TOP 25 HOOPS: Kentucky holds off Tar Heels

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Freshman Anthony Davis blocked John Henson's shot in the final seconds and Doron Lamb scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half as No. 1 Kentucky held on to beat No. 5 North Carolina 73-72 on Saturday, extending the Wildcats' home winning streak to 39 games.

Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Kentucky (8-0).

This one came down to the final possession. Reggie Bullock hit a 3-pointer for North Carolina (6-2) to cut the Wildcats' lead to 73-72 with 48 seconds left. After Marquis Teague missed the front end of a one-and-one, Davis blocked Henson's shot and grabbed the rebound to end it.

Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points apiece for the Tar Heels, who led by as many as nine in the first half and held a six-point lead in the second before Kentucky rallied.

NO. 2 OHIO STATE 64, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 35

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Evan Ravenel scored a career-high 11 points in place of Jared Sullinger and Ohio State gave coach Thad Matta his 300th career win.

Sullinger had back spasms during the Buckeyes' win over third-ranked Duke on Tuesday night and will be re-evaluated before Ohio State (8-0) faces No. 15 Kansas in Lawrence.

Deshaun Thomas also had 11 points for the Buckeyes as Matta improved to 300-88 over 12 seasons, the last eight at Ohio State where he is 198-57.

Jared Maree scored 13 points for the Broncs (2-7).

NO. 8 UCONN 75, ARKANSAS 62

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Freshman Ryan Boatright scored 23 points, and had six assists in his home debut as Connecticut beat Arkansas in the Big East-SEC challenge.

Boatright hit eight of his 12 shots and also had five rebounds for the Huskies, who didn't score a field goal for the first five minutes of the game.

That was just after Boatright checked in to give UConn a 3-guard lineup and the Huskies went on a 14-2 run. The point guard sat out the first six games because of an NCAA suspension.

Jeremy Lamb added 14 points and Tyler Olander had 12 for UConn (7-1).

B.J. Young scored 28 points for Arkansas (5-2) and Devonta Abron had 16 rebounds for the Razorbacks, who outrebounded Connecticut 47-35.

NO. 16 MARQUETTE 61, NO. 9 WISCONSIN 54

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Darius Johnson-Odom scored 17 points and Marquette snapped Wisconsin's 23-game home winning streak.

Todd Mayo added 14 points for the Golden Eagles (7-0), including a critical late layup and an emphatic game-clinching dunk.

Jordan Taylor scored 13 and tried to lead a late comeback charge for the Badgers (6-2), who have lost two straight.

The Golden Eagles were without starting point guard Junior Cadougan, who was suspended for the game for a violation of team rules. Marquette announced shortly before the game that Cadougan would not be in uniform and would miss only Saturday's game for the unspecified violation.

NO. 11 XAVIER 66, PURDUE 63

CINCINNATI (AP) - Tu Holloway scored 21 points, including three consecutive 3-pointers in the last 2 minutes, and Xavier rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit.

Holloway personally capped the Musketeers' comeback with six straight points that gave Xavier a 61-60 lead with 1:06 left. It was Xavier's first lead since 2-0 in the first two minutes.

After Purdue's Robbie Hummel tied the game with a free throw with 55.8 seconds left, Holloway calmly sank his third straight 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to give the Musketeers a 64-61 lead and two free throws with 21.7 seconds left for the final margin.

Mark Lyons added 14 points and Kenny Frease and Andre Walker each finished with 10 as the Musketeers (6-0) overcame their highest turnover total since the 2008-2009 season to remain undefeated.

Hummel scored 17 points to lead the Boilermakers (7-2).

NO. 14 MICHIGAN 76, IOWA STATE 66

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points and Jordan Morgan added 16 to help Michigan win the schools' first meeting since 1994.

Iowa State (5-3) led by many as six in the opening five minutes, but Trey Burke scored the next eight points. Michigan (6-2) controlled the game after that, handing the Cyclones their second straight defeat.

Burke finished with 13 points for Michigan, but only had two in the second half.

Royce White had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Cyclones, while former Michigan State player Chris Allen added 11 - all in the second half.

NO. 15 KANSAS 70, SOUTH FLORIDA 42

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Tyshawn Taylor had 24 points and Travis Releford's 3-pointer seemed to awaken sluggish Kansas.

