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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Zach Edey overcame a slow start with 24 points and 15 rebounds as No. 2 Purdue rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Minnesota 84-76 on Thursday night.
The Boilermakers (23-2, 12-2 Big Ten), who trailed by 10 after the opening possession of the second half, turned to their 7-foot-4 senior All-American center to help lead the comeback. The reigning national player of the year shook off 3-of-9 shooting in the first half by moving closer to the basket with three dunks, the last slam pushing Purdue ahead 57-55 with 12:27 remaining.
Point guard Braden Smith had 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Purdue, which improved to 43-3 at home in the last three years, including 7-0 in Big Ten play this season. Mason Gillis hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Lance Jones added 12.
Dawson Garcia led the Gophers (15-9, 6-7) with 24 points.
NO. 18 SAINT MARY’S 103, PEPPERDINE 59
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) — Augustus Marciulionis scored a career-high 28 points and Alex Ducas beat the halftime buzzer with a halfcourt shot to lead Saint Mary’s past Pepperdine for its 13th straight win.
The Gaels (21-6, 12-0 West Coast Conference) celebrated their return to the AP Top 25 for the first time since the opening week of the season with another dominant victory to match No. 1 UConn for the longest active winning streak in the country.
Ducas added 18 points and Aidan Mahaney scored 13 for Saint Mary’s, which has opened a 2 1/2-game lead in the conference over San Francisco and Gonzaga.
Jevon Porter had 13 points to pace the Waves (10-17, 3-9), who have lost seven of eight.
NO. 24 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 80, TEMPLE 68
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Johnell Davis scored 17 points, Alijah Martin and Brandon Weatherspoon each had 16 and Florida Atlantic beat Temple in a battle of the Owls.
FAU (20-5, 10-2 American Athletic) pulled away with an early 15-2 run. Weatherspoon hit two 3-pointers during the spree, and Nick Boyd had four 3s in the half. Boyd and Vladislav Goldin each finished with 12 points.
Temple (8-17, 1-11) has lost 10 straight since defeating Wichita State at home Jan. 7. Jordan Riley led Temple with 19 points.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball