NO. 1 KENTUCKY 69, MISSOURI 53
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Andrew Harrison scored 15 points to lead a balanced Kentucky attack, and the No. 1 Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 69-53 victory over Missouri on Thursday night.
The Wildcats improved to 20-0 for the third time in school history, and closed within five victories of matching the record start achieved by Adolph Rupp's team in 1953-54.
As usual, Kentucky (7-0 SEC) won with its defense. Missouri turned the ball over 15 times and shot just 38 percent from the field in the second half, when the game was largely decided.
Wes Clark scored 19 points for the Tigers (7-13, 1-6), who have lost six consecutive for the first time since 2006. Johnathan Williams III added 10 points and five rebounds.
Five players fouled out in the mucky game, resulting in a combined 57 free throws.
The tarnished silver lining for the Tigers was that they fared a whole lot better than in their trip to Rupp Arena two weeks ago. Kentucky looked every bit the nation's top team in an 86-37 victory that night, the most lopsided loss for Missouri in nearly two decades.
NO. 3 GONZAGA 64, PORTLAND 46
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and 11 rebounds as No. 3 Gonzaga beat Portland, extending the nation's longest home winning streak to 37 games dating to 2012.
Przemek Karnowski added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Gonzaga (21-1, 10-0 West Coast Conference), whose only loss was in overtime at then-No. 3 Arizona. It is the best start in program history.
Kyle Wiltjer scored 11 points and Kevin Pangos had 10 for Gonzaga, which has won 14 consecutive games and has beaten Portland in 37 of their last 39 meetings.
Bryce Pressley and Bobby Sharp each scored nine points to lead Portland (12-10, 3-7), which has lost five of six. The Pilots shot just 30 percent (18 of 61) in the game, 22 percent in the second half.
OHIO STATE 80, NO. 16 MARYLAND 56
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marc Loving scored 19 points and D'Angelo Russell added 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead Ohio State to a victory over No. 16 Maryland.
Jae'Sean Tate, starting his third game in a row, added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Buckeyes (17-5, 6-3 Big Ten), who have won three in a row -- including the last two over ranked opponents at home.
Russell, the nation's leading freshman scorer, flirted with a triple-double. He also had six assists and two steals, and didn't commit a turnover in 34 minutes.
Dez Wells had 12 points and Jake Layman 10 for Maryland (18-4, 6-3), which had won four of five.
Sports on 01/30/2015