A week removed from a face-plant that helped knock San Diego State out of The Associated Press Top 25, Jamaal Franklin made sure the Aztecs were focused and ready against No. 15 New Mexico.
So much so that they routed the Lobos, 55-34, on Saturday in San Diego — New Mexico’s worst loss in the shot-clock era.
JJ O’Brien had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Franklin scored 10 points while leading SDSU’s smothering defense to keep New Mexico from running away with the Mountain West Conference race.
SDSU (16-4, 4-2) dealt the Lobos (17-3, 4-1) their first conference loss and snapped New Mexico’s four-game winning streak.
New Mexico’s 34 points were its fewest since scoring 32 on Jan. 31, 1976, at Utah. The Lobos shot 25 percent (11-for-44), their lowest mark since at least 1965.
“As good as we were as a team, I have to start with Jamaal,” Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. “For those that only look at a stat line, you don’t appreciate what he brings to this team. He’s the soul of our program. He willed everybody to be ready.”
At Villanova 75, No. 3 Syracuse 71: Ryan Arcidiacono hit the tying 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in regulation, and James Bell hit consecutive 3s in overtime to send the Wildcats (13-7, 4-3 Big East) to their second win over a top-5 team this week.
Villanova defeated No. 5 Louisville, 73-64, on Tuesday.
Arcidiacono let go a leaner from just beyond the 3-point line to tie the game at 61, force overtime and send the crowd into a frenzy.
With the Orange (18-2, 6-1) down two points in overtime, Brandon Triche made one free throw with 46.5 seconds left.
Bell followed with a layup to for a 71-68 lead, and the Wildcats held on from the free throw line.
At Georgetown 53, No. 5 Louisville 51: Otto Porter had 17 points and grabbed the game’s decisive rebound with 1.4 seconds to play as the Hoyas (14-4, 4-3 Big East) handed the Cardinals (16-4, 4-3) their third consecutive loss.
Trailing by one, Louisville had several chances to take the lead in the final 2 minutes. After getting the ball back on a disputed call, the Cardinals kept the ball for a final shot. Franklin High grad Peyton Siva, who didn’t score in the game, missed the jumper. Porter grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
At Iowa State 73, No. 11 Kansas State 67: Will Clyburn had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Cyclones (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) handed the Wildcats (15-4, 4-2) their second straight loss.
Freshman Georges Niang added 15 points for Iowa State, which beat a ranked opponent for the first time this season.
At Wisconsin 45, No. 12 Minnesota 44: Traevon Jackson beat the shot clock and hit a 15-foot jumper from the right side with 4 seconds left as the Badgers (14-6, 5-2 Big Ten) handed the rival Golden Gophers (15-5, 3-4) their fourth straight loss.
MORE TOP 25 HIGHLIGHTS
Freshman Rasheed Sulaimon scored a season-high 25 points, and No. 1 Duke (17-2, 4-2 ACC) routed Maryland (15-5, 3-4), 84-64, in Durham, N.C. … Ben McLemore scored 18 points, and Jeff Withey added 13 points and nine rebounds as No. 3 Kansas (18-1, 6-0 Big 12) extended its nation-leading winning streak to 17 games with a 67-54 home win over Oklahoma. … Rotnei Clarke scored 25 points in his return from injury to lead No. 9 Butler (16-3, 4-1 Atlantic 10) to an 83-71 win over Temple (13-6, 2-3) in Indianapolis. … Sam Thompson scored 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting and No. 14 Ohio State (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten) knocked off Penn State (8-12, 0-8), 65-51. … Lorenzo Brown had 20 points and 11 assists to help No. 18 North Carolina State (16-4, 5-2 ACC) end a 13-game losing streak to rival North Carolina (13-6, 3-3) with a 91-83 home win. … Ramon Galloway scored 31 points to lead La Salle (14-5, 4-2 Atlantic 10) to a 69-61 upset over No. 19 VCU (16-5, 4-2). … Jerian Grant scored 18 points as No. 24 Notre Dame (16-4, 4-3 Big East) beat South Florida (10-9, 1-6) in Tampa.
ELSEWHERE
Northern Illinois broke its own NCAA Division I record for futility, scoring four points in the first half of a 42-25 loss to Eastern Michigan. The Huskies tied the mark for fewest made field goals in a half after hitting 1 of 31 attempts in the opening period. … Reid Koenen had 24 points, six rebounds and three steals to lead Texas State (7-14, 3-6 WAC) past Seattle University (6-13, 1-8), 86-83, at KeyArena. Former Gig Harbor High star Clarence Trent led the RedHawks with 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
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