college basketball roundup

TOP 25

Alabama 68, No. 12 Kentucky 66

TUSCALOOSA, ALA.

Ben Eblen grabbed a loose ball and made one of two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to help Alabama preserve hold on. The Wildcats, who had nearly erased a 20-point deficit, rebounded the missed foul shot but couldn’t get a good shot off at the buzzer. Terrence Jones dribbled across midcourt and heaved a wild 3-pointer in traffic that caromed high off the backboard.

No. 23 Illinois 71, No. 17 Michigan State 62

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

Brandon Paul scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half to lead Illinois. The Illini (14-5, 4-3 Big Ten) led 53-43 on a 3-pointer by Paul with 13:08 to play. But they had to hold off a late Spartans charge, getting seven free throws from four players to build a two-point edge back up to 65-57.

No. 23 Georgetown 80, Seton Hall 75

NEWARK, N.J.

Austin Freeman scored 28 points and Georgetown went 8 for 9 from the free throw line in the final 2:11 as the Hoyas held on to beat Seton Hall. The win was the second in three days in New Jersey for the Hoyas (14-5, 3-4 Big East), who had lost three straight before Saturday.

MORE BIG TEN

Northwestern 74, Michigan 60

EVANSTON, ILL.

John Shurna scored a game-high 24 points to lead Northwestern. Shurna also had eight rebounds. He made four 3-pointers and went 8 of 14 from the field as the Wildcats (12-5, 3-4 Big Ten) claimed their third win in four starts.

AREA

Malone 65, Notre Dame College 62

SOUTH EUCLID

Seventeenth-ranked Malone withstood some early shooting struggles and a late Falcon rally to win on the road in the American Mideast Conference game. Forward Jock Rottman led the way for the Pioneers (14-6, 7-1) with 12 points off the bench. Eric Dummermuth pulled down 15 rebounds to go with his 32 points for the Falcons (7-11, 2-4).

WOMEN

No. 11 Notre Dame 80, No. 16 Georgetown 58

SOUTH BEND, IND.

Skylar Diggins scored 17 of her 22 points in the first half and added six assists to lead Notre Dame. Natalie Novosel added 19 points for the Irish (16-4, 5-1 Big East).

AREA

Walsh 102, Carlow 49

NORTH CANTON

Katie Berry scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half to lead the 16th-ranked Cavaliers (14-4, 5-1), who led 53-18 at halftime.

Staff/wire reports