OTHER CONFERENCES

Hoosiers hang on to beat Gophers

— Indiana dazzled its fans in the first half Saturday. Then the fifth ranked Hoosiers (15-1, 3-0 Big Ten) had to survive a forgettable finish.

The nation’s highest-scoring team produced only seven points in the final 4 1/2 minutes Saturday - barely enough to hold off No. 8 Minnesota’s furious closing flurry and hang on for an 88-81 victory.

“A year ago, we’d have been ecstatic with that victory and I want them to enjoy it, but we have different expectation levels now,” Coach Tom Crean said. “We have a lot of room for improvement.”

Victor Oladipo scored 20 points and had six rebounds but fouled out after fouling a three-point shooter for the third time in the game. Jordan Hulls made four threes and finished with 19 points and four rebounds but had two turnovers and missed three free throws during Minnesota’s closing run. Cody Zeller had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The mistakes allowed Minnesota (15-2, 3-1) to trim a 23-point halftime lead to 13 early in the second half and a 15-point deficit to three with 19 seconds to go.

Andre Hollins finished with 25 points and four steals for Gophers, while Austin Hollins and Trevor Mbakwe each had 13 points.

In another Big Ten game, Jared Berggren scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds to lead host Wisconsin (12-4, 3-0) to a 74-51 victory over No. 12 Illinois (14-4, 1-3).

BIG 12 Edge to Wildcats

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Shane Southwell made two free throws with 21 seconds left, then blocked Gary Browne’s layup attempt with one second left to preserve No. 18 Kansas State’s 65-64 victory over West Virginia on Saturday.

Southwell and Rodney McGruder both had 17 points for the Wildcats (13-2, 2-0 Big 12).

Jabarie Hinds had a career-high 15 points for West Virginia, (8-7, 1-2).

In other Big 12 game, Kevin Young scored 14 points and No. 6 Kansas (14-1, 2-) won 60-46 over host Texas Tech (8-6, 1-2). ... Freshman Georges Niang scored a season-high 18 points, Will Clyburn added 16 and host Iowa State (11-4, 1-1) rolled past Texas (8-8, 0-3),winning 82-62 in its Big 12 home opener. ... Romero Osby scored 17 points, Amath M’Baye and freshman Buddy Hield added 15 apiece and host Oklahoma (11-3, 2-0) won the Bedlam rivalry game 77-68 over Oklahoma State (11-3, 1-2). ... Cory Jefferson had 15 points, including consecutive baskets to start Baylor’s tie breaking run, and the host Bears (11-4, 3-0) won 51-40 over TCU (9-7, 0-3).

MOUNTAIN WEST

Discipline doesn’t hurt

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alex Kirk had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds and No. 25 New Mexico played without leading scorer Kendall Williams in a 72-45 rout of Fresno State on Saturday.

It’s the third time Williams has been disciplined this season, but it’s the first time he’s had to sit an entire game. All three transgressions have been because he’s been late either to games or meetings, New Mexico Coach Steve Alford said.

Cameron Bairstow matched his career high for the Lobos (15-2, 2-0 Mountain West) with 16 points. Marvelle Harris led Fresno State (6-9, 0-2) with 11 points.

In other Mountain West games, Leonard Washington had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Wyoming (14-1, 1-1) came back from its first loss of the season, winning 59-48 over host Nevada (9-7, 0-2). ... Chase Tapley scored 12 of his 19 points in overtime, including two three pointers and a layup off a steal, and No. 16 San Diego State (14-2, 2-0) held off visiting Colorado State (13-3, 0-1), winning 79-72.

PACIFIC-12 Arizona rebounds

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Solomon Hill had 16 points, including five 3-pointers, to help the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 80-70 victory over Oregon State on Saturday.

The Wildcats (15-1, 3-1 Pacific-12) were coming off a 70-66 defeat Thursday night against the Oregon Ducks.

The Beavers (10-6, 0-3), who trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, didn’t give the Wildcats much trouble. Ahmad Starks had 18 points to lead Oregon State.

In other Pac-12 games, Tyrone Wallace scored a season-high 16 points and host California (10-6, 2-2) overcame a sloppy offensive performance for a 67-54 victory over Washington State (9-7, 0-3). ... J.T. Terrell scored 14 points and Southern California (7-10, 2-2) snapped a string of 14 consecutive road losses with a 76-59 victory over Utah (8-8, 0-4). ... Travis Wear scored 14 of his career-high 23 points in the second half and Jordan Adams’ two free throws with seven seconds left gave UCLA (14-3, 4-0) its ninth consecutive victory, 78-75 over Colorado (11-5, 1-3).

Sports, Pages 27 on 01/13/2013

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