No. 1 Kansas gets dealt a setback
Esa Ahmad broke out of a shooting slump with a career-high 27 points to lead No. 18 West Virginia to an 85-69 victory over top-ranked Kansas on Tuesday night in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Mountaineers (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) beat Kansas (18-2, 7-1) for the fourth straight time in Morgantown and snapped the Jayhawks’ 18-game winning streak.
Ahmad led West Virginia in scoring over the first two months of the season but entered Tuesday’s game with four straight games in single digits. He scored West Virginia’s first eight points against Kansas and finished 10 of 17 from the field.
“We didn’t guard him and he got off to a great start,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “I thought he was probably the best player in the game.”
West Virginia blew a double-digit lead after halftime for the third straight game. Svi Mykhailiuk’s three-pointer put the Jayhawks ahead, 59-58, midway through the second half. But that was their last lead.
Kansas then went nearly three minutes between field goals.
Tennessee 82, (4) Kentgucky 80: Robert Hubbs III scored 25 points and the Volunteers (11-9, 4-4 SEC) upset Kentucky (17-3, 7-1) in Knoxville, Tenn., to snap the Wildcats’ seven-game winning streak.
Tennessee earned its first victory over a topfive team since an 83-76 triumph over No. 3 Pittsburgh on Dec. 11, 2010.
(13) Virginia 71, (12) Notre Dame 54: London Perrantes scored 22 points and the visiting Cavaliers (16-3, 6-2 ACC) rolled to their 10th straight victory over the Fighting Irish (17-4, 6-2).
(14) Louisville 106, Pittsburgh 51: Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high 27 points as the visiting Cardinals (17-4, 5-3 ACC) trounced the Panthers (12-8, 1-6).
(24) South Carolina 98, Auburn 69: Duane Notice tied career highs with 27 points and 6 three-pointers and the host Gamecocks (16-4, 6-1 SEC) drubbed the Tigers (13-7, 3-5). BIG TEN
(20) Purdue 83, Michigan State 73: Caleb Swanigan had 25 points and 17 rebounds for the visiting Boilermakers (17-4, 6-2) in a victory over the Spartans (12-9, 4-4).
(23) Maryland 67, Rutgers 55: Melo Trimble scored 17 points and fueled a second-half surge that carried the host Terrapins (18-2, 6-1) past the Scarlet Knights (12-9, 1-7). STATE
Dominican (Ill.) 76, Maranatha 62: Tim Robertson’s 22 points paced the visiting Stars (9-8) in a victory over the Sabercats (4-10). WOMEN
(1) Connecticut 91, East Carolina 44: Gabby Williams had a tripledouble and the Huskies extended their NCAA-record winning streak to 94 games by beating the host Pirates.
Williams finished with 16 points and tied career highs with 16 rebounds and 10 assists in the fifth triple-double in program history. It helped the Huskies (19-0, 7-0 American Athletic Conference) match their record of 34 consecutive road victories.