PHILADELPHIA (AP) Jermaine Samuels hit a 3-pointer with 20.5 seconds left and No. 18 Villanova beat No. 1 Kansas 56-55 on Saturday, making the Jayhawks the latest top-ranked team to fall this season.
The Jayhawks (9-2) had moved up one spot to become the fifth team to top the poll this season. It is the first time the AP poll has had five school at No. 1 before New Year’s Day; the record for a season is seven in 1982-83.
Unlike Duke and Louisville which lost to unranked teams, Kansas lost to a traditional national power that has had its number in recent seasons. The Wildcats (9-2) finally nudged ahead in a back-and-forth game.
Samuels scored 15 points and Collin Gillespie had 12 for Villanova.
Devon Dotson led Kansas with 15 points, and Udoka Azubuike had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
NO. 2 GONZAGA 112, EASTERN WASHINGTON 77
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Filip Petrusev had 24 points and nine rebounds to help Gonzaga beat Eastern Washington, clearing a path for the Bulldogs to become the sixth top-ranked team in the nation so far this season.
Gonzaga has reached No. 1 several times in recent years, including twice last season.
Admon Gilder scored 22 points and Ryan Woolridge added 15 points for Gonzaga (13-1), which has won five straight games since falling to Michigan in the title game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Zags have won 30 straight home games, the longest streak in the nation.
Jacob Davison scored 17 points and Tyler Kidd added 16 for Eastern Washington (7-4).
NO. 5 OHIO STATE 71, NO. 6 KENTUCKY 65
LAS VEGAS (AP) D.J. Carton had 13 points, Kaleb Wesson added 12 before fouling out and Ohio State outlasted Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic.
The Buckeyes (11-1) played with Duane Washington Jr., their second-leading scorer, limited to eight minutes due to a rib injury and had a hard time shaking the Wildcats in a physical game.
