Northwestern advances toward first NCAA bid
San Diego State stuffs Nevada; NMSU women still rolling
MADISON, Wis. — The Northwestern Wildcats were dancing on the sideline before the second half started. They were downright giddy by the end of the game, stomping off the Kohl Center court.
In beating No. 7 Wisconsin 66-59 on Sunday, Northwestern secured an important win for the school’s bid to make its first-ever NCAA Tournament.
Bryant McIntosh scored 25 points and Dererk Pardon added 11 for the defensive-minded Wildcats (19-6, 8-4), who confounded the Big Ten-leading Badgers in part by doubling dominant big man Ethan Happ.
“I’ve talked about it since I’ve been here,” fourthyear coach Chris Collins said. “We’re trying to build a program to emulate what Wisconsin has done.”
Nigel Hayes scored nine of his 13 points in the second half for the Badgers (21-4, 10-2), who had their eight-game winning streak snapped.
“For us, getting everybody’s best shots, knowing that we’re marked is good for us,” coach Greg Gard said. “Nothing that happened this game is surprising, areas we need to improve upon.”
(10) UCLA 78, OREGON STATE 60: In Los Angeles, Lonzo Ball had 22 points and nine assists as the Bruins (23-3, 10-3 Pac-12) ran away late to defeat the Beavers (4-22, 0-13).
VIRGINIA TECH 80, (12) VIRGINIA 78 (2 OT): In Blacksburg, Va., Seth Allen hit a short jumper in the lane with 3.2 seconds left in the second overtime and the Hokies (17-7, 6-6 ACC) beat the Cavaliers (18-6, 8-4).
(25) SMU 60, (11) CINCINNATI 51: In Dallas, Ben Emelogu hit two 3-pointers and made the tiebreaking free throw in the game-deciding 15-0 run for the Mustangs (22-4, 12-1 American), which beat the Bearcats (22-3, 11-1).
MWC
SAN DIEGO STATE 70, NEVADA 56: In San Diego, Trey Kell scored 17 points to go over 1,000 in his career and the Aztecs (14-10, 6-6) knocked the Wolf Pack (19-6, 8-4) out of first place in the Mountain West Conference. Malik Pope continued his strong play since returning to the starting lineup, scoring 12 points and collecting 10 rebounds.
Women’s Top 25
(2) BAYLOR 91, TCU 73: In Fort Worth, Alexis Prince scored 19 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists, and the Lady Bears (24-2, 13-1 Big 12) bounced back from their first Big 12 loss with a victory against the Horned Frogs (12-12, 4-9).
Playing six days after a loss to 11th-ranked Texas that ended a 54-game home winning streak, the Lady Bears kept a safe distance after a sluggish first quarter in front of a pro-Baylor crowd in Fort Worth, about 100 miles north of their campus.
(3) MARYLAND 89, MICHIGAN STATE 72: In East Lansing, Mich., Brionna Jones had 28 points and 15 rebounds, and the Terrapins (25-1, 13-0 Big Ten) spoiled coach Suzy Merchant’s return to the sideline for the Spartans (16-9, 6-6).
Merchant came back from a medical leave of absence to coach the Spartans for the first time since Jan. 14. (4) MISSISSIPPI STATE 66, MISSISSIPPI 44: In Oxford, Miss., Teaira McCowan scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (25-1, 11-1 SEC) past the Rebels (15-10, 4-8).
(7) NOTRE DAME 90, GEORGIA TECH 69: Marina Mabrey knocked down 11 of her final 12 attempts from the field to finish with 25 points, leading the Irish ((23-3, 11-1 ACC) over the Yellowjackets (1411, 3-9).
(8) STANFORD 87, UTAH 51: In Stanford, Calif., Alanna Smith scored 16 points and the Cardinal (22-4, 12-2 Pac-12) ran off 18 consecutive points in the first quarter on the way to a victory over the Utes (15-10, 4-10).
(9) OREGON STATE 68, (15) UCLA 61: In Corvallis, Ore., Kobie Orum and Mikayla Pivec each scored 12 points and the Beavers (23-3, 12-2 Pac-12) beat the Bruins (18-7, 9-5).
(10) WASHINGTON 70, (23) ARIZONA STATE 57: In Seattle, national scoring leader Kelsey Plum had 29 points, Chantel Osahor added 18 points and 18 rebounds, and the Huskies (24-3, 12-2 Pac-12) beat the Sun Devils (16-9, 7-7).
(12) LOUISVILLE 68, BOSTON COLLEGE 43: In Louisville, Ky., Kylee Shook had 14 points and Myisha Hines-Allen had a double-double and he Cardinals (22-6, 9-4 ACC) rolled over the Eagles (9-17, 2-11).
(13) OHIO STATE 88, IOWA 81: In Columbus, Ohio, Kelsey Mitchell and Shayla Cooper scored 20 points each and the Buckeyes (22-5, 12-1 Big Ten) beat the Hawkeyes (15-10, 6-6) to extend their winning streak to eight.
(14) DUKE 62, PITTSBURGH 48: In Durham, N.C., Lexie Brown scored 18 points, Rebecca Greenwell added 11 and the Blue Devils (22-4, 10-3 ACC) beat the Panthers (12-13, 3-9).
(16) MIAMI 81, CLEMSON 57: In Miami, Jessica Thomas scored 18 points, Adrienne Motley added 15 and the Hurricanes (19-6, 8-5 ACC) throttled the Tigers (14-11, 3-9).
(17) N.C. STATE 85, VIRGINIA TECH 71: In Raleigh, N.C., Miah Spencer scored 23 points, Dominique Wilson had 19 and the Wolfpack (19-6, 9-3 ACC) used a dominate second quarter to defeat the Hokies (16-9, 3-9),
(18) DEPAUL 92, BUTLER 62: In Indianapolis, Brooke Schulte scored 23 points with 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals and the Blue Demons (22-5, 14-1 Big East) cruised over the Bulldogs (5-20, 2-12).
(20) SYRACUSE 95, NORTH CAROLINA 64: In Syracuse, N.Y., the nation’s top-scoring backcourt combined for 61 points — Brittney Sykes with 34 points and Alexis Peterson 27 — and the Orange (18-8, 9-4 ACC) rolled past the Tar Heels (13-12, 2-10).
(21) MICHIGAN 75, WISCONSIN 66: In Ann Arbor, Mich., Katelynn Flaherty hit six 3-pointers and scored 35 points to help the Wolverines (21-5, 10-2 Big Ten) beat the Badgers (6-19, 1-11).
(22) SOUTH FLORIDA 66, TULANE 56: In Tampa, Fla., Kitija Laksa scored 21 points, Maria Jespersen had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Bulls (204, 9-2 American) beat the Green Wave (15-10, 6-6).
TEXAS A&M 61, (24) TENNESSEE 59: In Knoxville, Tenn., Khaalia Hillsman converted an offensive rebound for the go-ahead basket with four seconds left as the Aggies (19-6, 9-3 SEC) erased an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit in a victory over the Lady Vols (16-9, 7-5) who missed their last 11 field-goal attempts.
State college
NMSU 67, GRAND CANYON 60: In Las Cruces, the Aggies (18-6, 10-0 WAC) made a 12-0 third-quarter run to defeat the Antelopes (12-10, 4-5). Tyler Ellis was 7-of-7 from the field and scored 16 points for New Mexico State, which has won 11 straight.