Top 25 College Basketball Thursday’s games

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No. 14 Kentucky 80, Tennessee 70

LEXINGTON, KY.

Jamal Murray scored 28 points, Derek Willis made seven 3-pointers for a career-high 25 and No. 14 Kentucky beat Tennessee for its fourth straight victory. Sixteen days after blowing a 21-point lead in an 84-77 loss at Tennessee, the Wildcats (20-6, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) held their ground this time against the Volunteers.

No. 21 SMU 68, Connecticut 62

HARTFORD, CONN.

Amida Brimah had 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocks as UConn improved its NCAA Tournament resume with a victory over No. 21 SMU. Brimah was playing in his sixth game since returning from a broken finger. Daniel Hamilton scored 14 points and made two key free throws late for the Huskies (19-7, 9-4 American) and Shonn Miller added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Minnesota 68, No. 6 Maryland 63

MINNEAPOLIS

Nate Mason had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists to help Minnesota get its first Big Ten win of the season with a stunning upset of No. 6 Maryland. Jordan Murphy added 17 points and 11 rebounds and Joey King had 15 points and six boards for Minnesota (7-19, 1-13), which shot just 33 percent.

No. 8 Michigan St. 69, Wisconsin 57

EAST LANSING, MICH.

Denzel Valentine had 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, leading No. 8 Michigan State to a victory over Wisconsin. The Spartans (22-5, 9-5 Big Ten) went from eighth place in the conference into a four-way tie for fourth with their sixth win in seven games.

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No. 3 South Carolina 61, Georgia 51

COLUMBIA, S.C.

Tiffany Mitchell scored 19 points and No. 3 South Carolina wrapped up its third straight Southeastern Conference title with a victory over Georgia. The Gamecocks (25-1, 13-0 SEC) had earned a share of the league crown last Monday night with a 62-56 win at Tennessee.

No. 2 Notre Dame 86, Wake Forest 52

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

Brianna Turner had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Notre Dame remained undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference by beating Wake Forest. The Fighting Irish (25-1, 13-0 ACC) won their 18th straight. Ariel Stephenson scored 17 for the Deacons (15-12, 6-8).

No. 5 Ohio State 96, Nebraska 70

COLUMBUS

Alexa Hart had 18 points to lead five players in double figures and Ohio State cruised to a win over Nebraska. Ohio State led for nearly 39 minutes and extended its winning streak to 10 games.

No. 23 Syracuse 83, No. 10 Florida State 73

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

Alexis Peterson had 17 points and Brianna Butler added 16 to lead a quartet of Syracuse players in double figures, and the Orange defeated Florida State.

No. 11 Louisville 74, Virginia 59

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Myisha Hines-Allen had 19 of her 22 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds as Louisville pulled away for a win over Virginia. Mariya Moore had 16 of her 18 points in the first half and added seven rebounds and five assists for the Cardinals (21-6, 12-1 ACC), who led 37-33 at the half.

No. 12 Texas A&M 68, LSU 54

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

Courtney Williams scored 17 points and Texas A&M pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat LSU. Texas A&M (19-7, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) has won four straight and has a one-game lead over Mississippi State, Florida and Auburn for second place in the conference.

No. 16 Kentucky 83, No. 14 Mississippi State 60

STARKVILLE, MISS.

Maci Morris scored 17 points, Makayla Epps had 16 and Kentucky took charge in the third quarter and rolled Mississippi State. Reserves Taylor Murray and Alexis Jennings combined for 25 points, going 10 for 11 from the foul line.

No. 22 Florida 79, Vanderbilt 67

GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Eleanna Christinaki scored 22 points and Florida defeated Vanderbilt to reach 20 victories. Haley Lorenzen added 12 points and Ronni Williams, Carlie Needles and Simone Westbrook 10 apiece for the Gators (20-6, 8-5 SEC).

No. 24 Tennessee 57, Mississippi 51

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

Kortney Dunbar made two critical baskets in the last two minutes as Tennessee rallied to beat Mississippi after blowing a nine-point, fourth-quarter lead. Dunbar hit a layup to put the Lady Volunteers ahead for good with 1:36 left.

No. 25 Michigan State 70, Rutgers 67

PISCATAWAY, N.J.

Aerial Powers scored 27 points with 14 rebounds and Michigan State beat Rutgers. Powers was 15 of 17 at the line for the Spartans (19-7, 10-5 Big Ten).

Associated Press