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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Top 25 roundup: Kris Jenkins, Jalen Brunson, lead No. 1 Villanova past Seton Hall 76-46

Seton Hall's Madison Jones, left, and Villanova's Mikal Bridges chase a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, in Villanova, Pa. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
Associated Press

Kris Jenkins scored 16 points and Jalen Brunson added 13 to lead No. 1 Villanova to a 76-46 win over Seton Hall on Monday night in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

The Wildcats (18-1, 6-1 Big East) looked every bit like a team that could win back-to-back national championships in their first game at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll following a one-week hiatus.

Villanova fell from the top spot to third in the poll following a Jan. 4 loss at Butler. But wins over Marquette and Xavier vaulted the Wildcats over Kansas and back into the top spot.

Led by four 3s from Jenkins, the Wildcats set a school record with their 47th straight win at the Pavilion.

Desi Rodriguez scored 15 points for Seton Hall (12-6, 2-4), which shot 29 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers.

(2) Kansas 76, Iowa State 72: Frank Mason III had 16 points, Landen Lucas scored 14 and the Jayhawks (17-1, 6-0 Big 12) held off the Cyclones (11-6, 3-3) in Ames, Iowa, for their 17th straight win.

Svi Mykhailiuk added 13 for the Jayhawks, who snapped a two-game skid in Ames and opened 6-0 in the Big 12 for the 10th time.

Though it was never comfortable for Kansas, the Jayhawks led the entire second half. Iowa State star Monte Morris drilled a long 3 and two free throws to make it 75-72 with 14.6 seconds left. But then Devonte Graham’s free throw made it a two-possession game and Morris missed a 3 that would’ve made for an interesting finish.

Morris scored 23 points with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Cyclones, who saw their recent string of success against the Jayhawks come to an end.

(7) Creighton 72, (22) Xavier 67: The Bluejays (18-1, 5-1 Big East) overcame a knee injury to star point guard Maurice Watson Jr. to beat the Muskateers (13-5, 3-3) in Cincinnati.

Creighton scored the final six points after Xavier pulled ahead 67-66. The Bluejays are off to the best start in school history.

Watson tops the nation with 8.8 assists per game. He hurt his left knee when he hit the court hard after a layup in the first half and spent the second half on crutches.

Coach Greg McDermott said a doctor who examined Watson at halftime thought there was no ligament damage. Watson will get an MRI when the team goes home.

(9) North Carolina 85, Syracuse 68: Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams earned his 800th career victory when Isaiah Hicks scored 20 points to lead the Tar Heels (17-3, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) to the home win over the Orange (11-8, 3-3) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Kennedy Meeks added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who shot 52 percent and dominated the boards. UNC never trailed after the game’s opening possession, led 42-30 at halftime and then stayed a step ahead of the hot-shooting Orange after the break.

Syracuse got as close as three early in the second half, but never pushed ahead. The Tar Heels ultimately ran off a 7-0 flurry in the final 5 minutes to stretch the lead back out to 15.

Tyler Lydon scored 26 points for the Orange.

(13) Butler 88, Marquette 80: Kelan Martin scored 22 points and the Bulldogs (16-3, 5-2 Big East) rallied from an 18-point deficit early in the second half to beat the Golden Eagles (12-6, 3-3) in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs put up 63 points after the break without a single turnover.

Markus Howard had 26 points for Marquette.