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Guards keep Hawks aiming for perfection

AMHERST, Mass. - Each guard had a big half to keep Saint Joseph's unbeaten.

Jameer Nelson scored 17 of his 19 in the first half and Delonte West 15 of his 23 in the second Wednesday night as the second-ranked Hawks beat Massachusetts 83-58.

Nelson had eight assists and West seven rebounds for the Hawks (25-0, 14-0 Atlantic 10), who won by double figures for the sixth consecutive game and 12th time in their past 14. Tyrone Barley made all four 3-pointers for 12 points.

Top-ranked Stanford also is undefeated.

Rashaun Freeman scored 21 for UMass (9-16, 3-10), which lost its fifth in a row. The Minutemen took an early lead and held it for 10 minutes, but the Hawks guards started shooting, and the result was the same as it has been all season.

NO. 7 MISS. ST. 81, LSU 58: Lawrence Roberts scored 14, Timmy Bowers and Winsome Frazier 13 each and Shane Power 12 as the host Bulldogs clinched their second straight SEC West Division title. Mississippi State (22-2, 11-2) shot 56 percent and held the Tigers (17-7, 7-6) to 35 percent.

NO. 9 KENTUCKY 92, UT 60: Kelenna Azubuike scored 17 and the host Wildcats made 11 of 19 3-pointers. Kentucky (20-4, 10-3 SEC) clinched its 14th consecutive 20-win season and completed a regular-season sweep of the Volunteers (13-11, 5-8).

NO. 14 N.C. STATE 79, NO. 18 GA. TECH 69: Julius Hodge scored 22 in a rare appearance off the bench, and the Wolfpack (18-6, 10-3 ACC) improved to 4-3 in conference road games. Since a school-best 12-0 start, the Yellow Jackets (19-8, 6-7) are 7-8.

NO. 15 UC 77, SAINT LOUIS 52: James White had a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double double for the host Bearcats (19-5, 10-3 C-USA). The Billikens (14-10, 7-6) gave up their most points this season.

DePAUL 60, NO. 21 LOUISVILLE 58 (OT): Quemont Greer scored 19 and hit the go-ahead shot in overtime as the Blue Demons (16-8, 9-4 C-USA) won at Freedom Hall for the first time since 1986 and handed the Cardinals (17-7, 7-6) their fourth straight loss. Greer's free throw tied it at 54 and forced overtime.

NO. 22 WISCONSIN 68, PENN ST. 45: Devin Harris scored 25 as the Badgers (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak and won their 27th straight at home. The Nittany Lions (9-15, 3-10) lost their 22nd straight Big Ten road game.

NO. 23 ILLINOIS 78, IOWA 59: Dee Brown had 18 points and 10 assists to lead the visiting Illini (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) to their seventh straight win. The Hawkeyes (14-10, 7-6), the conference's top scoring team, scored 14 fewer than their average.

VANDY 77, OLE MISS 65: Matt Freije scored 20 and the visiting Commodores (18-6, 7-6 SEC) dominated the final 12 minutes to move into a three-way tie for second place in the East. Aaron Harper had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Rebels (12-12, 4-9).

TULANE 74, UAB 69: Marcus Kinzer scored a career-high 19 to lead the host Green Wave (11-13, 4-9). Mo Finley led the Blazers (16-8, 9-4) with 22 points.

CHARLOTTE 94, TCU 86 (OT): Curtis Withers scored six of his 21 in overtime to lift the visiting 49ers (18-6, 10-3). The Horned Frogs (10-14, 6-7) trailed 81-79 before Aaron Curtis made two free throws with 2:32 left to force overtime.

LYNN 69, ECKERD 61: Akil Lewis scored 16 to lead the Knights (16-10, 8-5 Sunshine State) past the host Tritons (16-10, 8-6).

BC 56, VA. TECH 48: Craig Smith scored seven of his 11 in a 17-0 run late in the second half that carried the host Eagles (19-8, 8-6 Big East). Bryant Matthews had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Hokies (11-13, 4-9).

RUTGERS 74, W. VA. 53: Ricky Shields tied a career high with 24 points and the host Scarlet Knights (16-9, 7-7 Big East) used a late first-half surge to beat the Mountaineers (14-10, 6-7) for the third time in the past nine meetings.

NU 63, INDIANA 59: Vedran Vukusic scored 23 as the host Wildcats (12-12, 7-6 Big 10) handed the Hoosiers (12-13, 6-8) their fourth straight loss. Indiana hasn't finished below .500 in the conference since going 8-10 in 1989-90. Northwestern has won five of six.

OHIO ST. 70, MINNESOTA 59: Tony Stockman had 21 points and four steals to lead the visiting Buckeyes (13-13, 5-8 Big Ten), who fell behind early before bouncing back against the Gophers (2-12, 10-16), who shot 35.7 percent.

COLORADO 94, OKLAHOMA 87 (OT): Antoine McGee scored seven of his 10 in overtime and David Harrison had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the host Buffaloes (16-8, 8-5 Big 12). The Sooners (16-8, 6-7) lost their third in a row.

IOWA ST. 75, KANSAS ST. 69: Jake Sullivan scored 19 of his 24 in the second half, and walk-on John Neal hit two huge 3-pointers for the host Cyclones. Jeremiah Massey led the Wildcats (12-12, 4-9) with 23 points.

BAYLOR 67, TEXAS A&M 61 (OT): Terrance Thomas' wild shot in traffic forced overtime, and Matt Sayman scored eight of his 15 in the extra period for the visiting Bears (8-18, 3-10 Big 12). Antoine Wright scored 18 for the Aggies (7-17, 0-13).