Timely threes bail out Loyola
Ben Richardson hit two big three- pointers and Clayton Custer connected from deep in the final minute as Missouri Valley Conference champion Loyola ( 25- 5, 15- 3) pulled away from Illinois State ( 1614, 10- 8) late, wining its regularseason finale 68- 61 on Saturday.
Cheered on by a sellout crowd of 4,963 at Gentile Arena, the largest since the venue was renovated and reconfigured for the 2011- 12 season, the Ramblers claimed their program- record 15th conference victory. Loyola has won seven in a row and 14 of its last 15.
“What a great atmosphere and a great college basketball game that was,” Ramblers coach Porter Moser said. “I’m really proud of our guys.”
Illinois State kept the game close and found answers for every run by the Ramblers. When Richardson knocked down a big three with 2: 23 left, William Tinsley answered to cut the Ramblers’ lead to 58- 57. But Richardson hit from deep again to make it 61- 57. Custer was 0- for- 9 before finding open space on the wing, taking a pass from Cameron Krutwig and knocking down a clutch three that made it 64- 59 with 59 seconds left.
Tinsley missed two threes and Marques Townes and Richardson each made two free throws to close it out for the Ramblers.
Krutwig finished with 16 points, with Richardson adding 12. Tinsley led Illinois State with 21 points, with Keyshawn Evans adding 20.
DePaul 70, Marquette 62
Max Strus scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and joined Marin Maric with a double- double as the Blue Demons ( 11- 17, 4- 12 Big East) stung the Golden Eagles ( 1612, 7- 9) at Wintrust Arena.
Eli Cain had 14 points, and Maric and Brandon Cyrus added 13 apiece. Maric had 13 rebounds and Strus 11 as DePaul had a 49- 30 rebounding advantage, including 19- 6 on the offensive end.
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Notre Dame 74, Wake Forest 71
Matt Farrell hit a deep threepointer as the shot clock expired in the waning moments, completing a late rally from a nine- point deficit by the Fighting Irish ( 17- 12, 7- 9 ACC) against the host Demon Deacons ( 11- 18, 4- 13). Farrell hit four threes as part of a 21- point performance. None was more significant than the shot he drained with eight seconds left.
Rio Grande 83, Chicago St. 75
Nick Dixon scored 23 points to lead the host Vaqueros ( 15- 15, 6- 7 WAC) over the Cougars ( 2- 27, 0- 13). Texas- Rio Grande Valley snapped a three- game skid. Chicago State’s Glen Burns had 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Michigan 85, Maryland 61
Muhammad- Ali Abdur- Rahkman scored 22 of his career- high 28 points in the decisive first half, and the No. 17 Wolverines ( 24- 7, 13- 5 Big Ten) easily defeated the host Terrapins ( 19- 12, 8- 10) for their fifth consecutive victory.
Kansas 74, Texas Tech 72
Devonte Graham scored 26 points and the No. 8 Jayhawks ( 23- 6, 12- 4) set an NCAA record with their 14th consecutive regular- season conference championship, clinching at least a tie for the Big 12 title with a road vic- tory against the No. 6 Red Raiders ( 22- 7, 10- 6).
Creighton 89, Villanova 83 ( OT)
Marcus Foster had 28 points, Davion Mintz gave his team the lead for good early in overtime, and the host Bluejays ( 20- 9, 9- 7 Big East) beat the highest- ranked foe in program history with an upset of the No. 3 Wildcats ( 25- 4, 12- 4).
Miller sits out against Ducks
Arizona’s Sean Miller did not coach against Oregon after ESPN reported through anonymous sources that he was heard on an FBI wiretap discussing a $ 100,000 payment to Deandre Ayton. Associate head coach Lorenzo Romar directed the Wildcats, and Ayton played.