NCAA basketball top 25: Syracuse ends win drought as No. 1

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Fifth-year seniors Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku made their final home game at Syracuse one to remember, combining for 35 points and the Orange beat St. John's 85-66 on Tuesday night in their first game in two decades as the No. 1 team in the nation.

Syracuse (28-2, 15-2 Big East) moved into the top spot on Monday. It was the first time the Orange were there since a six-week stint in 1989-90.

They close the regular season on Saturday at Louisville looking to finish 9-0 on the road. Their only losses this season were at home to the Cardinals and Pittsburgh.

Onuaku finished with a season-high 21 points and had eight rebounds. Rautins had 14 points and seven assists.

D.J. Kennedy led St. John's (15-14, 5-12) with 19 points.

NO. 6 OHIO ST. 73, ILLINOIS 57: at Columbus, Ohio, Jon Diebler hit seven 3-pointers for 21 points to lead Ohio State, which clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title. It was the third conference title in the last five years for Ohio State (24-7, 14-4), winners of four straight overall and 13 of 15. William Buford added 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Evan Turner contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds and David Lighty had 15 points for Ohio State. DeMetri McCamey had 18 points for the Illini (18-12, 10-7), who have lost two straight and four of five. Diebler hit six 3-pointers and scored 18 points in the Buckeyes' 72-53 rout at Illinois on Feb. 14.

NO. 9 VILLANOVA 77, CINCINNATI 73: At Cincinnati, Scottie Reynolds scored all of his 17 points in the second half and Villanova let most of its late 16-point lead slip away before holding on. The Wildcats (24-5, 13-4 Big East) got their second win in their last five games. Down by 16 points with 6 minutes left, Cincinnati (16-13, 7-10) regrouped for a 14-point run that cut it to 66-65 with 2:17 to go. Reggie Redding hit two free throws and a 3-pointer that blunted the comeback. Reynolds finished it off with two free throws with 3.2 seconds left. Rashad Bishop had 19 points and Deonta Vaughn, one of two Cincinnati seniors honored before the game, kept the Bearcats in it with 14 points in the first half, and a 3 that sparked the late run. Reynolds led six Villanova players in double figures.