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Roundup: Hot start puts UMass back in the Top 25

Chaz Williams and UMass were ranked 24th in the poll, released on Monday.AP/File

The University of Massachusetts is partying like it’s 1998.

The Minutemen (6-0) returned to the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in 15 years. They were ranked 24th in the poll, released on Monday.

Michigan State (6-0) kept hold of the top spot, receiving 56 first-place votes from the 65-memeber national media panel.

The last time UMass was in the Top 25 was the first regular-season poll of the 1998-99 season.

UMass won the Charleston Classic Sunday night by beating Clemson. They also beat Nebraska and then-No. 19 New Mexico.

Kansas, which drew eight first-place votes, remained at No. 2. Kentucky, the preseason No. 1, moved up to third place. Arizona moved up one spot to fourth, while Oklahoma State moved from seventh to fifth. The Cowboys also received the other first-place vote.

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No. 9 Louisville tumbled from the No. 3 spot. The Cardinals (5-1) lost to North Carolina on Sunday.

Things were much calmer in the women’s poll, as UConn (8-0) got all 36 first-place votes to lead the rankings. The top nine teams remained in the same positions.

Kentucky 68, Cleveland State 61 — Andrew Harrison’s 3-point play broke a 57-all tie before twin brother Aaron followed with a 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining, helping the No. 3 Wildcats escape the stubborn Vikings (3-3) in Lexington, Ky. Julius Randle led Kentucky (5-1) with 15 points and 15 rebounds on a night the Wildcats shot just 36 percent.

Oklahoma State 93, South Florida 67 — Marcus Smart and Markel Brown scored 25 points apiece, helping the No. 5-ranked Cowboys (5-0) corral the Bulls (4-1) in Tampa.

Ohio State 65, Wyoming 50 — Lenzelle Smith Jr. scored 20 points and Aaron Craft had all 10 of his points in a second-half surge to lead the No. 7 Buckeyes (5-0) past the visiting Cowboys (4-2).

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Florida 86, Jacksonville 60 — Casey Prather scored 27 points, Michael Frazier II added 17, and the No. 15 Gators handled the host Dolphins (2-4). Point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who had been suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules for the first five games, started for Florida (5-1) and had 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and just 2 turnovers.

Iowa State 110, Missouri-Kansas City 51 — DeAndre Kane had 20 points and eight rebounds, and the 17th-Cyclones (5-0) overwhelmed the visiting Kangaroos (1-4).

Arizona St. 79, Marquette 77 — Jahii Carson scored 23 points and Jordan Bachynski swatted Derrick Wilson’s runner at the buzzer for his seventh block, helping the host Sun Devils (6-0) outlast the No. 25 Golden Eagles (3-2).

Maui Invitational opening round — In Lahaina, Hawaii, C.J. Fair gave No. 8 Syracuse 16 points, including a clutch pull-up jumper late, and 10 rebounds as the Orange (5-0) handed Minnesota (5-1) its first loss with a 75-67 decision . . . In the tournament’s opening game, David Kravish had 19 points and 15 rebounds as California (5-0) beat Arkansas (3-1) by a score of 85-77.

Legends Classic semifinal — Lamar Patterson scored a career-high 23 points and Pittsburgh (5-0) took command in the first half on the way to a 76-53 victory over Texas Tech (4-2) in New York.

Quinnipiac 102, Maine 61 — Umar Shannon and Zaid Heart each scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as the visiting Bobcats (3-1) trounced the Black Bears (1-3) . Hearst, Ousmane Drame, and Ike Azotam had 12 rebounds apiece.

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URI 73, UNC Asheville 56 — Andrew Rowsey and Jaron Lane contributed 17 points apiece, pacing the Rams (4-2) past the Bulldogs (1-4) at home.

Women

Maryland 69, Drexel 63 — Alyssa Thomas scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help the No. 8 Terrapins (5-1) outlast the Dragons (2-3).

UNH 63, Colgate 58 — Corrine Coia’s 14-point, 11-rebound effort helped the Wildcats (3-2) to a home win over the Raiders (1-4).

Miami 91, Yale 67 — Caprice Dennis’s career-high 26 points was more than enough for the Hurricanes (3-2), who blew past the Bulldogs in Coral Gables, Fla. Yale (3-3) was led by junior guard Sarah Halejian’s 22 points.