AUSTIN, Texas — A.J. Abrams' shooting touch and some rock-solid team defense keep getting it done for Texas.

Abrams matched his career high with 31 points, including the last six of the game for the Longhorns, sending No. 8 Texas to a rugged 68-64 victory over No. 12 UCLA last night.

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 two free throws for the final point.

"Our guys made plays at the end," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "When we get settled into our defense, we're a pretty hard team to score against. ... We talked about going out there to scrap."

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

Damion James added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Longhorns, including a big grab after Shipp missed his free throw. James' basket with 3:46 to play tied it at 62.

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

The Longhorns have won nine straight at home against ranked opponents. The Bruins and Longhorns have met only four times and this one proved every bit as exciting as Texas' 63-61 road win last season.

NO. 2 CONNECTICUT 68, BUFFALO 64

Hasheem Thabeet had 21 points and 18 rebounds, Jeff Adrien added 18 points, and Kemba Walker made four free throws in the final seconds as the visiting Huskies (8-0) held off the Bulls (3-3), who tied the game at 64 on two free throws by Rodney Pierce with 41 seconds left.

NO. 6 OKLAHOMA 73, SOUTHERN CAL 72

Blake Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points after getting hit with a cheap shot elbow with 13:54 left in the second half, and the host Sooners (7-0) staved off a rally by the Trojans (3-5), who trailed by 11, but closed to within a point three times.

NO. 17 VILLANOVA 93, HOUSTON BAPTIST 57

Scottie Reynolds scored a season-high 23 points and had six assists, Corey Stokes added 22 points, and the host Wildcats (8-0) built a 26-8 lead en route to a 48-22 cushion at intermission in rolling past the undermanned Huskies (0-7).

NO. 19 ARIZONA STATE 81, JACKSON STATE 60

James Harden had 22 points and eight rebounds, leading his team in scoring for the 31st time in 41 career games despite fouling out with 4:10 to play, and the host Sun Devils (6-1) took a 42-26 halftime lead that never dwindled below 11 points in cruising past the Tigers (1-7).

RANKED WOMEN

NO. 8 MARYLAND 70, NO. 17 PURDUE 59

Kristi Toliver scored 22 of her 24 points in the second half as the visiting Terrapins (7-1) turned back the Boilermakers (5-2) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Trailing 40-35 with 14:44 left, Maryland used a 24-10 run, capped by a 3-pointer and two free throws by Toliver, to take a 59-45 lead with 4:33 left.

NO. 12 DUKE 71, IOWA 47

Chante Black scored 18 points and the host Blue Devils (5-1), who missed their first 14 shots, rallied to take a 28-14 halftime lead and beat the Hawkeyes (4-4) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

NO. 13 LOUISVILLE 67, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 44

Angel McCoughtry had 24 points and 13 rebounds, scoring 14 in the second half when the visiting Cardinals (6-1) pulled away from a 31-24 halftime lead to beat the Blue Raiders (5-2), who missed their first seven shots in the second half

NO. 20 VIRGINIA 63, ILLINOIS 39

Monica Wright scored 23 points and Ariana Moorer had her first career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds to power the visiting Cavaliers (6-2) over the Illini (3-5) in ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

NO. 16 VANDERBILT 83, CAL STATE FULLERTON 67

Christina Wirth scored 27 points, Hannah Tuomi added 17 and Jennifer Risper 14, helping the visiting Commodores (8-1) break away from a 38-34 halftime lead to defeat the Titans (2-5).

FRESNO STATE 75, NO. 22 TCU 71

Hayley Munro scored 23 points and completed a three-point play with 21 seconds left for a 73-71 lead, and Johteena Filipe hit two free throws with three seconds to play as the host Bulldogs (5-1) overcame a 17-point deficit with 7 minutes left to stun the Lady Frogs (6-2).