Huskies refuse to be sold short
A day after two key guards were suspended for violating team rules, Connecticut turned in its grittiest performance of the season to pull off an improbable 68-63 upset at No. 7 Indiana.
Less than 24 hours before tipoff, Huskies coach Jim Calhoun faced a quandary when he learned Jerome Dyson, a starter, and Doug Wiggins, a backup, had violated team rules. Calhoun wouldn't say what the players did, but when he got the details he decided to leave the players at home.
It appeared the loss of those two would doom UConn (14-5) against an Indiana team that had won 13 straight overall and 29 in a row at home.
But UConn outscored Indiana, 34-16, in the paint and held a 44-28 rebounding advantage. Craig Austrie, Dyson's replacement, made six free throws in the final minute to close it out.
Five Huskies scored in double figures, led by Austrie's 15 points.
Memphis 81, Gonzaga 73 - The top-ranked Tigers (19-0) extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 43 games as Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 21 points.
Kansas 84, Nebraska 49 - The No. 2 Jayhawks (20-0, 5-0 Big 12) rolled over the visiting Cornhuskers (11-6, 0-4) as Darrell Arthur had 18 points.
Tennessee 85, Georgia 69 - With Chris Lofton hitting seven 3-pointers in a 27-point effort, the No. 3 Volunteers (17-2, 4-1 SEC) routed the visiting Bulldogs (11-6, 2-2).
Washington St. 56, Arizona St. 55 - Derrick Low scored all 18 of his points from 3-point range, and the sixth-ranked Cougars (17-2, 5-2 Pac-10) held off the Sun Devils (14-5, 4-3) in Tempe, Ariz.
UCLA 85, Oregon State 62 - Darren Collison had a career-high 33 points as the eighth-ranked Bruins (18-2, 6-1 Pac-10) handed the host Beavers their 10th straight loss.
Georgetown 58, West Virginia 57 - Jessie Sapp hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left and the No. 9 Hoyas (16-2, 6-1) edged the host Mountaineers (15-5, 4-3) to remain alone in first in the Big East.
Purdue 60, Wisconsin 56 - E'Twaun Moore scored 16 points for the host Boilermakers (15-5, 6-1 Big Ten), who ended a 10-game win streak by the No. 11 Badgers (16-3, 6-1).
Texas 73, Texas Tech 47 - At Austin, Texas, D.J. Augustin had 19 points and the No. 12 Longhorns (16-3, 3-1 Big 12) throttled the Red Raiders (11-8, 2-3).
Rutgers 77, Pittsburgh 64 - Corey Chandler's 18 points helped send the Scarlet Knights (10-11, 2-6 Big East) to a road win over the No. 13 Panthers (16-4, 4-3).
Butler 73, Ill.-Chicago 57 - Matt Howard's 20 points lifted the 15th-ranked Bulldogs (19-2, 8-2 Horizon) in Indianapolis.
Richmond 80, Dayton 63 - The No. 16 Flyers (14-4, 2-3 Atlantic 10) lost their third in a row as David Gonzalvez had 20 points to lead the host Spiders (10-8, 3-2).
Mississippi St. 88, Mississippi 68 - The No. 17 Rebels (15-3, 2-3 SEC) were unable to handle Charles Rhodes (26 points) and the host Bulldogs (14-5, 5-0).
Notre Dame 90, Villanova 80 - The Fighting Irish (14-4, 4-2 Big East) rode Kyle McAlarney's 30 points past the No. 18 Wildcats (13-5, 3-4) in Philadelphia.
Texas A&M 59, Oklahoma St. 56 - Dominique Kirk hit the go-ahead free throws with 44 seconds left, enabling the No. 18 Aggies (16-3, 2-3 Big 12) to nip the host Cowboys (10-9, 1-4).
Stanford 82, California 77 - Brook Lopez totaled 23 points to carry the No. 20 Cardinal (16-3, 5-2 Pac-10) in Berkeley, Calif.
Marquette 79, DePaul 71 - Dominic James (19 points) and the No. 21 Golden Eagles (14-4, 4-3 Big East) broke out of a shooting slump to beat the Blue Demons (9-10, 4-3) in Milwaukee.
Drake 58, Northern Iowa 54 - At Des Moines, Klayton Korver (23 points) shot 7 of 8 from 3-point range for the 22d-ranked Bulldogs (18-1, 9-0 Missouri Valley).
Oklahoma 77, Baylor 71 - Blake Griffin had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Sooners (14-5, 2-2 Big 12), who upended the No. 25 Bears (16-3, 4-1) in Waco, Texas. 