Kentucky reaches 2,000 wins

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s 2,000th victory looked awfully familiar.

DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson scored 18 points apiece and the third-ranked Wildcats became the first team in NCAA history to reach the 2,000-win plateau with an 88-44 romp over Drexel on Monday night.

Kentucky improved to 2,000-635-1 in 107 seasons. North Carolina is next on the list with 1,992 wins while Kansas has 1,980.

The Wildcats did it in style, taking control early behind the play of Cousins and John Wall to improve to 12-0. Wall finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Samme Givens led Drexel (6-6) with 11 points, but the Dragons shot just 31 percent from the field and spent most of the game as invited guests to Kentucky’s celebration.

No. 12 Kansas St. 90, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 76

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Jacob Pullen had 18 points, Dominique Sutton added 14 and Kansas State responded to its highest ranking in 36 years with a convincing victory over winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Curtis Kelly had 13 points, Denis Clemente and Jamar Samuels added 12 each and the Wildcats shot 50 percent for their eighth consecutive win.

Penn State 76, American 57

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Talor Battle scored 16 points as Penn State won for the third time in four games.

The Nittany Lions (8-4) made 12 of their first 15 shots of the second half and finished at 54.9 percent from the field (28-for-51). Chris Babb scored 13 points and Bill Edwards had 12 for Penn State.

American (2-10), playing for the second time in as many days, got 17 points each from Vlad Moldoveanu and Nick Hendra.

Battle hit a wide-open 3-pointer with 1:19 left in the first half that gave Penn State a 36-25 lead, but the Eagles closed to within six on a 3-pointer by Hendra and a transition dunk by Riley Grafft in the final minute.

Slippery Rock 87, Shepherd 84

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. — Jabril Bailey scored 23 points — all five Rock starters reached double figures — and Slippery Rock improved to 8-0.

Bailey also had 10 rebounds. Maron Brown finished with 22 points, while Mike Evans Jr. had 15, Maurice Douglas scored 12 and Cecil Brown had 10 points and nine assists.

Tyrone Roach scored 35 points for Shepherd (1-6).

Ball State 59, N.C. Central 45

MUNCIE, Ind. — Malik Perry scored 17 points to lead Ball State over North Carolina Central.

Jarrod Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinals (4-5). Ball State controlled the boards, outrebounding North Carolina Central 37-23.

Terrence Watson scored 12 points for Ball State, which led 28-23 at halftime.

The Eagles (2-10) were led by Dijon Manns with 13 points. C.J. Wilkerson scored 11 and Nick Chasten had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.