college basketball roundup Saturday’s games
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No. 8 Tennessee 82, No. 4 Kentucky 78
NASHVILLE, TENN.
Lamonte’ Turner ended a shooting slump by sinking a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left as No. 8 Tennessee rallied to beat No. 4 Kentucky in a Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal. The third-seeded Volunteers (29-4) face No. 22 Auburn in today’s championship game. Admiral Schofield scored 21 points, Grant Williams had 20 and Jordan Bone added 18 for Tennessee. PJ Washington scored 16 points to lead Kentucky (27-6).
No. 5 Duke 73, No. 12 Florida State 63
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Zion Williamson had 21 points to cap a dominating three-game show at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, helping fifth-ranked Duke beat No. 12 Florida State in the championship game. RJ Barrett added 17 points and nine rebounds and the Blue Devils (29-5) took control after halftime to add to their conference-record total with their 21st tournament title. Mfiondu Kabengele scored 14 points for the Seminoles (27-7).
No. 6 Michigan State 67, No. 19 Wisconsin 55
CHICAGO
Cassius Winston scored 21 points and Kenny Goins keyed Michigan State’s fast start, helping the sixth-ranked Spartans beat No. 19 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Goins finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots, and Aaron Henry grabbed a career-high 11 boards for the Spartans (27-6). They will play Michigan today. Ethan Happ finished with 20 points, six rebounds and four blocks for the Badgers (23-10).
No. 10 Michigan 76, Minnesota 49
CHICAGO
Isaiah Livers scored a career-high 21 points, and No. 10 Michigan closed in on a record third straight Big Ten Tournament championship with a romp over Minnesota in the semifinals. The third-seeded Wolverines (28-5) will face No. 6 Michigan State today. Zavier Simpson added 15 points and nine assists for Michigan. Amir Coffey led Minnesota (21-13) with 14 points.
No. 11 Houston 61, Memphis 58
MEMPHIS, TENN.
Corey Davis Jr. scored 17 points and No. 11 Houston weathered a late Memphis rally to defeat the Tigers in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Jeremiah Martin led Memphis with 23 points. Memphis (21-13) crafted a 10-1 run to pull within 61-58 with a minute left. Houston (31-2) moves on to today’s championship game against No. 24 Cincinnati.
Iowa State 78, No. 17 Kansas 66
KANSAS CITY, MO.
Fifth-seeded Iowa State Cyclones raced to a big early lead and beat No. 17 Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament championship. Lindell Wigginton had 17 points, Marial Shayok had 15 and Michael Jacobson 14 for the Cyclones (23-11). Dedric Lawson had 18 points and Devon Dotson added 17 for the Jayhawks (25-9).
No. 18 Buffalo 87, Bowling Green 73
CLEVELAND
Jeremy Harris scored 31 points, C.J. Massinburg added 17 and No. 18 Buffalo won its fourth Mid-American Conference title in five years by beating Bowling Green. The top-seeded Bulls (31-3) withstood a strong effort by the Falcons (22-12). Harris went 13 of 20 and was named the tournament’s MVP. Jayvon Graves also added 17 points for the Bulls. Justin Turner and Daeqwon Plowden led Bowling Green with 16 points apiece.
No. 22 Auburn 65, Florida 62
NASHVILLE, TENN.
Jared Harper hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left as No. 22 Auburn held off Florida to reach the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship for the first time since 2000. Auburn (25-9) is looking for their second tournament championship and first since 1985. Kevarrius Hayes and Jalen Hudson each had 16 points to lead Florida (19-15).
No. 24 Cincinnati 66, Wichita State 63
MEMPHIS, TENN.
Nysier Brooks scored 13 points and Cane Broome hit the go-ahead layup with 23.5 seconds left to give No. 24 Cincinnati a victory over Wichita State in an American Athletic Conference tournament semifinal. Tre Scott had 12 points and eight rebounds. Jarron Cumberland was limited to 11 points. Markis McDuffie had 18 for the Shockers (19-14) while Samajae Haynes-Jones had 17.
No. 25 Villanova 74, Seton Hall 72
NEW YORK
Villanova became the first team to win three consecutive Big East Tournaments, beating Seton Hall behind Eric Paschall and Phil Booth and key contributions from freshman Saddiq Bey. Paschall had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Booth scored 16 points. Bey had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
WOMEN
No. 21 Drake 65, Illinois State 54
MOLINE, ILL.
Becca Hittner, the two-time Missouri Valley player of the year, scored 16 of her 22 points in the second half to propel No. 21 Drake into the conference tournament championship game with a win over fourth-seeded Illinois State. Sara Rhine added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs (27-5). Drake faces Missouri State today. Tete Maggett scored 21 points for the Redbirds (19-12).
No. 24 Rice 69, Middle Tennessee 54
FRISCO, TEXAS
Nancy Mulkey scored 24 points and No. 24 Rice rallied in the second half to defeat Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA championship game for the Owls’ third NCAA Tournament berth and school-record 21st straight win. Erica Ogwumike added 15 points despite dealing with foul trouble. Jasmine Smith and Nicole Iademarco had 10 points apiece for the Owls (28-3). Alex Johnson had 27 points for the Blue Raiders (22-10).
Associated Press