K-State knocks off sixth-ranked Cyclones

Arthur Kaluma scored 23 points, Cam Carter added 21 and Kansas State beat sixth-ranked Iowa State, 65-58, Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., giving the Wildcats’ flickering NCAA Tournament hopes a big boost heading into the Big 12 Tournament.

David N’Guessan added 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds on senior day for the Wildcats (18-13, 8-10 Big 12), who blew most of a 17-point, secondhalf lead before holding on.

Curtis Jones had 16 points for the Cyclones (24-7, 13-5), who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Houston 76, Kansas 46

In Houston, Jamal Shead had 13 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Damian Dunn added 12 points and the No. 1 Cougars (28-3, 15-3) claimed the Big 12 regular-season title in their first season in the league with a throttling of the No. 14 Jayhawks (22-9, 10-8).

Connecticut 74, Providence 60

In Providence, R.I., Alex Karaban scored 16 points and Tristen Newton had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists as second-ranked UConn (28-3, 18-2 Big East) bounced back after falling behind, 15-2, early to beat the Friars (19-12, 10-10).

Southern Cal 78, Arizona 65

In Los Angeles, DJ Rodman and Kobe Johnson scored 19 points each and USC (14-17, 8-12 Pac-12) defeated the No. 5 Wildcats (24-7, 15-5) for the Trojans’ first threegame winning streak of the season.

Kentucky 85, Tennessee 81

In Knoxville, Tenn., Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard each scored 27 points as the No. 15 Wildcats (23-8, 13-5 SEC) spoiled the No. 4 Volunteers’ (24-7, 14-4) late season run despite SEC Player of the Year candidate Dalton Knecht’s career-high 40 points.

Marquette 86, Xavier 80

In Cincinnati, Kam Jones scored 30 points and Oso Ighodaro added 24 as the No. 8 Golden Eagles (23-8, 14-6 Big East), who were without injured guard Tyler Kolek for the third straight game, snapped a twogame losing streak and secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament by beating the Musketeers (15-16, 9-11).

Creighton 69, Villanova 67

In Philadelphia, Trey Alexander hit a fadeaway jumper with 0.2 seconds left and finished with 17 points as the No. 10 Bluejays (23-8, 14-6 Big East) survived a furious late rally and beat the Wildcats (17-14, 10-10).

Texas Tech 78, Baylor 68

In Lubbock, Texas, Pop Isaacs scored 20 points, including the first of Texas Tech’s four consecutive 3-pointers after the No. 11 Bears (22-9, 11-7) had taken their only lead after halftime, and the Red Raiders (22-9, 11-7 Big 12) went on to win in their regular-season finale.

Auburn 92, Georgia 78

In Auburn, Ala., Denver Jones scored a season-high 21 points, making 7 of 9 3-pointers, and No. 13 Auburn (24-7, 13-5 SEC) closed the regular season with a win over the Bulldogs (16-15, 6-12).

Alabama 92, Arkansas 88 (OT)

In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Mark Sears scored 22 points and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 20, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 22 seconds to go to force overtime, as the No. 16 Crimson Tide (21-10, 13-5) rallied to beat the Razorbacks (15-16, 6-12).

South Carolina 93, Mississippi St. 89 (OT)

In Starkville, Miss., B.J. Mack had 25 points and Collin Murray-Boyles scored 19 in the No. 17 Gamecocks’ (25-6, 13-5 SEC) overtime victory over the Bulldogs (19-12, 8-10).

Tulsa 76, South Florida 70

In Tulsa, Okla., freshman PJ Haggerty scored a career-high 32 points, including 26 in the second half, as the Golden Hurricane (16-14, 7-11 American) upset No. 24 USF (23-6, 16-2) to snap the nation’s longest winning streak at 15 games.