CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- No. 19 Virginia downed Illinois, 63-39, in the second annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday night.

Monica Wright led the Cavaliers with a career-high nine steals to go along with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Also scoring in double figures for Virginia (6-2) was Ariana Moorer, who recorded her first career double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Aisha Mohammed added 12 points and five rebounds.

In the first half, the Cavaliers used a 22-6 advantage in points in the paint and 12-0 advantage in fast break points to build a 40-14 halftime lead.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by the Fighting Illini in the second half with 15:03 remaining cut the Cavaliers' lead to 23 points at 47-24, but Illinois (3-5) would get no closer.

Wisonsin 61, Virginia Tech 52

MADISON, Wis. -- Alyssa Karel's 14 points led the Badgers to a win over the Hokies despite the Badgers' cold shooting in the second half.

Wisconsin (7-1) hit just 26.9 percent from the field after intermission after making 40.7 percent in the first half.

For the game, the Badgers shot 34 percent compared to 37 percent for Virginia Tech (5-2), but Wisconsin's total included 6-16 from 3-point range to Tech's 3-10 on 3-pointers.

Wisconsin also was 19 of 29 on free throws to Tech's 9-15.

Lindsay Biggs scored 22 points to lead Virginia Tech.

MEN'S TOP 25

No. 2 Connecticut 68, Buffalo 64

AMHERST, N.Y. -- After watching Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet foil his team's spirited effort to upset the second-ranked Huskies, Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon echoed a familiar refrain.

"He's really improved," Witherspoon said. "It's too bad he didn't go to the NBA last year."

Thabeet had 21 points and 18 rebounds, Jeff Adrien added 18 points, and UConn (8-0) survived a big scare, holding off the Bulls (3-3).

No. 6 Oklahoma 73, Southern Cal 72

NORMAN, Okla. -- Blake Griffin scored 11 of his 25 points after getting hit with a cheap shot elbow in the second half, and the Sooners (7-0) staved off a rally by the Trojans (5-3) for the victory.

No. 8 Texas 68, No. 12 UCLA 64

AUSTIN, Texas -- A.J. Abrams scored 31 points, including the last six of the game for No. 8 Texas, sending the Longhorns to victory over the Bruins.

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

No. 17 Villanova 93, Houston Baptist 57

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Scottie Reynolds scored a season-high 23 points and had six assists and the Wildcats (8-0) stayed unbeaten with a victory over Houston Baptist (0-7).

No. 19 Arizona St. 81, Jackson St. 60

TEMPE, Ariz. -- James Harden had 22 points and eight rebounds as the Sun Devils defeated Jackson State the Tigers.

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 for the Sun Devils (6-1), off to their best start since they went 11-1 to open 2004-05.

-- Staff, wire reports