FLIGHT MODE
Michigan soars into Big Ten title game
Derrick Walton Jr. had 29 points, nine assists and five rebounds to carry eighth-seeded Michigan into the Big Ten title game with an 84-77 victory over fourth-seeded Minnesota on Saturday in Washington.
Walton had a hand in 18 consecutive Michigan points down the stretch, grabbing the rebound of a Minnesota miss that helped seal it. The Wolverines (23-11) have defeated Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota since their plane skidded off the runway earlier in the week and delayed their arrival in D.C. and will face No. 24 Wisconsin in the final Sunday.
Wisconsin 76, Northwestern 48
Nigel Hayes scored 18 points and Ethan Happ added 16 to help the second-seeded a berth in the Big Ten Tournament championship game for the third time in five years.
Kentucky 79, Alabama 74
In Nashville, Tenn., De’Aaron Fox scored a career-high 28 points, including seven straight down the stretch, and Malik Monk added 20 to lift No. 8 Kentucky past Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal. Kentucky will face third-seed Arkansas, which beat Vanderbilt, 76-62.
Iowa St. 80, West Virginia 74
In Kansas City, Mo., Monte Morris scored 17 points, Deonte Burton and Matt Thomas helped him deal with West Virginia’s attacking defense, and No. 23 Iowa State beat the No. 11 Mountaineers for the Cyclones’ third Big 12 Tournament title in four years.
Princeton 72, Penn 64, OT
In Philadelphia, Myles Stephens scored 21 points, including the tying tip-in in regulation and the first four points of overtime, to help send top seed Princeton past No. 4 seed Penn in the opener of the inaugural Ivy League Tournament. The Tigers face Yale in the final.
Cincinnati 81, UConn 71
In Hartford, Conn., Gary Clark scored 25 points to lead No. 15 Cincinnati over UConn in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Jacob Evans added 21 points and Troy Caupain had 19 for the Bearcats, who will be seeking their first AAC title on Sunday against No. 12 SMU.
Jalen Adams scored 20 points and Christian Vital had 18 for UConn. The Huskies finish their season 16-17, their first losing campaign in 30 years.
It was a typically chippy game between the teams, whose rivalry dates to the old Big East. They combined for 56 fouls, 32 committed by UConn.
Cincinnati was 38-of-46 from the foul line. UConn made 20 of its 25 free-throw attempts.
SMU 70, UCF 59
Sterling Brown scored 22 points and SMU beat Central Florida in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Semi Ojeleye added 17 points, and Shake Milton had 14 of his 16 points in the second half for the Mustangs. They are back in the championship game after missing last year’s tournament because of NCAA sanctions.
Rhode Island 84, Davidson 60
In Pittsburgh, E.C. Matthews scored 19 points and fourth-seeded Rhode Island cruised into the Atlantic 10 championship game against VCU.
Vermont 56, Albany 53
In Burlington, Vt., Vermont capped off a perfect America East season with the conference tournament championship.
Junior forward Payton Henson converted a three-point play with 39 seconds remaining to propel the Catamounts to a victory over Albany.
Kent St. 70, Akron 65
In Cleveland, Jaylin Walker scored 30 points, Jimmy Hall added 19 and sixth-seeded Kent State earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008 by beating rival Akron in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
The Golden Flashes knocked off the tournament’s top three seeds — Buffalo, Ohio and Akron — to win their sixth conference title.
Middle Tennessee 83, Marshall 72
In Birmingham, Ala., Giddy Potts matched his season high with 30 points to lead Middle Tennessee to its second straight Conference USA Tournament championship with a victory over Marshall.