LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 13 points and 13 rebounds and top-ranked Kentucky easily passed its toughest SEC test to date with a 78-58 victory against No. 8 Florida on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (24-1, 10-0) have won 49 straight at home and matched their best start in league play since 2005 thanks to three freshmen starters.
Doron Lamb scored 18 and freshman Anthony Davis added 16 for Kentucky, which won its 16th straight overall and ended Florida's run of seven consecutive wins. Freshman point guard Marquis Teague had 12 points and 10 assists as the Wildcats attacked on both ends.
Kenny Boynton led the Gators (19-5, 7-2) with 18 points.
No. 3 Ohio State 87, Purdue 84: William Buford scored 29 and capped his night with a pivotal dunk in the final minute to power Ohio State at home.
The win was Ohio State's 40th in a row at home - since losing to Purdue two years ago at Value City Arena.
Buford scored 21 in the second half to carry the Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2 Big Ten) while All-America Jared Sullinger and point guard Aaron Craft were on the bench with foul trouble. He scored seven straight as Ohio State took the lead for good.
D.J. Byrd, averaging 6.5 points, had 24 for the Boilermakers (15-9, 5-6). Kelsey Barlow and Lewis Jackson had 14 each and Robbie Hummel added 13.
Evansville 65, No. 17 Creighton 57: Colt Ryan gave Evansville the lead for good by making a 17-footer with 3 minutes, 8 seconds to play and the Purple Aces closed the game on a 13-1 run.
The nation's best shooting team was out of sync all night and wound up losing a second straight game for the first time this season. Creighton (21-4, 11-3 Missouri Valley Conference) was led by Doug McDermott with 21 points.
Kenny Harris scored 15 to lead Evansville (12-12, 7-7).
Maryland 64, Clemson 62: Terrell Stoglin scored 27 and helped Maryland hold off a late Clemson rally for the road win.
The Terrapins (14-9, 4-5 ACC) led 53-39 with 7:55 to go. That's when the Tigers (11-12, 3-6) went on a 19-6 run to cut the lead to a point on Devin Booker's two foul shots.
Alex Len made a bucket and Stoglin followed with two foul shots to put Maryland out front 63-59.
Clemson was down 64-62 with 1.7 seconds left, but Andre Young's desperation halfcourt heave bounced off the rim and the Terps broke their two-game losing streak with their first ACC road win this season.
Young led the Tigers with 15 points and made four 3-pointers.
Campbell 81, Coastal Carolina 75: Eric Griffin had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Camels (16-11, 10-5 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (17-6, 10-3). Darren White added 16 points as four scored in double figures.
Griffin scored 15 and White had 12 in the second half, as the Camels rallied from a 50-39 deficit with 13:17 left.
Chris Gradnigo scored 20 and Dexter Moore 17 for the Chanticleers (17-6, 10-3).
No. 2 Notre Dame 74, Syracuse 55: Devereaux Peters had a season-high 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, Kayla McBride added 19 points and Notre Dame (24-1, 11-0 Big East) rolled at Syracuse (15-10, 4-7) for its 21st straight win.
Iasia Hemingway had 15 points and Kayla Alexander added 11 for Syracuse.
No. 3 Connecticut 56, No. 20 Louisville 46: Caroline Doty led Connecticut with 15 points and the Huskies' defense helped hold off Louisville. Doty, scoreless in her last game against Rutgers, made 5 of 11 on 3-point attempts. Tiffany Hayes added nine points and 11 rebounds before fouling out for UConn (22-2, 10-1 Big East).
Shoni Schimmel led Louisville (17-7, 6-5) with 20 points and eight rebounds. Sara Hammond added 10 points, eight in the second half.
Hollins 90, Meredith 70: Megan Rahn scored 20 and Keyanka Bailey had 18 for Meredith (5-16) in the loss at Hollins (9-12).
