Sooners' Griffin answers USC's cheap shot

The Associated Press • Published December 05, 2008

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NORMAN, Okla. – Blake Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points after getting hit with a cheap shot in the second half, and Oklahoma staved off a rally by Southern California.

Griffin had to come out of the game briefly after getting punched below the waist by USC's Leonard Washington with 13:54 left.

Southern Cal (5-3) trailed by 11 early in the second half and got within one point three times, but Oklahoma (7-0) had an answer every time.

Austin Johnson had 17 points and Griffin's older brother, Taylor, scored 10 for the Sooners, who committed a season-low eight turnovers.

Dwight Lewis led Southern California with 25 points. DeMar DeRozan had a final chance at a game-winner, but his desperation heave from beyond halfcourt sailed wide right at the buzzer.

NO. 8 TEXAS 68, NO. 12 UCLA 64

At Austin, Texas, A.J. Abrams scored 31 points, including the last six of the game for Texas.

Abrams broke a 62-62 tie with a 3-pointer with 2:53 to play, then made two free throws a minute later to push Texas' lead back to three. After the Bruins' Josh Shipp missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 15 seconds left, Shipp fouled Abrams who made one of his two free throws for the final point.

Abrams' 31 points matched his career high. Texas' Damion James added 13 points and 13 rebounds, including a big grab after Shipp missed his free throw. James' basket with 3:46 to play tied it at 62.

The Longhorns (6-1) held UCLA (4-2) scoreless after Alfred Aboya's basket with 2:28 left pulled the Bruins within 65-64.

Darren Collison scored 22 points for the Bruins. and Shipp added 15.

NO. 19 ARIZONA ST. 81, JACKSON ST. 60

At Tempe, Ariz., James Harden had 22 points and eight rebounds for Arizona State.

Harden led the Sun Devils in scoring for the 31st time in 41 career games despite fouling out with 4:10 to play.

Jeff Pendergraph had 19 points and Rihards Kuksiks added 16 for the Sun Devils (6-1), off to their best start since they went 11-1 to open 2004-05.

Harden has scored 86 points in his last 68 minutes. He was 7-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

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