No. 4 Cincinnati Escapes in Overtime, 62-61

There were no style points for No. 4 Cincinnati, just a great escape and another big victory.

The Bearcats needed Melvin Levett’s buzzer-beating shot to force overtime, then used consecutive three-point baskets by Alvin Mitchell for an intense 62-61 victory over No. 17 Minnesota on Wednesday night at Minneapolis.

Mitchell, a backup guard, gave Cincinnati a 59-58 lead with two minutes to play in the extra period. He extended the Bearcats’ lead to 62-58 with another three-pointer 56 seconds later.

The Golden Gophers cut the deficit to 62-61 on a free throw by Quincy Lewis and a steal and layup by Terrance Simmons with 46 seconds left. They had a chance to win it in the final seconds, but Kevin Clark missed a driving layup with about three seconds left and Cincinnati kept the Gophers from getting another shot as the final seconds expired.

Mitchell scored 12 points and Levett added 11 as Cincinnati (8-0) remained perfect in six games against Minnesota under Coach Bob Huggins.

Lewis led Minnesota (6-1) with 24 points.

No. 16 Clemson 70, South Carolina 66--Terrell McIntyre tied a season high with 27 points, including a driving basket in the final minute, to help the Tigers (9-1) outlast the Gamecocks (4-4) at Columbia, S.C.

After BJ McKie made a three-point shot from the left corner to bring South Carolina within 64-63 with 1:20 to play, McIntyre drove the lane and hit a six-footer.

McKie and Antonio Grant missed three-point shots on the next possession for South Carolina, and Clemson put the game away at the free-throw line.

McIntyre had his first game of 20 points or more since Nov. 19 against Western Carolina. Harold Jamison added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

McKie scored 23 points.

Clemson has won the last five games in the bitter state rivalry that got even more heated in the first half with three face-to-face confrontations between players.

No. 20 Arkansas 95, Southeastern Louisiana 57--Pat Bradley keyed an early surge and finished with 19 points as the Razorbacks (7-2) blasted the Lions (2-5) at Fayetteville, Ark.

Arkansas opened a 17-4 lead in the first six minutes as Bradley hit a jumper, a three-point shot and three free throws.

Arkansas led at halftime, 43-28.

Maurice Clark scored 18 points for Southeastern Louisiana, which made only 32% of its shots. Cory Combs added 13 points and Kelland Payton had 11 for the Lions.

Southeastern Louisiana is 0-3 against Southeastern Conference teams this season, and all the games were blowouts. The Lions lost to Mississippi State, 97-60, and to Auburn, 114-60.

“We’ve definitely run the gantlet with the three teams from the SEC West,” Coach John Lyles said. “We played some awfully good minutes in the first half, but their talent overwhelmed us.”

OTHER GAMES

Georgia Tech 76, Wofford 63--Jason Floyd and Jason Collier each scored 22 points to help the Yellow Jackets (7-1) hold off the Terriers (3-6) at Atlanta.

Wake Forest 73, Coastal Carolina 46--The Deamon Deacons (8-2) used a balanced attack to roll over the Chanticleers (2-6) at Winston-Salem, N.C.

WOMEN’S TOP 25

No. 4 Louisiana Tech 91, Southern Methodist 63--Amanda Wilson scored 16 points and four of her teammates also scored in double figures as the Lady Techsters (8-1) rolled over the Mustangs (3-6) at Ruston, La.