Chet Holmgren recorded 15 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots and No. 3 Gonzaga survived a major scare before escaping with a 64–55 victory over Tarleton State on Monday night at Spokane, Wash.
Rasir Bolton scored a team-best 17 points for the Bulldogs (7–1), who led by just two points with under six minutes left before using a 10–2 spurt to put away the Texans (1-6), who are in their second season at the Division I level.
Drew Timme, who was just 1 of 2 from the field, added 10 points for Gonzaga, which fell out of the top spot in the rankings due to their 84–81 loss to Duke on Friday. The Bulldogs extended the nation’s longest home-court winning streak to 56 games.
Tahj Small had a career-best 25 points and added seven rebounds while Javontae Hopkins had 11 points for Tarleton State (1–6). The Texans are coached by former Kentucky head man Billy Gillispie.
No. 7 Texas 73, Sam Houston State 57
Marcus Carr scored a season-high 19 points as the Longhorns shrugged off an uneven first 17 minutes and defeated the Bearcats in a unique throwback game in Austin, Texas.
The game was played in Gregory Gymnasium on the University of Texas campus with a student-only attendance. It was the first regular-season men’s basketball game in the edifice, which has a capacity of about 3,900, since 1977.
Savion Flagg, a transfer from Texas A&M, led the Sam Houston (2–5) with 16 points.
No. 9 Kentucky 85, Central Michigan 57
Oscar Tshiebwe had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals as the Wildcats cruised to a win over the Chippewas in Lexington, Ky.
TyTy Washington Jr. added 15 points and six rebounds for Kentucky (6–1). Dontaie Allen chipped in with nine points and six rebounds, and Keion Brooks Jr. also had nine points.
Jermaine Jackson Jr. led Central Michigan with 11 points and five assists. Cameron Healy made a trio of 3-pointers for Central Michigan (1–5).