Thomas Robinson had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Jayhawks (5-2), ending his stretch of six straight double-doubles.

Kansas had more points (46) in the second half than South Florida had in the game.

Leading by three at halftime, Kansas opened the second half with a 7-0 run keyed by Robinson. The 6-10 junior rebounded a teammate's miss and scored on a soft putback to make it 28-21, then stole a Bulls pass and fed Taylor streaking downcourt on a fastbreak, who completed a three-point play to put the Jayhawks ahead by 10.

Augustus Gilchrist had 11 points for the Bulls (5-4).

NO. 17 PITTSBURGH 61, TENNESSEE 56

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - John Johnson converted a three-point play with 2 seconds left to seal Pittsburgh's win in the Big East/SEC Challenge.

The Panthers (7-1) led by 8 with 1:46 to go. Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs was called for a flagrant foul after elbowing Trae Golden, who was trying to foul him. Golden sank one of two foul shots, and Cameron Tatum hit a layup to cut the Panthers' lead to 5.

Pittsburgh missed the front end of two 1-and-1 free-throw opportunities, and a 3 by Golden with 11 seconds left cut the lead to 58-56.

Dante Taylor missed another Panthers free throw. When Golden took the ball down the floor, Gibbs tied him up with the possession arrow in Pittsburgh's favor, setting up Johnson's baskets.

Gibbs and Nasir Robinson each scored 16 for the Panthers.

Tatum led Tennessee (3-4) with 13 points.

ILLINOIS 82, NO. 19 GONZAGA 75

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Meyers Leonard scored 21 points and helped Illinois hold Gonzaga's Robert Sacre to two points in the second half.

D.J. Richardson added 19 points for the undefeated Illini (8-0). He hit two free throws and a 3-pointer that put Illinois up 67-60 with 5:35 to play.

Sacre fouled out two minutes later. He finished with 16 points. But he went scoreless for more than 20 minutes. Elias Harris led Gonzaga (5-1) with 19 points.

Brandon Paul scored 13 for Illinois.

NO. 22 MEMPHIS 91, AUSTIN PEAY 60

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Will Barton had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Memphis made 15 3-pointers to run past Austin Peay.

Adonis Thomas added 17 points for the Tigers (4-2), who finished one short of the school record for 3s, set against Marquette in 2004. Joe Jackson had 11 points, and Tarik Black added 10.

Melvin Baker scored 15 points for Governors (0-9). Leading scorer Tyshwan Edmondson was held to three points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Memphis shot 62 percent (18 for 29) in the first half - including 11 for 15 on 3s - and led 52-27 at the break.

The Tigers broke the game open with a 16-2 run midway through the opening half. They were never really threatened in the second half, leading by at least 30 for much of the final 20 minutes even though their 3-point shooting tapered off.

NO. 23 SAINT LOUIS 73, PORTLAND 53

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Brian Conklin made all seven shots with a strong inside game and scored 19 points, helping Saint Louis get a win in its first home game as a ranked team since 1994 on Saturday night.

Cody Ellis had 16 points off the bench and Kyle Cassity and Mike McCall had 10 apiece for the Billikens (7-1), who had a 25-3 run in the first half and led by 26 early in the second. Those three combined for Saint Louis' seven 3-pointers, with Cassity going 3 for 5.

Saint Louis could drop out of the Top 25 after losing at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night in its fourth game in six days, but has a good chance to beef up the resume with the next five also at home against beatable opponents.

Thomas van der Mars had 12 points before fouling out with 6:30 remaining for Portland (3-5), which has lost five of six.

NO. 25 TEXAS A&M 55, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 42

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Elston Turner scored 17 points and Ray Turner added 12 to lead Texas A&M.

David Loubeau scored 11 for the Aggies (6-1), who have not topped 60 points in five straight games. A&M overcame a slow start to win its fourth straight overall and its 65th straight nonconference home game.

Jereal Scott scored 12 points to lead the Lumberjacks (3-3), and Antonio Bostic had 10.

The Aggies led 26-15 at halftime, and managed to keep Stephen F. Austin at bay the rest of the game.

A&M shot 42 percent (20 for 48) from the floor while SFA was at 29 percent (15 for 52). The Aggies followed up an 0-for-17 showing from the 3-point line in a 56-44 victory over Alcorn State on Wednesday by making 4 of 12 against SFA.

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