COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL ROUNDUP : Spartans Win on Shot at Buzzer

Steve Smith had the right touch, the right position and the right timing Thursday night at Cincinnati, leading No. 21 Michigan State to a 65-63 victory over Cincinnati.

Smith scored 34 points, the last two on a controversial offensive rebound at the buzzer.

The Spartans (3-2) trailed by 15 points at halftime before Smith, who is averaging 27 points, took charge.

He scored 22 points in the second half, including Michigan State’s final nine, and was in the right place to rebound Mark Montgomery’s missed shot at the buzzer for the game-winner.

The officials huddled before deciding Smith’s layup had beaten the buzzer, even though a TV replay indicated it didn’t.

Cincinnati (3-3) took a 40-25 lead at halftime before Smith took charge.

Smith made a jump shot to tie it at 63-63 with four seconds left. Montgomery stole an in-bounds pass and missed a three-point attempt, but Smith was in position to follow the miss with a layup.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Byron Houston and John Potter scored 19 points apiece and Oklahoma State used a big second-half run to beat Louisiana Tech, 89-58, at Stillwater, Okla. The Cowboys improved to 5-1. . . . Rich Jardine scored 19 points in leading Utah State (1-4) to a 77-62 victory over Weber State at Logan, Utah. . . . Dana Jackson scored 15 points as Minnesota remained undefeated by beating Santa Clara, 73-63, at Minneapolis. . . . Ronnie Battle scored 25 points and Lesley Person had 20 points and eight rebounds as Auburn (4-1) defeated Duquesne, 75-71, at Pittsburgh.