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UConn Survives Buffalo Scare

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The Associated Press

Published: December 5, 2008

AMHERST, N.Y. - Hasheem Thabeet had 21 points and 18 rebounds, Jeff Adrien added 18 points, and No. 2 Connecticut survived a big scare, holding off Buffalo 68-64 on Thursday night.

The Bulls (3-3) nearly upset then-No. 2 Pittsburgh at Alumni Arena two years ago, losing 70-67 after leading by 10 points with 14 minutes left. A repeat performance seemed unlikely against the Huskies (8-0), who won their first seven games by an average of 24 points.

But Rodney Pierce had other ideas, scoring a career-high 28 points to keep Buffalo close the entire game.

Pierce had a chance to force overtime in the final seconds with the Bulls trailing 66-64, but Max Boudreau bobbled his pass in the lane with 4 seconds left. Kemba Walker made two free throws for the Huskies.
Longhorns Edge Past Bruins

AUSTIN, Texas - A.J. Abrams scored 31 points, including the last six of the game for No. 8 Texas, sending the Longhorns to a 68-64 victory over No. 12 UCLA.

Abrams broke a 62-62 tie with a 3-pointer with 2:53 to play, then made two free throws a minute later to push Texas' lead back to three. After the Bruins' Josh Shipp missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 15 seconds left, Shipp fouled Abrams who made one of his two free throws for the final point.

The Longhorns (6-1) held UCLA (4-2) scoreless after Alfred Aboya's basket with 2:28 left pulled the Bruins within 65-64.

NO. 6 OKLAHOMA 73,

SOUTHERN CAL. 72

NORMAN, Okla. - Blake Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points after getting hit with a cheap shot elbow in the second half, and No. 6 Oklahoma (7-0) staved off a rally by Southern California (5-3).

Griffin, a preseason All-America forward, had to come out of the game briefly after getting elbowed below the waist by USC's Leonard Washington with 13:54 left. He was able to return.

NO. 17 VILLANOVA 93,

HOUSTON BAPTIST 57

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Scottie Reynolds scored a season-high 23 points and had six assists and No. 17 Villanova stayed unbeaten at 8-0 with victory over Houston Baptist (0-7).

NO. 19 ARIZONA ST. 81,

JACKSON ST. 60

TEMPE, Ariz. - James Harden had 22 points and eight rebounds as No. 19 Arizona State (6-1) defeated Jackson State (1-7).

Harden led the Sun Devils in scoring for the 31st time in 41 career games despite fouling out with 4:10 to play.

WOMEN'S GAMES

NO. 8 MARYLAND 70

NO. 17 PURDUE 59

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Kristi Toliver scored 22 of her 24 points in the second half, helping No. 8 Maryland (7-1) beat No. 17 Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Toliver, who shot 0-for-5 from the field in the first half, went 5-for-10 in the second and made all 10 of her free throws after the break.

Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton led Purdue (5-2) with 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

NO. 12 DUKE 71, IOWA 47

DURHAM, N.C. - Chante Black scored 18 points and No. 12 Duke (5-1) beat Iowa (4-4) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Joy Cheek added 13 points for the Blue Devils (5-1), who missed their first 14 shots but used a 9-0 run toward the end of the first half and a long 3-pointer by Abby Waner to take a 28-14 halftime lead that grew to more than 30 points in the second half.

NO. 13 LOUISVILLE 67,

MIDDLE TENNESSEE 44

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Angel McCoughtry had a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds, leading No. 13 Louisville (6-1) to victory over Middle Tennessee (5-2).

WOMEN'S GAMES

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