Kevin Knox scored 19 of his 34 points in the second half and Kentucky overcame a 17-point deficit to beat No. 7 West Virginia 83-76 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday night. Hamidou Diallo added 13 points for the visiting Wildcats (16-5), who made all 18 of their free throws after halftime. Jevon Carter scored 26 points for the Mountaineers (16-5), who have lost two straight and four of their last five games after being ranked No. 2 two weeks ago.
Alabama tops Oklahoma • Collin Sexton scored 18 points as host Alabama beat No. 12 Oklahoma 80-73 in the Big 12/SEC event. The Crimson Tide (14-7) did a terrific defensive job on Oklahoma’s Trae Young, who scored just 17 points. It was the second time this season that Young — who went into the game leading the nation with more than 30 points per game — was held under 20. Khadeem Lattin led the Sooners (15-5) with 18 points.
KU beats Texas A&M • Svi Mykhailiuk poured in 24 points and No. 5 Kansas built a big first-half lead and coasted past visiting Texas A&M 79-68 as the Jayhawks (17-4) won their fourth straight in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and 10th in a row over the Aggies. Tyler Davis had 18 points to lead A&M (13-8), which trailed 45-27 at halftime.
Bearcats roll along • Gary Clark had 18 points and nine rebounds to help No. 9 Cincinnati beat host Memphis 62-48 for its 12th straight victory. The Bearcats (19-2, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) held the Tigers (13-8, 4-4) to 31.1 percent shooting.
Auburn romps • Mustapha Heron had 21 points to lead No. 19 Auburn past visiting Louisiana State 95-70. DeSean Murray added 18 points for the host club (19-2, 6-1 Southeastern Conference). Duop Reath led LSU (12-8, 3-5) with 18 points.
AREA
SIUC wins at Missouri State • Armon Fletcher scored 18 points, including a layup with 6.7 seconds left, to lift Southern Illinois University Carbondale (14-9, 6-4 Missouri Valley Conference) to a 79-77 win at Missouri State. Kavion Pippen, who added 17 points, got the ball on the low block before finding Fletcher cutting down the lane. Jarrid Rhodes missed a 3-point try for the Bears (15-8, 5-5) as time ran out.
SIUE is upended • Austin Luke scored 25 points in leading Belmont to an 83-72 victory at home over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Bruins (17-6, 9-1 Ohio Valley Conference) won their sixth straight. Jalen Henry scored 17 points for the Cougars (7-14, 3-7), who lost their fourth in a row.
SEMO falls • Marlon Hunter’s 22 points led Jacksonville State to a 78-60 win over visiting Southeast Missouri State. The Gamecocks improved to 16-7, 7-3 OVC. Denzel Mahoney’s 17 points led the Redhawks (10-13, 4-6).
SLU women win in OT • Jackie Kemph hit a running 3-pointer at the buzzer of overtime to give the visiting St. Louis University women a 72-69 victory at George Washington. Kerri McMahan scored 15 points to lead the Billikens (11-10, 5-3 Atlantic 10), who dropped the Colonels to 9-11, 4-4.
Associated Press