SUNDAY’s OTHER COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAMES

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No. 1 Villanova 92, Seton Hall 76

PHILADELPHIA

Omari Spellman had 26 points, 11 rebounds and helped No. 1 Villanova kick off a rousing day in Philadelphia sports with a win over Seton Hall. The Wildcats (22-1, 9-1 Big East) won their ninth straight game in front of a crowd dotted with green jerseys and chanting for the Eagles just hours before the Super Bowl. Villanova’s win served as the sports appetizer for a city absolutely whipped into a frenzy, with fans lined up hours before kickoff around the block to get into sports bars to watch the Eagles play the New England Patriots. Mikal Bridges, who scored 17 points, hit a 3 with 2:22 left for a 21-point lead that seemed to serve as the cue for fans to turn their full attention toward the Super Bowl. Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado finished with 18 points and Desi Rodriguez had 20. Seton Hall and Butler have been the only thorns in Villanova’s Big East side since the conference was reconfigured in 2013. Each team had defeated Villanova three times — or, six of the program’s 12 losses over that span. Spellman hit three 3s in the first half and scored 15 points to give the Wildcats a 41-37 lead at the break.

No. 25 Arizona State 88, Washington State 78

PULLMAN, WASH.

Shannon Evans II scored 23 points and Romello White added 21 as No. 25 Arizona State beat Washington State. Tra Holder scored 20 for Arizona State (17-6, 5-6 Pac-12), which was coming off a loss at Washington. Malachi Flynn scored 22 for Washington State (9-13, 1-9), which has lost five in a row and is last in the league. Arizona State shot 70 percent in the second half to hold off the Cougars, who were undone by 18 turnovers. The Sun Devils, who shot 44 percent in the first half, led 40-38 at halftime behind 15 points from Shannon Evans II. The Cougars were hurt by 10 turnovers in the first. An 11-2 run to open the second half put the Sun Devils up 51-40. The Cougars clawed back and Carter Skaggs hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 59. Viont’e Daniels sank a 3-pointer to put Washington State ahead and Skaggs followed with another for a 65-61 lead. A foul and then a technical against ASU’s White sent Robert Franks to the free-throw line for four shots. He sank three to tie it at 72. Remy Martin sank two baskets and Evans hit a 3 as the Sun Devils ran to an 82-74 lead with four minutes left. Turnovers plagued the Cougars in the closing minutes and they could not recover.

WOMEN

No.1 UConn 106, Cincinnati 65

HARTFORD, CONN.

Napheesa Collier scored 25 points and Kia Nurse added 23 as UConn beat Cincinnati, giving the top-ranked Huskies their 150th straight win over an unranked opponent. Azura Stevens had 20 points and Katie Lou Samuelson chipped in with 18 for UConn (22-0, 10-0 American), which has won all 80 of its regular-season conference games since the formation of the American. Gabby Williams contributed her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Her seven assists give her 400 for her career. Antoinette Miller scored 20 points and Shanice Johnson had 17 to lead Cincinnati (13-10, 5-5 American).

No. 4 Louisville 84, Syracuse 77

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

Asia Durr scored 27 points, Myisha Hines-Allen added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 4 Louisville beat Syracuse. It was the 13th straight road win for the Cardinals (24-1, 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Sydney Zambrotta added eight points as the deep Louisville bench flexed its muscle. All nine players who saw action scored. Digna Strautmane led the Orange with 22 points, her third straight 20-point game, and Tiana Mangakahia had 20 points and 10 assists with 10 turnovers.

No. 5 Notre Dame 72, No. 19 Duke 54

DURHAM, N.C.

Marina Mabrey scored 18 points, and No. 5 Notre Dame pulled away to beat No. 19 Duke. Jackie Young added 17 points and Arike Ogunbowale finished with 12 to help the Fighting Irish (22-2, 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) win their seventh straight. They shot nearly 54 percent in the second half, scored 22 points off Duke’s 17 turnovers and used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to wrap up their 14th straight victory in the series. ACC scoring leader Lexie Brown finished with 16 points, Rebecca Greenwell had 12 and Leaonna Odom added 11 for Duke (18-6, 7-4).

No. 10 Florida State 66, Pittsburgh 59

PITTSBURGH

A.J. Alix scored 25 points to lead No. 10 Florida State to a win over Pittsburgh. After a back-and-forth game that featured 14 lead changes, the Seminoles pulled ahead with an 8-0 run over 2:07 late in the fourth quarter to end Pitt’s upset bid. Alix’s 25 points were one off her career and the highest total she’s scored in ACC play. Forward Shakayla Thomas had 19 points while Imani Wright scored 14 points. Alayna Gribble scored 13 points to lead the Panthers (10-14, 2-9 ACC) while Yacine Diop recorded 12 points and eight rebounds.

Rutgers 63, No. 13 Michigan 56

PISCATAWAY, N.J.

Reserve Ciani Cryor matcher her season high with 16 points, nine in a late 12-0 run, and Rutgers upset No. 13 Michigan to end a four-game losing streak. The Wolverines had erased an eight-point deficit with seven quick points when Cryor banked in a 3-pointer to make it 51-47 with 6:15 to play. Stasha Carey added 12 points for the Scarlet Knights (18-7, 6-5 Big Ten). Katelynn Flaherty had 19 points in her return to her home state to lead the Wolverines (19-6, 8-4) and Hailey Brown scored 15.

Associated Press