UNDATED (AP) — Baylor has put itself in position to be the No. 1 team when The Associated Press men’s basketball poll comes out on Monday.
James Akinjo had 16 points with seven rebounds as the second-ranked Bears stifled No. 6 Villanova, 57-36. Adam Flagler had 10 points as Baylor earned its 15th straight win dating to last season
The Bears never trailed in their first nonconference home game ever against a top-six opponent. Villanova shot only 22% and had several extended scoring droughts while being held to its fewest points in 689 games under coach Jay Wright, who is in his 21st season.
The current No. 1 team also won as Trevion Williams had a season-high 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and a career-best nine assists in Purdue’s 82-72 overtime win against North Carolina State. Jaden Ivey added 22 points for the Boilermakers, three days after they absorbed a loss at Rutgers.
Elsewhere in college basketball:
— Southern Cal was a 73-62 winner over Long Beach State as Isaiah Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Trojans. Drew Peterson added 15 points in helping USC improve to 10-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
— T.J. Otzelberger became the first Iowa State coach to win his first 10 games with the team, guiding the 17th-ranked Cyclones past Jackson State 47-37. Aljaz Kunc led the Cyclones with 12 points and Gabe Kalscheur added 11.
— Donta Scott scored on a leaning shot in the post with 16.8 seconds left to give Maryland a 70-68 win over No. 20 Florida. Eric Ayala and Fatts Russell each scored 19 points for the 6-4 Terrapins, who shot 49% and hit 8 of 13 3-pointers to snap a three-game skid.
— Bryce Aiken scored 22 points and Jared Rhoden had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 23 Seton Hall past Rutgers, 77-63. Kadary Richmond added 12 points for the 9-1 Pirates.
