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Boston College suffers first lossNotre Dame won 68-65 as the Eagles lost after starting 20-0.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Boston College found out what top-ranked teams UCLA, DePaul and San Francisco learned in years past -- Notre Dame isn't where undefeated teams want to play.
Colin Falls matched his career high with 23 points and Chris Thomas added 19 points and nine assists as the Irish ended the fourth-ranked Eagles' 20-game winning streak and handed them their first loss of the season, 68-65 Tuesday night.
Boston College junior Craig Smith said the loss had nothing to do with the pressure of trying to stay undefeated. The key was the Irish caught the Eagles a little off guard with their zone defense, then shot 51 percent themselves.
"They got us out of our offense because of their defense and due to the fact they also were hitting shots," he said. "When you're home, it's like that."
Eagles coach Al Skinner said the loss was disappointing, but won't prevent the Eagles from accomplishing their goals.
"Being unbeaten, that's nice and all, but that's not our goal," he said. "Our goal is to be as successful as we can in the league. The fact of the matter is, we're in first place."
The Eagles (20-1, 9-1 Big East) held a 62-54 lead over Boston College, but the Eagles closed to 62-59 as Jared Dudley made two free throws and then converted a three-point play.
But Thomas ensured the Irish (14-6, 6-4) didn't have another meltdown, making four free throws over the final 1:11 to give Notre Dame a 66-59 lead.
"I just tried to smile and have fun out there," he said.
No. 1 Illinois 57, Michigan 51
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dee Brown scored 16 points and No. 1 Illinois became the lone unbeaten team in Division I.
The Illini (24-0, 10-0 Big Ten), who trailed by eight points early in the second half, were held to their lowest point total of the season. They became the lone unbeaten when No. 4 Boston College lost 68-65 at Notre Dame just minutes before the Illini finished off the Wolverines.
Dion Harris had 21 points and seven rebounds for Michigan (12-12, 3-7), who have lost seven straight, their longest losing streak since the 1999-2000 season.
No. 5 Kentucky 69, Florida 66
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kelenna Azubuike scored 18 points and No. 5 Kentucky rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit.
The Wildcats (18-2, 9-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Florida (14-6, 6-3) for the eighth straight time and 10th in 11 games. The Wildcats hold a three-game lead in the SEC East with seven games remaining.
Florida, which routed then-No. 11 Alabama by 31 points on Saturday, looked to be in control against Kentucky as well, leading by 11 points in the first half and by nine with 16:57 left.
But Kentucky scored 13 of the next 15 points to go ahead 47-45. The Wildcats took the lead for the first time since early in the game when Rajon Rondo threw a behind-the-back pass to Ravi Moss for a lay-in with 13 minutes left.
The Wildcats went ahead for good at 53-52 on Azubuike's 3-pointer with 9:52 left and held the lead thanks in good measure to the play of Rondo, their freshman point guard.
The 6-foot-1 Rondo had 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He also helped shut down Anthony Roberson, the SEC's second-leading scorer, in the second half when he had eight mostly meaningless points after getting 15 in the first half.
No. 18 Pittsburgh 55, St. John's 44
PITTSBURGH -- Chevon Troutman scored 19 points to lead the Panthers, who wore down St. John's in the second half with their size and strength.
Chris Taft had eight of his 12 points in the second half for Pittsburgh (16-4, 6-3 Big East).
Daryll Hill had 18 points for the Red Storm (8-12, 2-8), who upset Pitt 65-62 in New York on Jan. 18.
Colorado 88, No. 23 Texas 79
BOULDER, Colo. -- Richard Roby scored 22 points, Marcus Hall added 17 and Colorado withstood a big second-half run to beat the short-handed Longhorns.
Andy Osborn had 14 points and some key rebounds in the second half for Colorado (12-9, 4-6 Big 12), which had five players in double figures and beat the Longhorns for just the second time in nine games. The Buffaloes also hounded freshman Daniel Gibson, Texas' leading scorer the previous six games, into 4-of-12 shooting and eight turnovers.
Brad Buckman had 27 points and 21 rebounds, and Jason Klotz added 16 points for Texas (15-7, 4-5), which has lost four of five and will likely drop out of the polls after being ranked as high as No. 10 just a month ago.
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