 ACC), which led by just one at halftime but shot 52 percent after the break to pull away from North Carolina (16-10, 8-7).

TEXAS SOUTHERN 79 SOUTHERN 68

Kolby Granger had 29 points as the Tigers upset the host Jaguars. PJ Henry added 19 for TSU (9-17, 5-8). Southern (13-13, 9-4) came into the game tied for second in the SWAC.

GRAMBLING STATE 68 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 64

Carte'Are Gordon had 18 points to help the Tigers fend off the visiting Panthers.

Prairie View (9-17, 5-8 SWAC) was led by Yahuza Rasas with 25 points.

ALABAMA JUMPS UH FOR NO. 1

Alabama is the new No. 1, rising to the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in 20 years by leapfrogging No. 2 Houston.

Alabama received 38 firstplace votes, moving up two spots past UH, which lost to the Crimson Tide 71-65 on Dec. 10 at Fertitta Center. The Cougars had 22 first-place votes to remain at No. 2 .

WOMEN

NO. 22 IOWA STATE 66 NO. 17 TEXAS 61

Ashley Joens scored 24 points, Emily Ryan had 12 points and eight assists and the host Cyclones beat the Longhorns to snap a three-game losing streak and end Texas’ seven-game winning streak.

Rori Harmon sank a jumper to bring Texas within 61-57 in the final two minutes. Denae Fritz made a 3-pointer for a seven-point lead, and Joens added two free throws with 14.2 seconds left to seal it for Iowa State (16-7, 8-5 Big 12).

Harmon scored nine of her 19 points in the first quarter for Texas (20-7, 11-3.

NO. 2 INDIANA 83 NO. 13 OHIO STATE 59

Mackenzie Holmes scored a career-high 33 points and Sara Scalia made six 3 pointers as the visiting Hoosiers ran their winning streak to 12 games.

SOUTHERN 70 TEXAS SOUTHERN 52

The Tigers dropped to 1-23 on the season by losing at Baton Rouge, La.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 67 GRAMBLING STATE 60

Kennedi Heard scored 13 points off the bench to lead the Panthers to a road victory.