SMU improves to 14-0 with a tip-in basket and block in final minute

Jordan Tolbert tipped in Nic Moore’s missed shot for the go-ahead score with 28 seconds left and then had a big block as No. 15 Southern Methodist rallied to remain undefeated with a 59-57 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night at Dallas.

The Mustangs (14-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference), off to the best start in school history and one of two undefeated teams left in Division I, overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 3 1/2 minutes.

Moore finished with 14 points. He had two three-pointers in a game-ending 11-2 run for SMU.

at No. 5 Michigan State 79, Illinois 54: The Spartans (15-1, 2-1 Big Ten) took a 25-point halftime lead and cruised over the Illini.

The Illini (8-8, 0-3) didn’t have leading-scorer Kendrick Nunn, who the team said stayed in Illinois for the birth of his child.

at No. 20 Purdue 87, Michigan 70: A.J. Hammons scored 17 points and had four blocks and the Boilermakers (14-2, 2-1 Big Ten) improved to 10-1 at home. Michigan (12-4, 2-1) had its six-game winning streak snapped.

No. 16 Louisville 77, at N.C. State 72: Quentin Snider came off the bench for a career-high 21 points to spark the Cardinals (13-2, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference).