Missouri’s Win Is a Rush Job

Kareem Rush scored 26 points and No. 22 Missouri defeated No. 8 Virginia, 81-77, Sunday at Columbia, Mo., the third consecutive loss and first in 28 regular-season games for the Cavaliers outside the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Missouri (16-6) won for the first time in five tries against the Cavaliers (14-5).

Arthur Johnson scored 16 points for Missouri, and Chris Williams had 18 for Virginia.

No. 3 Maryland 89, North Carolina State 73--Juan Dixon scored 27 points, including seven in a 16-2 second-half run for the Terrapins (18-3, 8-1 in ACC) at College Park, Md.

Anthony Grundy scored 19 points for the Wolfpack (16-6, 5-4), who have lost 20 of 23 to Maryland, which is off to its best start in the ACC since 1980.

Michigan State 67, No. 12 Illinois 61--Scoring leader Marcus Taylor left with a concussion after banging his head on the court early in the second half, but the Spartans (13-8, 4-4 Big Ten) still ended Illinois’ 28-game home winning streak. Adam Ballinger scored 18 points for Michigan State, which held Illinois (15-7, 4-5) to 39% shooting, clogging the middle and forcing long shots. Coach Tom Izzo said he wasn’t certain how serious Taylor’s injury was, but hoped he could bounce back soon.

WOMEN’S TOP 25

No. 1 Connecticut 85, Providence 61--Diana Taurasi scored 20 points, and Sue Bird had 13 points and three assists, giving her 500 assists in her career, to lead the Huskies (24-0, 10-0 Big East) at Providence, R.I.

No. 7 Purdue 65, No. 15 Wisconsin 55--Shereka Wright scored 22 points and the Boilermakers (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) closed with a 22-5 run at West Lafayette, Ind.

No. 11 South Carolina 69, No. 12 Florida 59--Jocelyn Penn scored 29 points at Gainesville, Fla., and the Gamecocks (18-3, 6-2 Southeastern) beat the Gators (15-7, 5-4) for the first time in 13 games.

No. 17 Colorado 74, No. 13 Texas Tech 69--The Buffaloes (17-6, 7-3 Big 12) opened overtime with consecutive three-point baskets and held on at Lubbock, Texas. Tera Bjorklund led Colorado with 18 points. Jolee Ayers had 22 points and 16 rebounds for Texas Tech (13-7, 5-5).

No. 19 Georgia 76, Kentucky 50--The Lady Bulldogs (15-6, 4-5 SEC) scored 35 points off 30 turnovers and cruised at Lexington, Ky. Kara Braxton had 24 points for Georgia. Sara Potts scored 15 points for Kentucky (8-13, 1-8).

No. 21 Old Dominion 66, Towson 27--The Lady Monarchs (15-5, 11-0 Colonial Athletic Assn.) jumped ahead, 22-0, and led, 31-7, at halftime at Towson, Md.

No. 22 Minnesota 94, Iowa 83--Lindsay Whalen scored 34 points for the Gophers (17-4, 7-3 Big Ten) at Iowa City, Iowa.

Mississippi State 76, No. 25 Auburn 57--LaToya Thomas scored 31 points--including 23 in the second half--and had 13 rebounds for Mississippi State (16-6, 7-2 SEC) at Jackson, Ala.

SOUTHLAND WOMEN

USC 79, Washington State 38--Ebony Hoffman and Rachel Woodward each scored 21 points for the Trojans (12-10, 8-5 Pacific 10) at the Sports Arena.

The Cougars (2-20, 0-12) have lost 15 in a row.

Washington 68, UCLA 48--The Huskies jumped to a 19-4 lead and coasted at Pauley Pavilion for their first sweep of the Bruins and USC in Los Angeles since 1996.

Loree Payne led Washington (13-8, 8-4 Pac-10) with 20 points, including four three-point baskets. Freshman center Krystle Johnson led UCLA (6-15, 3-10) with 15 points.