LEXINGTON, Ky. Baylor’s comfort with the zone defense on Saturday created uneasiness for No. 8 Kentucky.
It left the Wildcats with a 64-55 loss to the Bears, a two-game losing streak and the end of their 54-game run at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky’s struggles with Baylor’s combination of zone alignments were symbolized by its failure to get the ball inside to its big men and a failure to answer it from the outside. The Wildcats (4-3) shot 30 percent, their lowest under coach John Calipari.
Pierre Jackson scored 17 points for the Bears (5-2).
NO. 16 MISSOURI 72, APPALACHIAN STATE 56
At Columbia, Mo., Laurence Bowers matched his career high with 23 points despite taking one shot in the second half, leading the Tigers (6-1) to an easy victory over the Mountaineers (1-6) in their first game since embattled guard Michael Dixon announced he would transfer.
Jay Canty had a career-high 29 points for Appalachian State.
NO. 17 CINCINNATI 58, ALABAMA 56
At Cincinnati, Cashmere Wright’s fadeaway jumper from the baseline at the buzzer gave the Bearcats (7-0) a victory over the Crimson Tide (6-1) in a matchup of unbeaten teams that play shutdown defense.
MISSISSIPPI 80, RUTGERS 67
At Oxford, Miss., Marshall Henderson scored 18 points, including consecutive 3-point shots in a decisive 14-2 surge in the final seven minutes, to lift the Rebels (6-0) past the Scarlet Knights (4-2).
TEXAS A&M 70, HOUSTON 59
At Houston, the Aggies (6-1), led by Elston Turner’s 16 first-half points and 26 overall, defeated the Cougars (5-2) in Hofheinz Pavilion.
VILLANOVA 62, VANDERBILT 52
At Nashville, Tenn., Mouphtaou Yarou scored 16 points to lead the Wildcats (4-3) past the Commodores (2-4).
PROVIDENCE 73, MISSISSIPPI STATE 63
At Providence, R.I., Kadeem Batts scored 32 points and LaDontae Henton added 18, leading the Friars (6-2) past the Bulldogs (2-5).
ACC
NO. 2 DUKE 88, DELAWARE 50
At Durham, N.C., Ryan Kelly scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half and the Blue Devils (8-0) routed the Blue Hens (2-6). Duke never trailed, shot 52 percent and led by 46.
NO. 14 NORTH CAROLINA 102, UAB 84.
At Chapel Hill, N.C., Leslie McDonald scored 24 points in his first career start to help the Tar Heels (6-2) top the Blazers (4-4).
VIRGINIA TECH 81, NO. 15 OKLAHOMA ST. 71
At Blacksburg, Va., Erick Green scored 28 points and hit eight critical free throws in the final 76 seconds to help the Hokies (7-0) remain unbeaten and handed the Cowboys (5-1) their first loss.
MIAMI 75, MASSACHUSETTS 62
At Amherst, Mass., Reggie Johnson scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Hurricanes (5-1) pulled away in the second half from the Minutemen (3-3).
VIRGINIA 67, WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY 51
At Charlottesville, Va., Akil Mitchell had 20 points and nine rebounds as the Cavaliers (6-2) defeated the Phoenix (3-4).
RICHMOND 62, WAKE FOREST 60
At Richmond, Va., Derrick Williams scored 26 points and grabbed 10 boards and Kendall Anthony scored nine of the final 10 points for the Spiders (6-2) against the Demon Deacons (3-4).
STATE MEN
ALLEN 81, MILES 76
At Allen, Richard Johnson scored 25 points to lead the Yellow Jackets. Chris Briggs added 20 for Allen (2-8).
LOYOLA OF CHICAGO 77, FURMAN 50
At Chicago, Devon Turk came off the bench to score 19 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Ramblers (6-2) defeated the Paladins (2-5).
JAMES MADISON 71, WINTHROP 61
At Harrisonburg, Va., Rayshawn Goins scored 19 points and Andrey Semenov added 17 as the Dukes (2-5) snapped a three-game losing streak with a nonconference victory over the Eagles (2-4).
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 101, BARBER-SCOTIA 69
At Charleston, Arlon Harper scored 23 points to lead five players in double figures as the Buccaneers (2-5) dominated the NAIA’s Sabers.
UNC GREENSBORO 84, THE CITADEL 54
At Greensboro, N.C., Drew Parker scored 15 points and Trevis Simpson had 14 in a dominant victory for the Spartans (2-5) over the Bulldogs (3-3) in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 56, ELON 54
At Elon, N.C., Willis Hall posted his first double-double of the season, and the Cougars (5-2) rallied from an early deficit and held on to beat the Phoenix (5-3, 3-1) and win their fourth straight game.
