SEATTLE — Connecticut was unbeaten, yet the Huskies were also unproven.

Not anymore. Not after relentless A.J. Price and Connecticut rallied to create March-like madness in December.

Price scored a season-high 24 points — including the improbable 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime — and Jerome Dyson scored six of his 21 points in the extra period to rally No. 2 Connecticut to a wild, 88-83 victory over eighth-ranked Gonzaga yesterday.

Price, the Huskies' senior leader back from knee surgery, took over late and brought his teammates with him by handing out a career-high 10 assists. He led UConn (10-0) from 11 down with 12 minutes remaining inside sold-out KeyArena.

"This game assured me of our toughness," Price said, knowing only two opponents had come within a dozen points of UConn before this. "Being able to battle adversity, down 11 in the second half on the road, and come back? We are tough."

Connecticut's Jim Calhoun has coached 1,121 college games, more than any other active major college coach. But for him, this one of huge momentum swings and dueling rallies amid bedlam was unique — and not because it was just UConn's second regular-season game on the West Coast in 10 years.

"Just a phenomenal basketball game to be associated with," said Calhoun. "Quite frankly, when you get in game like that, it comes down to heart."

Not that Gonzaga lacked any.

Steven Gray scored a career-high 23 points for the Bulldogs (8-2) in their annual game in Seattle. They lost for the second time in three games but fought through the frustration and foul trouble of leading scorer Josh Heytvelt.

They ultimately lost starters Austin Daye, Matt Bouldin and Micah Downs to fouls as bigger Connecticut continually exploited its advantage inside.

"I'm proud. Our guys played their tails off," Zags coach Mark Few said. "We used everybody we possibly had in the whole gym out there and had the craziest lineups we've never, ever had in practice."

NO. 1 NORTH CAROLINA 85, VALPARAISO 63

CHICAGO — Tyler Hansbrough scored 25 points and the Tar Heels (11-0) won by double figures for the 11th straight game, overcoming a sluggish start to beat the Crusaders (3-7), who were facing a No. 1 team for the fifth straight season.

NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 81, VA. COMMONWEALTH 70

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tony Crocker scored 26 points, Blake Griffin added 18, and Sooners (11-0) got a win for coach Jeff Capel against the team that gave him his coaching start, beating the Rams (7-4) and reigning Colonial Athletic Association player of the year Eric Maynor, who came in averaging 24 points, but was held to 15.

NO. 19 MICHIGAN STATE 67, NO. 5 TEXAS 63

HOUSTON — Durrell Summers hit a 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left for a 65-63, then grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled and buried two free throws with one second left, lifting the Spartans (8-2) over the Longhorns (9-2) and A.J. Abrams, who finished with just eight points.

NO. 6 DUKE 82, NO. 7 XAVIER 64

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jon Scheyer scored 23 points, Gerald Henderson added 19 and the Blue Devils (10-1) shot 61.8 percent from the field in the first half (21-of-34), including 8-of-15 from 3-point range, en route to a 31-point halftime lead in cruising past the Musketeers (9-1).

MINNESOTA 70, NO. 9 LOUISVILLE 64

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Al Nolen scored 18 points, Blake Hoffarber added 15 and the Golden Gophers (10-0), leading 56-47, made 14 of 16 free throws in the final seven minutes to upset the Cardinals (7-2) in the first game of the Stadium Shootout. Minnesota is off to its best start since starting 11-0 in 1976-77.

NO. 11 SYRACUSE 72, NO. 23 MEMPHIS 65

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jonny Flynn had 24 points and six assists, Paul Harris added 15 points and eight rebounds and the Orange (11-1) beat the Tigers (6-3), who were just 7-of-33 from 3-point range in losing for the third time in five games.

NO. 12 NOTRE DAME 88, DELAWARE STATE 50

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Luke Harangody had 20 points and eight rebounds, Ryan Ayers added 18 points, and the Irish (8-2) outscored the Hornets (2-13) in the paint 32-10 with a 41-24 rebounding advantage.

NO. 13 PURDUE 76, NO. 22 DAVIDSON 58

INDIANAPOLIS — Robbie Hummel had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Keaton Grant added 15 points, JaJuan Johnson had 14, and the Boilermakers (9-2) held national scoring leader Stephen Curry — averaging 31.9 points — to just 13 in a rout of the Wildcats (8-2) in the Wooden Tradition.

