WACO, Texas — Texas coach Rick Barnes was talking about how hard his team fought, expounding on all the things the 11th-ranked Longhorns had to do to win.

Still, Barnes really shouldn't have been all that surprised with the outcome.

In his 11 seasons, the Longhorns have never lost to Baylor.

Texas made it 23 consecutive victories in the series last night, when A.J. Abrams scored 19 points while matching the Big 12 career record for 3-pointers in a 78-72 victory over the Bears.

"We knew both teams would dig in and play as hard as we can play," Barnes said. "Defensively, I thought we were really good. Offensively, we go through spurts where we struggle. ... This was as complete a win as we've had as a team."

And yet just another victory for the Longhorns (15-4, 4-1 Big 12) against the rival located less than 100 miles north on Interstate 35. Baylor last won in the series in 1998.

"Like all Baylor fans, we're tired of being on the short end," said coach Scott Drew, now 0-12 against the Longhorns.

Baylor (15-5, 3-3), coming off a 19-point loss at Oklahoma that was its 29th straight loss in that series, was within a basket of the Longhorns with 1:23 left when LaceDarius Dunn hit two free throws.

But Abrams then dribbled inside the 3-point line with a minute to play and hit a jumper for his last points of the game. Abrams then fouled Tweety Carter on a 3-pointer shot, but Carter missed all three free throws — having already missed his only other two in the game.

Abrams matched the Big 12 record with his 338th career 3-pointer, his third of the game coming 14 1/2 minutes into the game. He didn't make another one, leaving him tied with Jeff Boschee, who played at Kansas from 1999-2002.

NO. 16 PURDUE 64, WISCONSIN 63

MADISON, Wis. — Robbie Hummel's go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute left gave the Boilermakers (16-4, 5-2 Big Ten) a 60-58 lead, and Keaton Grant and JaJuan Johnson each made two free throws in the final 32 seconds to hold off the Badgers (12-8, 3-5).

E'Twaun Moore scored 17 to lead the Boilermakers. Keaton Nankivil scored a career-high 21 for Wisconsin, which lost its fifth straight game.

MISSISSIPPI 85, NO. 24 KENTUCKY 80

OXFORD, Miss. — Terrico White and David Huertas each scored 21 points and the injury-depleted Rebels (11-9, 2-4 SEC) managed to overcome 24 points from Patrick Patterson for a rare win over the Wildcats (16-5, 5-1).

Mississippi snapped the Wildcats' five-game win streak a day after they entered the Top 25 for the first time this season. The win snapped Ole Miss' three-game losing streak.

RANKED WOMEN

RUTGERS 78, NO. 17 NOTRE DAME 68

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Brittany Ray scored 26 points, Epiphanny Prince added 24 and the Scarlet Knights (12-6, 4-3 Big East), who on Monday fell out of the Top 25 for the first time since Dec. 3, 2007, rebounded to beat the Irish (15-4, 4-3) for the eighth time in the last nine meetings.

NO. 21 PITTSBURGH 50, GEORGETOWN 39

WASHINGTON — Savonte Zellous scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half and the Panthers (15-4, 5-2 Big East) rallied from a 27-23 halftime deficit by allowing 12 second-half points to beat the Hoyas (13-7, 3-4) for their fourth straight victory.

NO. 14 KANSAS STATE 51, NEBRASKA 40

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Ashley Sweat scored 18 points and Shalin Spani made three 3-pointers during a 24-6 second-half run that gave the Wildcats (18-1, 5-1 Big 12) a 45-31 lead over the Huskers (10-9, 1-5) with 8:45 remaining.

NO. 25 DEPAUL 59, ST. JOHN'S 58

NEW YORK — Deirdre Naughton, who missed the shootaround due to flu-like symptoms, scored 15 points, including a jumper for a 57-54 lead with 1:38 left, and China Threatt's basket made it 59-54 with 41 seconds to play as the Blue Demons (16-5, 4-3 Big East) held off the Red Storm (13-6, 1-5).