Umass Survives Overtime, Again

Top 25/Pac-10

Another close call, another win for No. 1 Massachusetts.

The only unbeaten major school kept its record perfect Sunday by winning its third overtime game in the last nine. Marcus Camby’s free throw gave UMass (21-0, 9-0 Atlantic 10) a two-point lead, and Edgar Padilla stole away Xavier’s final chance for a 78-74 victory in Cincinnati.

Xavier (9-9, 5-3) led virtually the entire game and missed three shots that could have won it in the closing seconds of regulation.

(3) Kansas 72, Kansas State 62

Raef LaFrentz scored 24 points and Paul Pierce had 12 of his 14 points in the second half as the Jayhawks held off the Wildcats in Lawrence, Kan.

LaFrentz scored on a fast-break layup with 5:37 to play and was fouled. Kansas State coach Tom Asbury called timeout before LaFrentz could shoot the free throw, and was given a technical when he walked to halfcourt to protest the foul call.

LaFrentz completed the three-point play and Ryan Robertson made one of two free throws for Kansas (18-1, 6-0 Big Eight).

(5) Cincinnati 79, S. Florida 60

In Cincinnati, Danny Fortson scored seven points during a 16-1 run late in the second half as the Bearcats (17-1, 6-1 Conference USA) overcame a slow start to beat the Bulls (8-10, 0-7).

Fortson finished with 20 points and tied a career high with 17 rebounds.

(18) Syracuse 81, Alabama 68

In Syracuse, N.Y., Otis Hill scored eight of his 17 points during a key secondhalf run as the Orangemen recovered after wasting a 22-point lead and held off the Crimson Tide (11-7).

Syracuse (16-6) led by 16 at intermission and was still leading 58-44 with 13:44 to play when Alabama scored 10 straight points, five by Anthony Brown on two offensive rebounds and a foul shot.

Miss. St. 78, (22) Auburn 75, OT

In Auburn, Ala., Darryl Wilson scored 11 points in overtime to lift the Bulldogs (14-5, 6-4 Southeastern Comference) over the Tigers.

Wilson, who had only three points in regulation, scored two baskets, including a 3-pointer, and was 6-of-6 from the freethrow line in overtime for Auburn (15-6, 3-5).

Pac-10

Stanford 83, Seton Hall 60

In San Jose, Calif., Dion Cross scored 23 points and Brevin Knight had 11 of his 13 points in the second half as the Cardinal (13-5) pulled away for an 83-60 victory over the Pirates.

Andy Poppink added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Stanford.

Adrian Griffin’s 25 points led Seton Hall (10-9), which was outshot from the field by Stanford 54 percent to 37 percent.

California 62, DePaul 59

In San Jose, Calif., Shareef AbdurRahim had 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Bears held on for the victory over the Blue Demons, which lost its 10th straight game.

Tony Gonzalez scored on a putback with 22 seconds remaining to give California (12-6) their final points, and DePaul (7-13) missed two 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds.

The Blue Demons, who have not won since Dec. 23 at Indiana, got 20 points from Jermaine Watts. But center Bryant Bowden was held below double figures for the first time this season, scoring just nine points.