NO. 14 UCLA 76, MERCER 59

LOS ANGELES — Darren Collison scored 20 points, Michael Roll added 16 in his first start in almost two years, and the Bruins (8-2) led from start to finish in beating the Bears (6-5) for their 34th straight victory against a non-conference, unranked opponent at Pauley Pavilion.

NO. 15 GEORGETOWN 69, MOUNT ST. MARY'S, MD. 58

WASHINGTON — Chris Wright scored 19 points, including seven during a 11-1 second-half run, to open a 47-33 lead with 11:01 left as the Hoyas (8-1), despite shooting a season-low 38 percent (19-of-50) from the floor, handed the Mountaineers (3-7) their fifth straight loss.

NO. 16 TENNESSEE 79, BELMONT 77

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tyler Smith scored 23 points and Bobby Maze added 13, including a 3-pointer for a 78-74 lead with 1:48 left to play, helping the Volunteers (8-2) hold off the Bruins (4-4) for their 36th straight home victory over three seasons.

NO. 17 OHIO STATE 71, IONA 53

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Evan Turner scored 21 points, Jon Diebler added 16 and the Buckeyes (8-0), playing their first game without captain David Lighty, who will miss six to 12 weeks after breaking a bone in his left foot, rolled past the Gaels (4-7).

NO. 20 ARIZONA STATE 76, BYU 75

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Referees overturned a basket by BYU's Charles Abouo at the buzzer, preserving the Sun Devils' (9-1) come-from-behind victory over the Cougars (10-1) in the second game of the Stadium Shoot doubleheader.

NO. 21 BAYLOR 79, TEXAS ARLINGTON 76

WACO, Texas — Curtis Jerrells scored 29 points and made 16 of 17 free throws, Tweety Carter added 13 points, and the host Bears (9-1) held off the Mavericks (4-5) when Anthony Vereen's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim and Baylor's Fred Ellis grabbed the rebound to seal it.

WAC

CALIFORNIA 75, NEVADA 66

Jerome Randle had 23 points and eight assists, Patrick Christopher scored 16 points, and the Bears (8-2) opened a 44-38 lead midway through the second half and the Wolf Pack (6-5) got no closer than three thereafter at Berkeley, Calif.

SAN JOSE STATE 89, NORTHERN COLORADO 78

Washington transfer Adrian Oliver, who became eligible after missing the first six games, scored 27 points and Tim Pierce added 26 to help the Spartans (4-3) beat the Bears (3-7) at San Jose, Calif.

IDAHO 67, TEXAS SOUTHERN 46

Kashif Watson scored 18 points, Mac Hopson added 13 and the Vandals (6-5) opened the second half with a 15-7 run for a 42-28 lead and never looked back in rolling past the Tigers (0-11) at Moscow, Idaho.

UTEP 84, NEW MEXICO STATE 69

Stefon Jackson scored 33 points and Julyan Stone had 12 assists as the Miners (7-4) beat the Aggies (5-5) in El Paso, Texas, after losing last week's game in Las Cruces, N.M., 90-78.

UTAH STATE 67, IDAHO STATE 57

Tyler Newbold scored 13 points, Stavon Williams had 11 and the Aggies (8-1) saw their 15-point, second-half lead dwindle to seven before turning back the Bengals (2-8) at Pocatello, Idaho.

FRESNO STATE 72, SOUTH CAROLINA UPSTATE 47

Paul George had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Bulldogs (6-5) opened the second half with a 22-5 run for a 53-32 lead to cruise past the Spartans (0-9) at Fresno, Calif.

BOISE STATE 66, CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD 62

Paul Noonan scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, Ike Okoye finished with 16 points, including a jumper for a 58-57 lead with 3:22 left, and the Broncos (7-3) never trailed again in beating the Roadrunners (3-9) at Bakersfield, Calif.

HAWAI'I DIVISION II

BYU-HAWAI'I 86, MENLO 52

Lucas Alves had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Tsung-Hsien Chang added 12 points and Jermaine Odjegba had 10 to lead the Seasiders (5-1) over the Oaks (3-7) in the Hoop 'N Surf Classic at Cannon Activities Center.