Top-25 College Basketball Game Capsules

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. The Wildcats opened the game on a 24-0 run and allowed just three field goals on 37 shots from the Bruins in the first half en route to building a startling 41-7 lead at the break. The seven points were the lowest total in a half in UCLA’s storied history and the fewest Kentucky has permitted in a period since 1943. UCLA finished a miserable 25.4 percent from the field and 1-of-4 from the foul line, committed 15 turnovers and had 13 shots rejected by the Wildcats’ suffocating defense. Aaron Harrison chipped in 15 points and Andrew Harrison dished out eight assists to help Kentucky (12-0) dominate from start-to-finish. Isaac Hamilton had 14 points and Bryce Alford finished with 13 for UCLA (8-4), though neither scored during the Bruins’ humiliating opening half.

Final Score: (4) Louisville 76, Western Kentucky 67

Bowling Green, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Terry Rozier had 32 points and three steals in the fourth-ranked Louisville Cardinals’ 76-67 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday. The game almost got ugly with 38.7 seconds left before the half. After a post-rebound scrum, Louisville forward Montrezl Harrell tried to throw a punch at Western Kentucky guard Avery Patterson. Shortly after, head coaches Rick Pitino and Ray Harper were both given technicals for jawing with each other. Harrell, who had 14 points and six rebounds, was ejected from the game. He will be suspended for Tuesday’s game against Cal State-Northridge. Chris Jones added 10 points for the Cardinals (10-0), who survived their first true road test of the 2014-15 campaign. T.J. Price ended with 24 points and seven rebounds for the Hilltoppers (5-5), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. DJ Clayton tallied 14 points.

Final Score: (7) Villanova 82, Syracuse 77 (OT)

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Villanova erased a five-point deficit over the final 17 seconds of regulation and the seventh-ranked Wildcats eventually prevailed, 82-77, in overtime over Syracuse at Wells Fargo Center. With 11 seconds left in the second half, Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer to bring Villanova (11-0) within 69-67 and after stealing the inbounds pass the following possession, Jayvaughn Pinkston’s layup tied the game with four seconds left. Pinkston led all scorers with 25 points and 10 rebounds and Darrun Hilliard added 23 points. Hart’s 21-point game was a career high. Once leading by as many as 15 points, the Orange (6-4) could not put the hosts away. Rakeem Christmas and Michael Gbinije each paced Syracuse with 18 points before fouling out in overtime.

Final Score: (8) Gonzaga 63, Cal Poly 50

Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) – Przemek Karnowski had 16 points and eight rebounds as No. 8 Gonzaga defeated Cal Poly 63-50 on Saturday night. Kevin Pangos netted 16 points for the Bulldogs (11-1), who have won four straight since their lone loss at Arizona on Dec. 6. David Nwaba led the Mustangs (5-5) with 21 points.

Final Score: (9) Texas 78, Long Beach State 68

Austin, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Javan Felix posted 17 points to lead No. 9 Texas to a 78-68 win over Long Beach State on Saturday. Jonathan Holmes scored 14 points, Cameron Ridley gave 13 points and six rebounds and Connor Lammert had 10 points and 12 boards for the Longhorns (10-1), who have won their past three. Demarcus Holland had 10 points, seven boards and four assists. Mike Caffey scored 23 points for the 49ers (5-7), who have lost three straight.

Final Score: (10) Kansas 96, Lafayette 69

Lawrence, KS (SportsNetwork.com) – Kelly Oubre Jr. gave 23 points and 10 rebounds as No. 10 Kansas crushed Lafayette, 96-69, on Saturday. Frank Mason III had 14 points and nine assists and Wayne Selden Jr. added 12 points and six assists for the Jayhawks (9-1), who have won eight straight since a loss to Kentucky on Nov. 18. Seth Hinrichs had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Leopards (7-3), who had a four-game winning streak stopped. Dan Trist gave 12 points in the loss.

Final Score: (24) North Carolina 82, (12) Ohio State 74

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Brice Johnson had 18 points and nine rebounds in the 24th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels’ 82-74 victory over the 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at the United Center. Marcus Paige added 16 points for the Tar Heels (8-3), who have won two in a row since a loss at top- ranked Kentucky on Dec. 13. Justin Jackson tallied 11 points. Marc Loving ended with 19 points for the Buckeyes (9-2), who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Sam Thompson contributed 17 points.

Final Score: (13) Iowa State 83, Drake 54

Des Moines, IA (SportsNetwork.com) – Naz Long scored 13 points to lead a balanced effort for No. 13 Iowa State in an 83-54 win over Drake on Saturday. Monte Morris netted 12 points, while Dustin Hogue and Matt Thomas each chipped in with 10 points for the Cyclones (9-1), who have won six straight since their lone loss of the season, a 72-63 decision against Maryland on Nov. 25. Iowa State shot 54 percent from the floor, including 52 percent from beyond the arc in the blowout win. Jacob Enevold Jensen and Trevor Berkeley each scored 10 points to lead the Bulldogs (2-9).

