LEXINGTON, KY. ? Kentucky got exactly what it needed Sunday from Mississippi State — a close game.

Keith Bogans had 18 points and seven rebounds as No. 2 Kentucky extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games with a 70-62 victory over the 19th-ranked Bulldogs.

Cliff Hawkins added 14 points for the Wildcats (22-3 overall, 12-0 Southeastern Conference), who had won their last 10 games by double figures.

This one didn’t come as easily as most of their other recent victories, as the Wildcats nearly blew a 16-point lead with 10 minutes left.

“We needed a game like that,” Hawkins said.

Marquis Estill’s dunk with 10:10 left put the Wildcats up 58-42, but Kentucky went cold, missing eight straight shots and going nearly five minutes without scoring.

“Once we got the lead, we got timid. We stopped attacking,” said Bogans, who was 6-for-11 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Kentucky's Marquis Estill, right, lofts a shot over Mississippi State's Mario Austin. Estill scored 10 points and had eight rebounds Sunday in the second-ranked Wildcats' 70-62 victory over the No. 19 Bulldogs in Lexington, Ky.

Mario Austin, who had 20 points and eight rebounds, scored twice inside, and Michael Ignerski hit a three-pointer during a 10-0 run for the Bulldogs (17-6, 7-5).

Erik Daniels ended the Wildcats’ drought with a layup, but Austin converted a three-point play with 5:13 left to cut Kentucky’s lead to 60-55.

“We came out and played hard,” Austin said, “but we got down too much, and it was hard to come back.”

No. 10 Wake Forest 75, Virginia 71

Winston-Salem, N.C. — Josh Howard scored 28 points, and Vytas Danelius added 21 as Wake Forest held on to beat Virginia. The Demon Deacons (19-4, 9-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their 15th straight home game. Wake Forest remained a half-game ahead of Duke and Maryland in the ACC standings.

No. 15 Syracuse 76, Michigan St. 75

East Lansing, Mich. — Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, and the Orangemen held on as the Spartans had three chances to win the game in the final six seconds. Syracuse (19-4) has won six of seven. Chris Hill scored a career-high 34 points, including a Big Ten-record 10 three-pointers, for the Spartans (14-11).