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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Top 25 capsules: Nick Ward, Miles Bridges help No. 2 Michigan State rout Savannah State

Michigan State's Nick Ward (44) gets a layup against Savannah State's Jahir Cabeza (30) as Savannah State's Zach Sellers, right, watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (Al Goldis / Associated Press)
Associated Press

Nick Ward scored 21 points to help No. 2 Michigan State rout Savannah State 108-52 on Sunday in East Lansing, Michigan.

Miles Bridges added 19 points and 21 rebounds for the Spartans (14-1). They won their 13th in a row and have scored 100 points in four consecutive games for the first time in school history.

The Spartans shot 63 percent from the floor and held the Tigers scoreless over the last 8:50 of the second half during a 32-0 run.

Savannah State (3-12) lost for the eighth time in nine games, the last six in a row. Dexter McClanahan led the Tigers with 14 points.

(16) Kentucky 66, Georgia 61: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored five of his 21 points down the stretch, and the Wildcats (11-2, 1-0) added several clutch late baskets to rally past the Bulldogs (9-3, 0-1) in their Southeastern Conference opener in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Wildcats shot a season-low 17 of 54 from the field (32 percent) but got needed baskets to overcome an eight-point deficit. Gilgeous-Alexander’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:39 remaining set the tone for big shots that Kevin Knox, Hamidou Diallo and then Gilgeous-Alexander followed with layups before Wenyen Gabriel’s 3 with 1:08 left provided a six-point cushion.

Yante Maten had 17 points for the Bulldogs.

(21) Cincinnati 82, Memphis 48: Gary Clark had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season, and Jarron Cumberland scored 15 points, leading the Bearcats (12-2, 1-0 American Athletic) past the Tigers (9-5, 0-1) in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and extending the nation’s longest active home-court winning streak to 34.

Playing their first game in 10 days, the Bearcats came out rusty but turned up the defense and were in control by halftime.

Kareem Brewton Jr. led Memphis with 17 points.

The Bearcats are playing this season at BB&T Arena at Northern Kentucky University while their on-campus arena is renovated. They went 18-0 at Fifth Third Arena last season.

(23) Seton Hall 75, St. John’s 70: Khadeen Carrington scored 24 points to help the Pirates (13-2, 2-0 Big East) beat the Red Storm (10-4, 0-2) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Desi Rodriguez added 23 points and nine rebounds for the Pirates. Myles Powell had 16 points, and Angel Delgado finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Red Storm played without scoring leader Shamorie Ponds. The Big East’s No. 3 scorer at 20.1 points per game, he injured a knee Thursday night in a loss to Providence. Tariq Owens led the Red Storm with 19 points, and Marvin Clark II added 18 points before fouling out.

(25) Creighton 83, Providence 64: Marcus Foster scored 18 points and the Bluejays (11-3, 1-1 Big East) beat the cold-shooting Friars (10-5, 1-1) in Omaha, Nebraska.

Toby Hegner matched his season high with 15 points to help the Bluejays bounce back from a road loss to Seton Hall in their conference opener.

Creighton never trailed and went on a 13-4 run spanning the halves to take control.

Nate Watson led Providence with a season-high 20 points.