NCAA MEN’S ROUNDUP Friday’s late games

Memphis 92, Michigan St. 74

HOUSTON — The mighty Memphis Tigers humiliated Michigan State and embarrassed all those naysayers who suggested they were the most suspect of the top seeds in this year’s NCAA tournament. Next up for the top-seeded Tigers in the South Regional, a game Sunday against Texas with a trip to the Final Four on the line. But the message on this overwhelming night was clear: Don’t mess with Memphis. Freshman Derrick Rose will play at least one more college game after a 27-point, five-assist night that showed he’s ready for the NBA. He exited early in the second half with a cut on his forehead that required stitches, but later returned. Memphis (36-1) led 50-20 at halftime. Goran Suton led the fifth-seeded Spartans (27-9) with 23 points and Chris Allen had 20. Michigan State senior Drew Neitzel’s career is over, and this was no way to end it. He was held to six points, his first of two buckets coming on a 3-pointer that clanged around the rim and fell, mercifully, with 1:47 left. Goran Suton led the fifth-seeded Spartans with 23 points and nine rebounds. Chris Allen had 20.

Kansas 72, Villanova 57

DETROIT — Signs pointed to a blowout early. Villanova star Scottie Reynolds shot an airball and a brick on the opening possession. Kansas slammed four alley-oop passes, including one off the background, in the opening nine minutes. The top-seeded Jayhawks kept rolling, making the 12th-seeded Wildcats look like they didn’t belong on Ford Field’s elevated hardwood in a Midwest Regional semifinal. How do you beat Kansas? “I don’t have that answer after what you just saw,” Villanova coach Jay Wright acknowledged. Brandon Rush scored 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 and Mario Chalmers added 14 points for the Jayhawks, who toyed with Villanova by throwing alley-oop passes as if they were routine and making 3-pointers like they were layups. Kansas (34-3) will be a huge favorite to end 10th-seeded Davidson’s stay in the NCAA tournament and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Villanova (22-13) simply could not keep up with the Jayhawks’ speed, size and athletic ability, all of which combined to give them a 41-22 lead at halftime. Reynolds was just 2-for-9 in the first half and finished 4-for-13 for 11 points, leading his offensively challenged team in scoring on a night when none of its starters had an assist. Dante Cunningham and Shane Clark each scored 10 for the Wildcats.

Associated Press