GREENSBORO, N.C. >> Paige Bueckers scored 29 points to help No. 2 UConn beat No. 14 North Carolina 69-58 on Friday night, allowing longtime coach Geno Auriemma to tie the record for career victories in Division I men’s or women’s basketball.

The 70-year-old Auriemma, in his 40th season with the Huskies (3-0), earned his 1,216th career win to match retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.

“I’m more of how do I put (the players) in position so they can feel like I feel, like I’ve been very fortunate to get a lot of things come my way,” Auriemma said. “And they came hoping to get some of those things. So I just keep the focus on that all the time. And whatever happens on my end happens.”

His record with the Huskies is 1,216-162, good for an 88.2% win percentage to go with 11 national championships — most recently in 2016. He can break the record Wednesday against Fairleigh Dickinson.

“It’s the reason you came to UConn, to play under him,” said preseason All-American Paige Bueckers, who scored 29 points. “So it’s been a dream come true, and we’re super proud of him. I know he doesn’t talk about himself too much, just a little bit.

Freshman Sarah Strong added 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for UConn.

Indya Nivar had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Tar Heels (3-1), who shot 36% and made 7 of 24 3-pointers.

Bueckers had 16 first-quarter points, the last coming on a forced-up 3 at the horn over a defender. The preseason All-American made 12 of 21 shots with four 3-pointers, four rebounds and four assists.

No. 3 Southern California 81, Santa Clara 50 >> JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in the second-fewest games in NCAA Division I history, scoring 20 points on Friday as No. 3 Southern California rolled to a victory over Santa Clara.

Kiki Iriafen added 20 points for the Trojans (4-0), who never trailed.

Playing in her 38th game, Watkins needed 16 points to reach 1,000. She got there when she hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter.

LSU’s Maree Jackson (1976-78), Oregon State’s Carol Menken (1979-81) and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge (1981-84) all reached the mark in 37 games.

No. 7 LSU 74, Murray State 60 >> Flau’jae Johnson had 25 points and seven rebounds and No. 7 LSU overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to beat Murray State.

The Tigers (4-0), who entered the game leading 85% of the time this season by double digits, trailed the Racers (1-2) for almost 18 1/2 minutes and by 13 points before pulling ahead early in the fourth quarter on Aneesah Morrow’s layup off Johnson’s assist.

Morrow scored nine of her had 10 points in the second half and had 13 rebounds. Mikaylah Williams added 15 points and eight rebounds.

No. 15 West Virginia 83, Texas A&M 62 >> JJ Quinerly scored 27 points, Kylee Blacksten added 17 and the pair combined to make nine 3-pointers to help No. 15 West Virginia beat Texas A&M.

West Virginia has won 32 straight nonconference home games dating to the 2017-18 season, including a victory over power-four program Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Mark Kellogg is 13-0 in nonconference games as the head coach of the Mountaineers.

West Virginia made 12 of 20 (60%) from 3-point range, while Texas A&M only attempted seven. Quinerly was 4 of 5.