Louisville Routs Cincinnati

Taquan Dean, whose playing status had been uncertain because of groin injury, had 21 points to lead No. 5 Louisville to a 93-66 victory over previously unbeaten and sixth-ranked Cincinnati Wednesday night at Louisville, Ky.

Dean was in severe pain earlier in the day and Coach Rick Pitino considered sitting him out.

“This morning, I couldn’t even run,” said Dean. “I wouldn’t miss this game with one leg. I stuck it out. My leg was throbbing.”

Francisco Garcia had 19 points and seven assists, and the Cardinals (14-1, 5-0 Conference USA) beat the Bearcats (13-1, 4-1) for the fourth time in the last six meetings.

Louisville’s victory margin matched the worst in Coach Bob Huggins’ 15 seasons at Cincinnati. The Bearcats lost to North Carolina, 90-63, in 1993.

No. 1 Duke 68, Maryland 60 -- J.J. Redick scored a season-high 26 points, and the Blue Devils (15-1, 5-0 ACC) used a solid defensive performance to beat the Terrapins (10-5, 1-3) at College Park, Md., and extend their winning streak to 12 in a row. It was the third time in three years that Duke visited Maryland as the No. 1 team, and the first time it won.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s 92, Massachusetts 67 -- The Hawks (16-0, 6-0 Atlantic 10) equaled the longest winning streak in school history by routing the Minutemen (5-11, 0-5). Massachusetts failed to score until almost five minutes into the game.

Saint Joseph’s can break the record set by the 1964-65 team coached by Jack Ramsay with a victory at St. Bonaventure Saturday. While the Hawks kept their perfect streak alive, Delonte West lost his.

West was coming off a 12-for-12 shooting effort in a win Saturday at Xavier. He made his first seven shots -- including two three-point baskets -- before missing a three-point attempt 6 1/2 minutes into the second half.

No. 19 Mississippi State 79, No. 17 Florida 68 -- Lawrence Roberts had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (15-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) past the Gators (11-4, 2-2) at Gainesville, Fla.

Roberts, the 6-foot-9 forward who transferred from Baylor after the scandal there, recorded his 11th double-double of the season.

No. 21 Wisconsin 74, Michigan 63 -- The Badgers (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) won their 23rd consecutive home game and improved to 19-0 in conference home games under Coach Bo Ryan. The Wolverines (10-5, 1-3) have lost three in a row.

No. 23 Purdue 72, Minnesota 65 -- Brett Buscher scored six of his 10 points during a key stretch of the second half to lift the Boilermakers (13-4, 3-1 Big Ten) at West Lafayette, Ind.

After the Golden Gophers (8-8, 0-4) tied the score, 58-58, with 6:19 left, Buscher made two free throws, a jump hook and a layup to help the Boilermakers take a 64-60 lead with 4:43 left. Minnesota never got closer.

No. 24 Oklahoma State 71, Colorado 62 -- Tony Allen made two layups in the final two minutes and John Lucas made two key free throws to keep the Cowboys (13-2, 3-1 Big 12) undefeated in nine home games this season.

A late 10-3 run held off Colorado (10-5, 2-2).

OTHER GAMES

Antoine Pettway made a three-point basket with 1.7 seconds left at Athens, Ga., to give Alabama (11-4, 3-1 SEC) a 45-42 victory over Georgia (9-6, 1-3). It was Georgia’s lowest-scoring game since a 64-40 loss at Kentucky in 1984. It was Alabama’s lowest since a 52-45 loss to Florida in 1988....Illinois (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) rolled past Penn State, 80-37, at Champaign, Ill. The Nittany Lions (8-7, 2-2) made five of 37 shots in the second half.

WOMEN

Third-ranked Texas (16-2, 4-1 Big 12) beat Oklahoma State, 67-45, for its 29th consecutive victory at home. The Cowboys (6-10, 1-4) committed 27 turnovers the Longhorns turned into 30 points....No. 3 Texas Tech (17-1, 3-1 Big 12) was a 68-55 winner over Nebraska (13-3, 3-2) at Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders led, 60-43, with 4:20 left.... Tera Bjorklund scored 23 points to help No. 14 Colorado (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) extend its winning streak over Texas A&M; (7-9, 0-5) to 10 games with a 70-58 victory at Boulder, Colo. ... No. 19 Baylor (15-3, 3-2 Big 12) took control in the second half with a 16-1 run in an 85-66 victory over Kansas (8-8, 1-4) at Waco, Texas....No. 24 Boston College (13-3, 3-2 Big East) used a 9-0 run midway in the second half to pull away for a 50-41 victory over visiting Seton Hall (10-6, 2-3).