No. 18 Purdue slips past No. 8 Michigan State in OT

Rapheal Davis, the Boilermakers’ defensive stopper, played the best offensive game of his four-year career, A.J. Hammons, a 7-foot senior center, nearly posted a triple-double, and together they prevented No. 8 Michigan State from beating Purdue again.

Davis made the first of two free-throw tries with 4.6 seconds left in overtime to break a tie, and Hammons wrestled the ensuing rebound from several defenders to preserve an 82-81 victory.

[...] when Purdue’s 18-point second-half lead vanished and Michigan State (20-5, 7-5 Big Ten) took a 72-68 lead with 1:59 left in regulation, it looked as if the Boilermakers were doomed again.

Denzel Valentine finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Spartans.

Rasheed Sulaimon scored 16 points, and the Terrapins (22-3) set a school record with their 27th consecutive victory at home, beating the Division II Bulldogs (13-10).

Maurice Watson scored a career-high 32 points and the host Bluejays (16-9, 7-5 Big East) used an early 16-0 run to help end the five-game winning streak of the Musketeers (21-3, 9-3).

Perry Ellis had 21 points and Landen Lucas pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds as the host Jayhawks (20-4, 8-3) forged a three-way tie atop the Big 12.

Anthony Gill scored 16 points, and the host Cavaliers (20-4, 9-3 ACC) won their seventh straight game, beating a team to which they had lost this season.

Playing most of the second half without head coach Roy Williams, who left the bench after complaining of vertigo, the Tar Heels (20-4, 9-2 ACC) rallied to beat the host Eagles (7-17, 0-11) and snap a two-game losing streak.

Guard Angel Rodriguez scored on an offensive rebound with 1.4 seconds left to give the host Hurricanes (19-4, 8-3 ACC) the win over the Panthers (17-6, 6-5).

Scoochie Smith hit a three-pointer with 46 seconds left that put the host Flyers (20-3, 10-1 Atlantic 10) ahead to stay as they overcame a late 12-point deficit against the Dukes (15-9, 5-6).

Jamal Murray scored 24 points, and the host Wildcats (18-6, 8-3 SEC) held the Bulldogs (13-9, 6-5) to a season-low 22 percent shooting.

Head coach John Calipari said after the game that forward Alex Poythress, who has missed two games with a knee injury, will be out a few weeks.