STARKVILLE, Miss.
De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points, Malik Monk added 14 and No. 5 Kentucky beat Mississippi State 88- 81 on Tuesday night.
Kentucky ( 16- 2, 6- 0 Southeastern Conference) looked like it would cruise to the win after building a 66-49 lead midway through the second half, but Mississippi State responded with 13 straight points to make things interesting down the stretch.
In the end, the Wildcats were too potent offensively. Fox, a 6- foot- 3 freshman, had two impressive drives for baskets in the final minutes to thwart a final Mississippi State rally.
Mississippi State (12-5, 3-2) was led by freshman Lamar Peters, who scored a career-high 25 points.
No. 6 Baylor 74, Texas 64
WACO, Texas ( AP) — Johnathan Motley set career highs with 32 points and 20 rebounds for Baylor, which went ahead to stay with a big run before halftime.
Nuni Omot, the junior college transfer playing in only his eighth game, had a season- high 14 points. He scored seven in the half- ending 16- 4 run that put the Bears (17-1, 5- 1 Big 12) up for the first time.
Jarrett Allen had 17 points for the Longhorns (7-11, 1-5), while Andrew Jones had 15.
No. 17 Wisconsin 68, Michigan 64
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Bronson Koenig scored 16 points, 10 in a key run that turned the game around, for Wisconsin.
Michigan (12-7, 2-4 Big Ten) seemed to have Wisconsin ( 15- 3, 4- 1) on the ropes at one point in the second half. Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ went to the bench with his third foul early and could largely only watch as the Wolverines went on a 17- 2 run that put them up 38-30.
The Wolverines even hit 3s on consecutive possessions after Wisconsin tied the game at 43.
Nigel Hayes and Vitto Brown each scored 13 points for the Badgers.
Zak Irvin scored 20 points to lead Michigan.
No. 21 Purdue 91, Illinois 68
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Center Isaac Haas had 24 points and six rebounds, and power forward Caleb Swanigan added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Purdue.
Haas scored 13 points in the second half when the Boilermakers ( 15- 4, 4- 2 Big Ten) led by as many as 27. Swanigan had a four- point first half but was almost unstoppable during the second half, accounting for 18 points and five rebounds.
Purdue placed five players in double figures, also getting 14 from freshman guard Carsen Edwards, 11 from forward Vince Edwards — no relation — and 10 from point guard P.J. Thompson.
Illinois (12-7, 2-4) got 15 points from Maverick Morgan and 12 from Malcolm Hill.
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