Top 25 roundup: Late surge lifts No. 11 Auburn past No. 4 Houston

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Auburn 74, Houston 69 – Baker-Mazara’s Clutch Play Lifts Tigers

Chad Baker-Mazara took control in the final moments as the No. 11 Auburn Tigers edged out the No. 4 Houston Cougars 74-69 in the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 in Houston. Baker-Mazara’s late hook shot gave Auburn a 68-67 lead, marking the 13th and final lead change of the game. He then snagged a loose ball on Houston’s penultimate possession, forcing the Cougars to foul.

Tahaad Pettiford led Auburn with a game-high 21 points, while Johni Broome added 20 points (16 in the second half) and 10 rebounds. Chaney Johnson contributed with 11 points and 10 boards. For Houston, LJ Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp each scored 13 points, and J’Wan Roberts added 12 points and seven rebounds.


UConn 92, New Hampshire 53 – Huskies Dominate Second Half

No. 3 UConn cruised to a 92-53 victory over New Hampshire in Hartford, Conn., pulling away in the second half with a 57-29 scoring burst. Alex Karaban led UConn with 17 points, five rebounds, and four blocks, while Solo Ball added 14 points. Tarris Reed posted 11 points and eight rebounds, and Jayden Ross contributed 14.

New Hampshire’s Anthony McComb III led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Sami Pissis added 15 but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-for-7. The Wildcats shot 35.4% overall, compared to UConn’s 57.1%.

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Baylor 72, Arkansas 67 – Bears Hold Off Razorbacks’ Late Rally

Jayden Nunn scored 16 points, and Norchad Omier contributed a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds as No. 8 Baylor outlasted No. 16 Arkansas 72-67 in Dallas. Jeremy Roach chipped in 13 points, and V.J. Edgecombe recorded 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for Baylor.

Arkansas’s Adou Thiero scored a game-high 24 points with six rebounds, while Boogie Fland added 17 points and seven assists. Fland’s deep three-pointer brought Arkansas within three with 22.8 seconds left, but Baylor held firm to secure the win.


Arizona 102, Old Dominion 44 – Wildcats Roll with Stifling Defense

No. 10 Arizona dismantled Old Dominion 102-44 in Tucson, Ariz., with Tobe Awaka leading the way with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks. The Wildcats jumped to a 14-2 lead early, establishing control with a combination of size and aggressive defense.

Old Dominion’s Devin Caesar provided one of the few highlights for the Monarchs, scoring 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Arizona’s defense limited Old Dominion to 29% shooting.


Tennessee 77, Louisville 55 – Volunteers Cruise in Road Victory

No. 12 Tennessee claimed a 77-55 win over Louisville, opening with a 10-0 run that set the tone for the rest of the game. Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier led the Volunteers with 19 points each. Tennessee shot 56.6% from the field, while holding Louisville to just 26.7%.

Reyne Smith led Louisville with 18 points, while Noah Waterman added 10 off the bench. The Cardinals struggled to keep pace after missing their first five minutes of scoring.

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Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72 – Brea’s Hot Shooting Powers Wildcats

Koby Brea’s sharp shooting helped No. 23 Kentucky race past Bucknell 100-72 in Lexington, Ky. Brea scored 20 points, hitting 6 of 8 three-pointers, while Jaxson Robinson added 14 points. Amari Williams posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds as Kentucky opened up a double-digit lead early and never looked back.

Bucknell was led by Ian Motta with 18 points, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while Josh Bascoe added 15 points, 12 of which came in the first half. The Bison struggled to contain Kentucky’s potent offense, allowing the Wildcats to reach 100 points for the second straight game.

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