Jefferson Leads Arizona to Easy 70-41 Victory

Richard Jefferson had 14 points as No. 4 Arizona toyed with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in a 70-41 runaway Monday night at Tucson.

“Richard is really stepping up,” Wildcat Coach Lute Olson said. “He is becoming a more vocal leader, as well as leading with his play.”

The Wildcats (8-1) were never tested in winning their second in a row after a loss to Connecticut.

Rick Anderson and Jason Gardner had 11 points each, and Loren Woods scored 10. Anderson and Woods played less than half a game.

The mismatch gave Olson a chance to rest top scorer and rebounder Michael Wright, who hyperextended his right knee in the Connecticut game Dec. 7. Wright started the game but played only six minutes in the first half and seven in the second.

Charles Price had 15 points and six rebounds for IUPUI (1-7), a second-year Division I school which lost for the fifth time in five road games.

The Wildcats scored the first 11 points of the game and never looked back.

No. 6 Auburn 63, Coppin State 35--Scott Pohlman scored 14 points at Auburn, Ala., and Tiger Coach Cliff Ellis picked up the 450th Division I-A win of his career.

The 35 points allowed tied Auburn’s school record, set in 1997 against Tennessee. The Tigers (6-1) held Coppin State (2-8) to 28% shooting and forced 19 turnovers.

Chris Porter, who had the worst game of his career against Penn on Saturday with only four points, scored all 12 of his points against Coppin State in the first half. He played only 23 minutes and sat most of the second half.

No. 12 Ohio State 83, Coastal Carolina 75--Brian Brown scored 15 of his career-high 18 points in the second half as Ohio State used its inside strength to win at Columbus, Ohio.

Because of an off shooting night from the perimeter, the Buckeyes pounded the ball inside to 6-foot-11 Ken Johnson and 6-7 George Reese, forcing Coastal Carolina (1-6)--whose tallest starter was 6-6--to foul.

The Buckeyes (4-1) made 29 of 37 free throws to the Chanticleers’ nine of 10.

No. 22 Gonzaga 76, Washington 66--Matt Santangelo scored five of his 14 points in a decisive 11-0 second half run at Seattle.

The Bulldogs made all six free throws in the game’s final minute to seal the victory.

Richie Frahm scored 19 points and Ryan Floyd had 11 for Gonzaga (6-2). Deon Luton scored 23 points for Washington (3-4). Luton fouled out with 2:16 remaining.

Seton Hall 60, Columbia 58--Ty Shine made a three-point shot with 45.7 seconds remaining to cap a late comeback and give Seton Hall (5-2) a win over stubborn Columbia (3-6) at East Rutherford, N.J.