Balanced Ucla Buries Jackson St.

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J.R. Henderson scored 20 points to lead four UCLA starters in double figures as the 24th-ranked Bruins overwhelmed Jackson State 93-67 Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Bruins (3-2) didn’t reach the 100-point mark in their first-ever meeting with the Tigers (2-6), as Arizona did against Jackson State last Saturday.

But struggling UCLA finally put its game together, with improved passing, rebounding and free-throw shooting.

Charles O’Bannon had 19 points, Toby Bailey 18, Jelani McCoy 12 points and 10 rebounds and sixth-man Kris Johnson added 13 for UCLA.

The Tigers, in the middle of a 12-day, four-game Western road trip, kept it close throughout the first half. They had the Bruins down by three twice until UCLA outscored Jackson State 16-9, including 14 straight, to close the half with a 44-36 lead.

(7) Cincinnati 90, Howard 46

Ruben Patterson scored a seasonhigh 25 points and led the Bearcats (3-2) to a lackluster victory over winless Howard (0-6).

Cincinnati ended a 13-day layoff that began with a loss to No. 1 Kansas and was marred by Patterson’s arrest on an aggravated burglary charge. A grand jury chose not to indict and the charge was dropped.

(8) Clemson 58, South Carolina 39

Greg Buckner and Merl Code combined for 15 points during a 20-3 second-half run that lifted the Tigers (8-1) to a victory over the cold-shooting Gamecocks (4-3) in Columbia, S.C.

Clemson trailed 26-25 just 50 seconds into the second half, but Buckner scored the next seven points and Code capped the spurt with two 3-pointers as Clemson went up 45-29.

Buckner finished with 19 points.

(16) Minnesota 82, Rhode Island 72

Sam Jacobson scored 16 points and keyed a late spurt that gave the Golden Gophers (7-1) a victory over the Rams (4-2) in Providence, R.I.

With Minnesota leading 65-61 and Rhode Island on an 11-0 run with 7:43 to play, Jacobson hit a 3-pointer, then tipped in a miss. About a minute later he grabbed a rebound off a missed Minnesota free throw and hit another 3-pointer to give the Gophers a 74-63 lead with 3:27 to play.

Rhode Island got no closer than seven points.

(23) Texas Tech 99, Tex.-San Antonio 51

Tony Battie had 23 points and 15 rebounds and the Red Raiders (6-1) beat the Roadrunners (4-4) in Lubbock, Texas.

Texas Tech’s Gracen Averil scored 17 points and Young added 11.