San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
No. 2 Auburn tops Kentucky, eyes top spot
Students camped outside Auburn Arena for at least 24 hours, waiting to get into the biggest home game in years.
The second-ranked Tigers made it worth the wait.
Walker Kessler scored 19 points and K.D. Johnson added 17, helping Auburn keep its hot streak alive and make a case for the top ranking with an 80-71 victory over No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday.
The Tigers (18-1, 7-0 SEC) rallied from a 10-point deficit to win their 15th straight in likely the biggest home game since the arena opened in 2010. It was big enough that students at the traditional football school were pitching tents Friday morning and endured the cold night to make sure they got in.
“To me it felt like a movie,” Johnson said. “I never played in anything like that. It’s just so fun.”
The Tigers, who have matched the highest ranking in program history, are hoping to move up to the top spot for the first time. Fans chanted “No. 1!” in the final moments, hoping to supplant Gonzaga.
“Sometimes it’s hard to have such high expectations be lived up to,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “But I don’t think there’s any question that that game and that environment lived up to anybody’s expectations.”
Kentucky’s No. 2 scorer, TyTy Washington, only played eight minutes and scored four points before being helped off the court with a left ankle injury. He didn’t return.
Oscar Tshiebwe had 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots for Kentucky (15-4, 5-2) and was already hoping for a rematch.
“I don’t think they’re better than us,” Tshiebwe said. “I think we’re going to beat them. I want to play them again.”
#5 Baylor 65, Oklahoma 51: Adam Flagler scored 16 points as the Bears (17-2, 5-2 Big 12) won their 14th straight away from home. Umoja Gibson’s 13 points led the Sooners (12-7, 2-5), who had 25 turnovers.
#6 Duke 79, Syracuse 59: AJ Griffin hit five 3-pointers as the host Blue Devils (15-3, 5-2 ACC) never trailed. Griffin and three other Duke players each scored 15 points, including Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore Jr. and Mark Williams. Jesse Edwards led the Orange (9-10, 3-5) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Jimmy Boeheim also had 12 points.
#7 Kansas 78, Kansas St. 75: Ochai Agbaji hit a baseline jumper with nine seconds left to lift the visiting Jayhawks (16-2, 5-1 Big 12). The Wildcats (10-8, 2-5) wasted a career-high 35 points by Nijel Pack.
#10 Houston 79, East Carolina 36: Kyler Edwards had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and the host Cougars (17-2, 6-0 American) led 44-14 at half. Tristen Newton finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Pirates (11-7, 2-4).
#11 Villanova 85, Georgetown 74: Collin Gillespie scored 28 points as the visiting Wildcats (14-5, 7-2 Big East) beat the Hoyas for the 17th time in 20 meetings. Collin Holloway had 25 points for Georgetown (6-10, 0-5), which has started Big East play with five straight losses for the first time.
#24 Tennessee 64, #13 LSU 50: Santiago Vescovi scored 16 points and the host Volunteers (13-5, 4-3 SEC) opened with a 14-0 run over more than six minutes to avenge a 12-point loss two weeks ago. Tari Eason’s 16 points led the Tigers (15-4, 3-4), who lost their third straight game.
TCU 69, #15 Iowa St. 44: Damion Baugh scored 23 points and the visiting Horned Frogs (13-3, 3-2 Big 12) held the Cyclones to their lowest point total in the 50-year history of Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State (14-5, 2-5) hit just 31% of its shots and committed 11 turnovers.
#16 USC 79, Utah 67: Drew Peterson scored 23 points and Boogie Ellis added 18 for the visiting Trojans (16-2, 6-2 Pac-12). Peterson made all five of his 3-point attempts, went 9-for-10 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Gabe Madsen had 20 points for the Utes (8-12, 1-9), who have lost eight straight. #18 Texas Tech 78, West Virginia
65: Terrence Shannon, who scored 23 points, had a go-ahead three-point play for the Red Raiders (15-4, 5-2 Big 12) at home. Taz Sherman led the Mountaineers (13-5, 2-4) with 21 points. Missouri St. 79, #22 Loyola (Chicago) 69: Isiaih Mosley scored 40 points and the Bears (15-6, 6-2 Missouri Valley) ended the host Ramblers’ 10-game winning streak. Braden Morris had 16 points for Loyola (14-3, 5-1), which had won 30 straight home games for the fourth-longest active streak in Division I.
#23 Texas 56, Oklahoma St. 51:
Marcus Carr scored 14 points, two coming on two free throws with five seconds left, as the host Longhorns (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) won despite going more than 10 minutes without scoring in the first half. Bryce Thompson scored 20 points for the Cowboys (10-8, 3-4).
USF 71, Pepperdine 45: Julian Rishwain scored 20 points off the bench as the visiting Dons (15-4, 2-2 WCC) bounced back from Thursday’s loss at Gonzaga. Mike Mitchell Jr. and Carson Basham each had 11 points for the Waves (6-15, 0-6).
UNLV 70, San Jose State 62: Bryce Hamilton had 30 points in a win for the host Runnin’ Rebels (11-8, 3-3 Mountain West). Trey Anderson totaled 19 points and nine rebounds to pace the Spartans (7-10, 0-5), who have lost five straight.
WOMEN
#15 Texas 68, TCU 47: Joanne Allen-Taylor and Audrey Warren combined to score 27 points as the Longhorns (14-3, 4-2 Big 12) continued their season-long road success. Lauren Heard paced the Horned Frogs (6-9, 2-4) with 12 points and seven rebounds.
#17 BYU 74, San Diego 63: Shaylee Gonzales scored 29 points and the visiting Cougars (15-1, 5-0 WCC) pulled away in the third quarter for their seventh straight win. Jordyn Edwards had 13 points and five assists to lead the Toreros (10-9, 2-3), who have lost three straight. #24 Florida Gulf Coast 66, Jacksonville St. 44: Tishara Morehouse scored 20 points and the visiting Eagles (17-1, 6-0) won their 10th straight. Kennedy Gavin scored 10 points for the Gamecocks (14-4, 5-1), whose eight-game winning streak ended.
Gonzaga 66, St. Mary’s 53: Kayleigh Truong scored 16 points and twin sister Kaylynne added 12 as the Bulldogs (14-4, 5-0 WCC) won in Moraga. Ali Bamberger had 22 points for the Gaels (9-7, 3-2).
USF 70, Loyola Marymount 49: Jasmine Gayles scored 20 points to lead the host Dons (9-10, 3-4 WCC). Ariel Johnson had 18 points for the Lions (5-10, 0-5).
Air Force 58, San Jose St. 46: Riley Snyder had 19 points for the host Falcons (10-8, 4-3 Mountain West). Ella Ogier’s 15 points led the Spartans (3-14, 0-6).
Portland 76, Santa Clara 71: Alex Fowler scored 10 points in overtime for the host Pilots (12-4, 2-2 WCC). Lindsey VanAllen’s career-high 32 points led the Broncos (9-6, 3-2).