Final Score: (14) Utah 59, UNLV 46

Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) – Delon Wright scored 17 points and No. 14 Utah pulled away in the second half for a 59-46 win over UNLV at the MGM Grand on Saturday night. Brandon Taylor added 16 points for the Utes (8-2), who rebounded from a 63-60 loss to No. 10 Kansas last Saturday. They snapped a three-game losing streak to UNLV and beat the Runnin’ Rebels for just the second time in their last 10 meetings in Las Vegas. Rashad Vaughn scored 16 points to lead UNLV (7-3), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Final Score: (16) Washington 69, (15) Oklahoma 67

Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Anderson and Robert Upshaw scored 11 points apiece, helping No. 16 Washington beat 15th-ranked Oklahoma 69-67 Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Huskies (10-0) built a 20- point lead in the first half, but had to hold on down the stretch to continue the program’s best start since going 11-0 to begin 2005-06. Jernard Jarreau paced Washington with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Isaiah Cousins and Buddy Hield both scored 17 points for Oklahoma (7-3), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Ryan Spangler posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds in defeat.

Final Score: (19) San Diego State 70, Ball State 57

San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Winston Shepard finished with 15 points and five assists to lift No. 19 San Diego State to a 70-57 victory over Ball State on Saturday. JJ O’Brien scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds and three assists, while Skylar Spencer had 10 points and six boards for the Aztecs (8-3), who bounced back from a 71-62 double-overtime loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday. Jeremie Tyler netted a game-high 17 points and Matt Kamieniecki supplied 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinals (3-6), who dropped their third straight game.

Final Score: (21) Notre Dame 94, Purdue 63

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Pat Connaughton recorded a double- double of 19 points and 14 rebounds and No. 21 Notre Dame bested Purdue, 94- 63, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Saturday’s Crossroads Classic matchup proved the Irish (11-1) have bragging rights in the Hoosier State, what with seven straight victories following their lone loss against Providence on Nov. 23. All five Notre Dame starters scored in double figures and Austin Torres donated 11 points off the bench for the victors. Demetrius Jackson led the way with 22 points, Steve Vasturia chipped in with 11, and Jerian Grant and Zach Auguste each added 10 in the rout. Jon Octeus, Bryson Scott and A.J. Hammons all scored 11 points as the Boilermakers (8-4) suffered their second straight loss.

Final Score: (22) West Virginia 83, North Carolina State 69

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Juwan Staten scored 24 points and Devin Williams added 16, leading 22nd-ranked West Virginia to an 83-69 win over North Carolina State in the Gotham Classic on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Jaysean Paige contributed 11 points off the bench before fouling out late in the contest for the Mountaineers (10-1), who have won three straight since their lone loss of the season, a 74-73 setback to LSU on Dec. 4. Trevor Lacey tried to keep North Carolina State close with 24 points, while Anthony Barber added 16 in defeat. The Wolfpack (9-3) committed 23 turnovers and fell to 3-3 after opening with six straight wins.

Final Score: Indiana 82, (23) Butler 73

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Yogi Ferrell scored all 20 of his points in the second half, helping Indiana gain some long-awaited revenge on Butler with an 82-73 victory over the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Troy Williams tied a career high with 22 points and pulled down a personal-best 11 rebounds to aid Indiana’s cause in the first meeting between the in-state rivals since Butler stunned the then top-ranked Hoosiers in overtime in Indianapolis during December of 2012. The outcome also was a special one for Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean, who garnered his 300th career win. Butler (8-3) received 23 points from Kellen Dunham and 14 out of Andrew Chrabascz, but struggled offensively for a second straight game.

Final Score: Texas Southern 71, (25) Michigan State 64 (OT)

East Lansing, MI (SportsNetwork.com) – Texas Southern did not take its first lead of the game until there was only 1:26 remaining in regulation, but the Tigers were able to force overtime and pull off a 71-64 upset win over No. 25 Michigan State on Saturday. Jason Carter’s 3-pointer capped a 7-0 Texas Southern run to give it a 53-52 lead, and his bucket the next possession helped push the game to overtime. Texas Southern (2-8) hit 12 free throws in the extra session to record its second win of the season. Chris Thomas led all scorers with 22 points for the Tigers, while Malcolm Riley added 20 off the bench. The Spartans (8-4) got 17 points and 10 rebounds from Matt Costello, and Denzel Valentine chipped in 15. Michigan State was just 4-of-21 from long distance.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball