No. 1 Louisville breezes past EKU; No. 2 Kansas also wins

Eastern Kentucky guard Jomaru Brown (11) attempts to pass the ball as Louisville guard Ryan McMahon (30) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jordan Nwora scored 26 points, Steven Enoch had 23 and No. 1 Louisville shot 63% in both halves to blow out Eastern Kentucky 99-67 on Saturday.

After taking their first loss Tuesday against Texas Tech in the Jimmy V Classic behind 34% shooting, the Cardinals (10-1) responded with baskets from all over the floor. They made 34 of 54 from the field, including 9 of 19 from long range.

Enoch made his first seven attempts and grabbed six rebounds as Louisville controlled the Colonels (3-7) 35-24 on the boards. Malik Williams made a pair of 3s for 11 points with six rebounds.

Ty Taylor had 13 points, Tre King 12 and Jacquess Hobbs and Jomaru Brown nine each for EKU.

NO. 2 KANSAS 98, KANSAS CITY 57

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — David McCormack scored a career-high 28 points, Devon Dotson added 18 and Kansas overwhelmed Kansas City in its annual Jayhawk Shootout at the Sprint Center.

Marcus Garrett added 13 points for the Jayhawks (9-1), who shrugged off a slow start to beat their neighbors from down Interstate 70 for the eighth time in as many meetings. Kansas led 43-24 at halftime, built on the advantage early in the second half and never looked back as it gazes toward a potential No. 1 ranking Monday.

Javan White and Marvin Nesbitt Jr. scored 12 apiece for the Roos (5-7), who committed 22 turnovers and struggled all night with the Jayhawks’ length.

NO. 10 OREGON 71, NO. 5 MICHIGAN 70, OT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Payton Pritchard scored 19 of his 23 points after halftime, and Oregon outlasted Michigan.

In a stellar matchup of senior point guards, Pritchard was just a little bit better, repeatedly driving past Michigan’s Zavier Simpson toward the end of the second half and in overtime. Simpson had eight points and 11 assists, but the Wolverines (8-3) lost their second straight game.

Oregon (8-2) built a 16-point lead in the first half, then had to withstand an extended Michigan charge. Anthony Mathis nearly won it for the Ducks with a long 3-pointer at the end of regulation, but a replay showed he released the shot just after the clock ran out.

Franz Wagner led Michigan with 21 points.

NO. 8 KENTUCKY 67, GEORGIA TECH 53

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ashton Hagans scored 21 points to lead Kentucky past Georgia Tech.

The Wildcats (8-1) won their sixth straight game going into a two-game trip to Las Vegas ahead of their Christmas break.

Hagans scored eight of Kentucky’s first 11 points and led the Wildcats with 11 points in the first half. Hagans finished with seven assists and seven rebounds. Immanuel Quickley tied a career high with 16 points, Nick Richards scored 12 and Keion Brooks Jr. contributed 10 points off the bench.

Moses Wright led the Yellow Jackets (4-4) with 13 points.

NO. 12 AUBURN 67, SAINT LOUIS 61

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — J’Von McCormick scored 20 points, freshman Isaac Okoro added 12 and Auburn improved to 9-0, beating Saint Louis in the Mike Slive Invitational at Legacy Arena.

The teams struggled to generate offense early, but the Tigers used physical defense, feeding into transition buckets, to create separation in the second half.

Auburn failed to find a rhythm in the first half, shooting just 33% from the field and 4 of 10 from the free-throw line, but shot 50% from 3-point territory in the second half.

Javonte Perkins led the Billikens (8-2) with 16 points.

NO. 13 MEMPHIS 51, NO. 19 TENNESSEE 47

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Damion Baugh sank a 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining to put Memphis ahead for good and the Tigers outlasted Tennessee to snap the Volunteers’ 31-game home winning streak.

Tennessee (7-2) had owned the longest active home winning streak of any Division I team. The Vols hadn’t lost at home since falling to Auburn 94-84 on Jan. 2, 2018.

Memphis (8-1) erased an early 12-point deficit for its second straight come-from-behind road victory.

D.J. Jeffries and Tyler Harris each scored 11 points and Baugh added 10 for Memphis, which found a way to win despite scoring just five points in the game’s first 12 minutes.

Josiah-Jordan James scored 14 for Tennessee.

NO. 14 DAYTON 78, DRAKE 47

DAYTON, Ohio — Ibi Watson scored a season-high 20 points and led a first-half run that put Dayton in control as the Flyers pulled away to beat Drake.

Dayton (8-1) took the court with its highest ranking in a dozen years but trailed midway through the first half. Watson came off the bench and scored seven straight points to change the momentum.

Obi Toppin added 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Trey Landers had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Drake (8-3) couldn’t handle the Flyers’ versatile offense. Roman Penn had 13 points for the Bulldogs, who have lost nine straight against ranked teams since 2013.