SPOKANE, Wash. — The more Washington State clamps down, the more it rises in national prominence.

Aron Baynes scored 13 points — nine in the second half — and the No. 8 Cougars' stifling defense dominated in a 51-47 victory over the 17th-ranked Bulldogs last night, Gonzaga's first-ever loss at home while ranked.

Washington State (8-0) won for only the eighth time in 112 road games against ranked teams.

Kyle Weaver added 12 points for Washington State and keyed a halfcourt lockdown that held the generally uptempo Zags to their lowest point total since losing 71-47 at Southern Utah on Dec. 23, 1996.

The Cougars' clinging, man-to-man defense harried Gonzaga (7-2) into rushed shots, denied even the simplest passing lanes and kept the Bulldogs without a field goal for the final 5:15.

Matt Bouldin, the Bulldogs' leading scorer coming in, went 0-for-9 from the field with the taller Weaver blanketing him most of the night. Reduced to one-handed scoop shots, Bouldin, who was averaging 14.4 points, went scoreless.

Gonzaga, which had won its first 55 home games while ranked, also lost for just the second time in 44 games at the McCarthey Athletic Center, which opened three years ago.

The Bulldogs won seven straight in this series until WSU's victory last season in Pullman.

NO. 3 KANSAS 85, EASTERN WASHINGTON 47

Darnell Jackson had 17 points and nine rebounds, Darrell Arthur contributed 15 points and six boards, and the host Jayhawks (8-0) opened the second half with a 20-5 run for a 57-28 lead in cruising past the Eagles (3-7).

NO. 4 TEXAS 88, NORTH TEXAS 72

D.J. Augustin had 29 points and 10 assists, A.J. Abrams added 23 points and the host Longhorns ran their record to 8-0 for the second time in three years with a victory over the Mean Green (5-2).

NO. 5 GEORGETOWN 70, ALABAMA 60

DaJuan Summers had 18 points and nine rebounds and the visiting Hoyas (6-0) finished the game with a 14-3 run to beat the Crimson Tide (4-3) in the first game of the SEC/Big East Invitational.

RANKED WOMEN

NO. 1 TENNESSEE 83, NO. 24 OLD DOMINION 51

Angie Bjorklund scored 19 points, Candace Parker added 14, and the host Lady Vols (7-0) turned 20 turnovers into 26 points in coasting past the Lady Monarchs (6-3).

NO. 2 CONNECTICUT 75, VIRGINIA 45

Tina Charles scored 18 points, Brittany Hunter added 14 and the host Lady Huskies routed the Cavaliers (4-6), moving to 7-0 for the 12th time since 1994.

NO. 3 MARYLAND 74, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 69

Kristi Toliver scored 19 points, including seven during an 11-0 run for a 72-62 lead as the Terrapins (11-1) held off the Blue Raiders (3-4), who made 12 3-pointers in the game.