C.J. Fair scored 13 points, and No. 2 Syracuse scored the final six points of the game to beat No. 19 Louisville 52-51 last night, snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Cardinals.

Syracuse (26-1, 13-1 Big East) used an 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead, only to see Louisville (20-6, 8-5) rally with a 15-2 run of its own. But the Orange held the Cardinals without a point the final 31/2 minutes, and Fair hit the go-ahead layup with 2:11 left.

“Our defense was getting crucial stops when we needed them,” Fair said. “And, defense wins games.”

Fab Melo scored 11 points, and the visiting Orange overcame a 34.4 percent shooting effort, including

1 of 15 from three-point range, to win for the sixth straight time since losing at Notre Dame.

“You’re going to get in games like this in the tournament. I don’t care who you are. You’ve got to be ready to be able to make those plays at the end of games,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “If they make a play, hit one shot, the end, we lose. In the tournament, you go home and you’re going to play teams like Louisville and teams just as good or better.”

Syracuse’s Scoop Jardine missed all eight of his shots, and leading scorer Kris Joseph struggled with foul trouble. Louisville forward Kyle Kuric went 1 of 8 from the field, including 1 of 6 on three-pointers.

Freshman Chane Behanan had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals. Guard Chris Smith finished with 10 points, and Gorgui Dieng had 10 rebounds and five turnovers, including a costly one late for the Cardinals, who shot 34.7 percent from the field.

Men’s highlight

No. 4 Kansas 59, Kansas State 53 — Tyshawn Taylor had 20 points for Kansas (21-5, 11-2), which fended off a stiff challenge from Kansas State (17-8, 6-7) for a victory that put the Jayhawks alone in first place in the Big 12.

Jeff Withey added 18 points and 11 rebounds, allowing the Jayhawks to win for the 36th time in their past 39 games in the series.

Kansas moved a half-game ahead of No. 3 Missouri (23-2, 10-2), which plays Oklahoma State on Wednesday night, in the race for the regular-season Big 12 championship.

Jamar Samuels had a season-high 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Women’s highlights

No. 13 Tennessee 91,

No. 7 Kentucky 54 — Meighan Simmons scored a season-high 25 points and Shekinna Stricklen 18 to lead Tennessee (18-7, 9-3) over Kentucky (21-4, 10-2) in the Southeastern Conference.

Tennessee, which shot 59 percent from the field, never trailed. Simmons hit consecutive three-pointers to give the Lady Vols a quick 10-2 lead.

The Wildcats pulled within 21-16 on a steal by Azia Bishop and a layup by Bernisha Pinkett with 9:20 left in the first half, but they wouldn’t get any closer. The loss marked the first time this season Kentucky has lost consecutive games.

Vicki Baugh converted a putback and was fouled by Bishop. She missed the free throw but charged through the lane to grab the rebound and scored to put Tennessee up 29-18. The baskets launched a 14-0 run.

Minnesota 64, No. 16 Nebraska 58 — Kionna Kellogg’s basket broke a tie with 1:01 left and helped lift Minnesota (13-14, 5-8) over Nebraska (19-5, 8-4) in the Big Ten.

Rachel Banham led Minnesota with 21 points. Jordan Hooper scored 20 to lead Nebraska, which lost its second straight game.