Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Top 25 Capsules: Turner helps No. 15 Tennessee beat No. 24 Kentucky

Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22) passes away from the defense of Tennessee’s James Daniel III (3) and Yves Pons (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, in Lexington, Ky. (James Crisp / Associated Press)
Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lamonte Turner scored 16 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 26 seconds remaining, Admiral Schofield followed with a dunk off a turnover and No. 15 Tennessee edged No. 24 Kentucky 61-59 on Tuesday night for its sixth consecutive victory.

The Volunteers ran down the shot clock in the final minute before Turner fired from long range for the go-ahead basket in a tight game featuring 17 lead changes and 13 ties. Kentucky’s attempt to go ahead resulted in a turnover in the lane leading to Schofield’s dunk with 4 seconds left for a 61-58 lead.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made the first throw with 1.3 seconds left and intentionally missed the second, but Tennessee came up with the rebound as time ran out. The joyous Vols (18-5, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) came away with just their fifth Rupp Arena victory and first since 2006 while handing the Wildcats their second consecutive loss.

Jordan Bowden had 13 points and Schofield 12 for the Vols, who won a game in which both teams shot 42 percent.

Quade Green and Gilgeous-Alexander each had 15 points for Kentucky (17-7, 6-5).

No. 4 Michigan State 96, Iowa 93

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Miles Bridges had 25 points and a crucial steal with five seconds left and Michigan State rallied past lowly Iowa for its seventh straight win.

Nick Ward added 17 points and Joshua Langford had 15 for the Spartans (23-3, 11-2 Big Ten). But they got a serious scare from the Hawkeyes in what was supposed to be a tune-up for Saturday’s huge home game against No. 3 Purdue.

After trailing by as much as eight, Bridges hit a pair of free throws to give Michigan State a 92-91 lead with 1:02 left. He hit two more from the line to make it a 3-point game.

But Tyler Cook pulled Iowa within 94-93 – and Bridges missed both of his free throws after his big steal with his team ahead by 3. But Nicholas Baer could only muster up a half-court shot for the Hawkeyes, and it bounced harmlessly off the rim.

Tyler Cook scored 26 points for Iowa (12-14, 3-10), which was coming off a 24-point loss at Penn State.

No. 5 Xavier 98, Butler 93, OT

INDIANAPOLIS – Trevon Bluiett scored 17 of his 26 points in the final 14 1/2 minutes of regulation and overtime to help Xavier rally to beat Butler.

Kerem Kanter added 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with 2:56 left in overtime, which started the decisive 5-0 run. The Musketeers (22-3, 10-2 Big East) have won seven straight overall and three in a row in the series.

Kelan Martin had 34 points and Sean McDermott finished with 17 to lead the Bulldogs (17-8, 7-5), whose four-game winning streak was snapped.

Just barely, though, in a topsy-turvy game.

No. 6 Cincinnati 77, Central Florida 40

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Kyle Washington scored 13 points, Gary Clark added 12, and Cincinnati gave another dominating defensive performance, beating Central Florida for its 15th straight win.

The Bearcats (22-2, 11-0 American Athletic) dug in against a low-scoring team and extended the nation’s longest active home-court winning streak to 39 games. The Knights managed only 13 points in the first half, matching the fewest that Cincinnati has allowed in an opening half during coach Mick Cronin’s 12 seasons.

UCF (14-9, 5-6) was 0 for 14 beyond the arc overall and went more than 12 minutes without scoring in the first half. Ceasar DeJesus had 12 points for the Knights, who shot 28 percent overall.

No. 10 Kansas 71, TCU 64

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Devonte’ Graham scored 24 points, Udoka Azubuike added 16 and Kansas beat TCU.

The Jayhawks (19-5, 8-3 Big 12) have struggled this season to dominate at home as they traditionally have, but were able to avoid dropping two straight in Allen Fieldhouse thanks to a grind-it-out finish.

Kouat Noi led the way for the Horned Frogs (16-8, 4-7) with 17 points. Vlad Brodzianksy had 15 points and eight rebounds.

Foul trouble limited Azubuike to play just seven minutes in the first half for Kansas, but the rest allowed him to play 18 in the second. He finished with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Northwestern 61, No. 20 Michigan 52

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Bryant McIntosh tied a season high with 24 points, and Northwestern beat Michigan.

McIntosh scored 14 in the second half to help the Wildcats (15-10, 6-6 Big Ten) win for the fourth time in five games.

Scottie Lindsey added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Northwestern returned the favor after losing at Michigan last week.

Moe Wagner led the Wolverines (19-7, 8-5) with 20 points and nine rebounds. But Michigan hit just 5 of 20 shots in the second half while missing 9 of 10 3-pointers.

Northwestern shook off a slow start to pull within three at halftime and scored 10 straight early in the second to grab its first lead of the game.

No. 22 Wichita State 85, Memphis 65

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Austin Reaves scored 22 points, Landry Shamet added 20 points and five assists and Wichita State overcame early shooting struggles to beat Memphis.

Darral Willis Jr. finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Zach Brown scored 11 points for the Shockers (18-5, 8-3 American Athletic Conference), who were coming off an overtime loss at Temple on Saturday.

Jeremiah Martin led Memphis (14-10, 5-6) with 16 points, but was 2 of 10 from the field, including misfiring on all five shots from outside the arc. Kareem Brewton Jr. scored 12 points and Raynere Thornton had 11 points, missing only one of his six shots.