Syracuse beats Clemson to remain unbeaten

C.J. Fair rebounded from his worst game of the season with 19 points and Jerami Grant added 12 last night as No. 1 Syracuse beat visiting Clemson, 57-44, to remain undefeated.

Fair, who shot 2-for-13 for a season-low six points against Notre Dame last Monday, responded with an 8-for-13 shooting night and played Clemson's K.J. McDaniels to a virtual standstill. McDaniels, the only player in the country leading his team in scoring, rebounding, blocks, steals and three-pointers, had 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

"Without wearing myself out, I wanted to wear him out," Fair said. "When the best player on the opposite team is guarding you, you want to make their job hard. I just wanted to keep him busy."

Syracuse (23-0, 10-0 ACC) extended its school record for wins to start a season and matched the school mark for consecutive wins set in the 1916-17 and 1917-18 seasons.

"They have very good pieces that fit together," said Clemson coach Brad Brownell, whose team is 15-7, 6-4. "Everybody has a role. They embrace their role. They're very unselfish. There doesn't look to be any jealousy. We had a chance, but they were just too good."

Wisconsin 60, Mich. St. 58: Seconds after Michigan State's Adreian Payne tied the score with a three-pointer, Traevon Jackson hit a jumper with 2.1 seconds left to win it for host Wisconsin (19-5, 6-5 Big Ten). A desperation three-pointer from midcourt by the No. 9 Spartans (20-4, 9-2) banged off the rim as time expired.

WOMEN'S GAMES

UConn 81, Louisville 64:Breanna Stewart had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead top-ranked UConn (25-0, 12-0 AAC) over No. 4 Louisville (23-2, 11-1) in a rematch of last season's women's national championship game.

"She scores them exactly when you need them," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Stewart. "Every one of her points seems to mean something. She hits three-run homers when we're down two, and that's what separates her from everybody else."

"She's a special player," Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. "I told our players there's no question she's the best player in the country, in my opinion.''

The victory was host UConn's 31st straight, the fifth-longest winning streak in school history. -- APLOCAL COLLEGES

Stony Brook 76, New Hampshire 63:Sabre Proctor scored 21 points as host Stony Brook (17-7, 8-3 America East) rolled past New Hampshire (14-9, 8-2). Miranda Jenkins had 17 points for the Seawolves.

Hofstra 66, William & Mary 56:Annie Payton had 19 points and Anma Onyeuku added 10 points and 12 rebounds for host Hofstra (10-11, 5-5 CAA).