WACO, Texas — Adam Flagler scored a season-high 22 points, Jared Butler had 15 of his 18 points after halftime and No. 2 Baylor finally overcame the rust of a three-week break and Iowa State for a 77-72 victory Tuesday night, making the Bears 18-0 for the first time in school history.
The Bears (18-0, 10-0 Big 12) played for the first time since an 83-69 win at then-No. 6 Texas on Feb. 2 when they had matched the best start in school history. They then had six consecutive games postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the program.
Iowa State (2-17, 0-14) jumped out to a 15-4 lead in less than 6 1/2 minutes on a jumper by Tre Jackson. The Cyclones’ biggest lead was 32-15 when Harris made his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 6:24 left in the first half.
Tyler Harris had 22 points for the Cyclones with five 3-pointers, while Rasir Bolton had 21 points and Jalen Coleman-Lands scored 13.
The Bears never led until MaCio Teague made two free throws with 4:26 left for a 66-65 advantage. They never trailed again, but needed a go-ahead basket by Teague after Jalen Coleman-Lands made a tying 3 with 2:53 left.
MICHIGAN STATE 81, NO. 5 ILLINOIS 72
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Aaron Henry scored 20 points and Joshua Langford had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to lead Michigan State past Illinois.
The Spartans (12-9, 6-9 Big Ten) earned a desperately needed quality win to bolster their chances of playing in 23 straight NCAA Tournaments.
The Fighting Illini (16-6, 12-4) had won a Big Ten-best seven straight games, putting them in contention for a No. 1 seed in college basketball’s showcase that starts next month.
KANSAS STATE 62, NO. 7 OKLAHOMA 57
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Mike McGuirl scored 19 points, hitting three straight 3s in the final minutes, and Kansas State took down Oklahoma.
The Sooners led by six with three minutes to play before McGuirl took over.
Davion Bradford scored 13 points and DaJuan Gordon had 11 as Kansas State (7-18, 3-13 Big 12) beat a top-10 opponent at home for the first time since topping then-No-4 Oklahoma three years ago.
NO. 8 VILLANOVA 81, ST. JOHN’S 58
VILLANOVA, Pa. — Caleb Daniels scored 17 points, and Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels each had 14 to lead Villanova past St. John’s.
The Wildcats (15-3, 10-2 Big East) avenged a Feb. 3 loss to the Red Storm (14-9, 8-9) in New York. St. John’s has done little to build off the upset, losing three of four.
Big East scoring leader Julian Champagnie (19.8 points per game) was invisible in the first half for St. John’s. He missed his first eight shots and finished the game with 16 points.
NO. 10 WEST VIRGINIA 74, TCU 66
FORT WORTH, Texas — Taz Sherman scored 23 points, Derek Culver had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and West Virginia continued its solid play on the road by beating TCU.
Miles McBride added 11 points for the Mountaineers (16-6, 9-4 Big 12).
NO. 14 TEXAS 75, NO. 17 KANSAS 72
AUSTIN, Texas — Courtney Ramey scored 15 points and made two free throws with a minute left in overtime to give Texas the lead, and the Longhorns beat Kansas.
Kansas had a chance to tie after Ramey’s free throws, but Jalen Wilson lost the ball driving for a layup.
Ochai Ogbajai scored 17 points for Kansas (17-8, 11-6 Big 12), which had its five-game win streak snapped.
GEORGIA TECH 69, NO. 16 VIRGINIA TECH 53
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Moses Wright scored 17 of his 26 points in the second half, helping Georgia Tech pull away from Virginia Tech.
Wright also grabbed 10 rebounds in the Yellow Jackets’ third straight victory. They also posted back-to-back ACC road wins for the first time since 2008.
Jose Alvarado had 13 points for Georgia Tech (12-8, 8-6), and Michael Devoe finished with 12.
MISSISSIPPI 60, NO. 24 MISSOURI 53
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Devontae Shuler scored 14 points and Mississippi beat Missouri to sweep the season series against the sputtering Tigers.
Romello White, Luis Rodriguez and Jarkel Joiner added 10 points apiece for Ole Miss (13-9, 8-7 Southeastern Conference).