Baylor's LaceDarius Dunn shoots a 3 as Arizona State's Jamelle McMillan watches. Dunn was 6 for 6 from beyond the arc. (AP/Rod Aydelotte)

No. 4 Kansas 77, UCLA 76. This how it works sometimes: An exciting game that was closer than most expected had a lot of transgressions that are worth writing about, namely a deep 3 near the end of regulation that should have sent the game to overtime. But that a bad foul is called as time is set to expire, and suddenly nothing else matters. It’s all about the foul call. It was a bad call, yes. But some positive here for UCLA? I don’t know what Ben Howland had those guys eat between the Madison Square Garden 0-2 experience and the near-win in Lawrence last night, but the Bruins looked good. Tyler Honeycutt led the team. He still takes too many shots for my liking, but how can I argue when he’s the one responsible for almost getting this game to overtime?

The cynical Bruins fan is probably thinking the memory from this game will be so far away in mid-January, after the Bruins have lost another five games between now and then and looked shaky on many a night. We should have had overtime in Lawrence. Not sure UCLA could have won in another five minutes in Phog’s place, but I see a lot of encouragement from this game. Howland still trying to gruel his guys into the defense of old.

Kansas is just chopping away a twins and waiting for Josh Selby to suit up, so we’ll save the ink for that team until he gets there.

No. 9 Missouri 83, Oregon 80. It was Missouri’s seventh game in 14 days. Given how the Tigers play, the close game wasn’t a surprise. Oregon just couldn’t quite catch up and grab Missouri, constantly flirting with five- and six-point deficits in the final 10 minutes before a few tough 3s by Jonathan Loyd dropped in the final minute of play. But when you make free throws, wins just happen to come. Tigers were cool and consistent at the stripe once they got in the double bonus. Lloyd’s 35-footer at the buzzer was an airball.

For Oregon, E.J. Singler had 17 second-half points and did it from far and shallow. He grabbed eight rebounds and learned from his brother at Duke by taking a few charges. Dana Altman’s in for a long year, but hey, at least the Ducks were down 20 at the half and rallied. The press is flawed, but the guys played hard and didn’t give up. Ducks may not be the Pac-10′s worst. Not by a long shot.

No. 11 Baylor 68, Arizona State 54. LaceDarius Dunn sunk all six 3-pointers he took (putting him at 315 for his career, far and away the best in school history), scoring 24 points and helping Baylor to never really get threatened by the Sun Devils. Dunn also bruised his left arm, and that’ll probably be an annoying injury for a week he’ll just deal with, though he is going to have it X-rayed as a precaution later on today. If Baylor wins its next home game, which will be against Bethune-Cookman Dec. 15, get this: it will be the longest home winning streak in program history. The record currently stands at 11.

Notable:

Kent State 69, Louisiana-Monroe 53. Putting this one up because Antonio Gates’ alma mater is now 7-1. I think we’re due for another strong year by the Golden Flashes.

North Texas 89, Grambling 78. Mean Green is 6-1.

Cleveland State 83, Green Bay 75. Vikings are now 9-0. Telling you, the Horizon’s going to be fun to follow.

Fairfield 41, Savannah State 39. Fairfield, expected to win the MAAC, only 3-3, but, man, Savannah State is bringing everyone down this season.