No. 1 Syracuse back at 18-0
The top-ranked Syracuse men’s basketball team bolted to a 19-point halftime lead and cruised past Villanova 79-66 Wednesday in Philadelphia. Philly native Dion Waiters led Syracuse (18-0, 5-0 Big East) with 20 points, and James Southerland had 13. The Orange took charge with a 20-2 first-half run. They are 18-0 for the second season in a row. Dominic Cheek, Mouphtaou Yarou and Jayvaughn Pinkston each had 12 points for the Wildcats (8-9, 1-4).
No. 2 Kentucky 68, Auburn 53: The Wildcats (16-1, 2-0 Southeastern) shrugged off a ragged effort by closing on a 23-6 run to win on the road. Anthony Davis and Doron Lamb each had 14 points for Kentucky. Rob Chubb led Auburn (10-6, 0-2) with 14 points and eight rebounds.
No. 9 Missouri 76, Iowa State 69: Five players scored in double figures, paced by Matt Pressey with 14, in the Tigers’ road win. Missouri (15-1, 2-1 Big 12) beat the Cyclones (12-4, 2-1), who were led by 19 points from Scott Christopherson, for the eighth time in a row.
No. 10 Kansas 81, Texas Tech 46: Thomas Robinson scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to power the Jayhawks (13-3, 3-0 Big 12) to the road victory. Javarez Willis led the Red Raiders (7-8, 0-3) with 12 points.
No. 13 Michigan 66, Northwestern 64: Trey Burke scored eight of his 19 points in overtime to rally the Wolverines (14-3, 4-1 Big Ten) past the Wildcats in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern (11-5, 1-3) trailed 66-63 when Alex Marcotullio was fouled while shooting a three-pointer with three seconds left. He missed the first free throw and after making the second he intentionally missed the third. But Michigan came down with the rebound.
No. 24 Marquette 83, St. John’s 64: Darius JohnsonOdom had 20 points and six assists and Jae Crowder added 15 points and nine rebounds as the Golden Eagles (13-4, 2-2 Big East) rolled at home. Davante Gardner was Marquette’s top scorer with 22 off the bench. The Golden Eagles shot 56% from the field. It was Marquette’s first game since road losses last week to Syracuse and Georgetown. God’sgift Achiuwa led the Red Storm (8-8, 2-3) with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Women’s games
No. 1 Baylor 71, Oklahoma State 44: The Lady Bears used a 20-4 burst early in the second half to pull away from a twopoint halftime edge for their 33rd consecutive home victory. Brittney Griner led Baylor (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) with 28 points and 11 rebounds, her 34th doubledouble. Liz Donohoe led Oklahoma State (9-3, 1-2) with 19 points and eight rebounds. Cowgirls head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed in a private plane crash Nov. 17. Baylor fans gave the team and coach Jim Littell a standing ovation when they entered the arena.
Texas 76, No. 10 Texas A&M 71: Chassidy Fussell came off the bench to score 22 as the Longhorns (11-4, 1-2 Big 12) upset the defending national champions. Ashley Gayle added 17 points for Texas, which ended an 11-game losing streak to A&M. Sydney Carter led the Aggies (10-4, 1-2) with 25 points.
Oklahoma 71, No. 14 Texas Tech 68: The Sooners survived a 10-minute gap without a field goal to hand the Lady Raiders their first loss behind 24 points from Whitney Hand. Freshman Sharane Campbell scored the last seven points for Oklahoma (10-4, 2-1 Big 12). Christine Hyde led Texas Tech (14-1, 2-1) with 21 points.
No. 15 Louisville 63, South Florida 57: Shoni Schimmel had 16 points and three assists as the Cardinals (14-3, 3-1 Big East) pulled away in the second half at home. Jasmine Wynne led South Florida (9-8, 1-2) with 20 points.