Big Ten will use winning percentage for championship

The Big Ten confirmed Tuesday that its regularseason basketball championship will be determined based on winning percentage.

Michigan, at 13-2 in conference play, is the current leader on the men’s side. Second-place Illinois is 154. The clarification from a league spokesman was needed because Michigan is on track to play just 17 conference games, while Illinois is set to play the full 20. Assuming no more changes to the schedule, Michigan can wrap up the league’s top

Notebook

winning percentage by winning one of its final three games.

The race was closer on the women’s side. Maryland is 15-1 and Indiana is 14-2.

Illinois

Andre Curbelo scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half, and No. 4 Illinois (19-6, 15-4) dismantled No. 2 Michigan with a smothering defensive performance, routing the Wolverines (18-2, 132 Big Ten), 76-53, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Playing again without injured star Ayo Dosunmu, the Illini kept Michigan from clinching the Big Ten title and boosted their own chances at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Northern Kentucky

David Böhm scored 11 points and his putback of his own miss at the buzzer lifted Northern Kentucky past Detroit Mercy (12-10) 70-69 in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League tournament. The fourth-seeded Norse (14-10) head to Monday’s semifinals to face No. 3 seed Oakland.

Rutgers

Arella Guirantes scored 21 points with seven assists, Tekia Mack had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 24 Rutgers beat visiting Penn State (9-13, 6-12 Big Ten), 7456. Rutgers (13-3, 9-3) has won eight conference games in a row for the first time since the 2004-05 season — including holding seven consecutive opponents under 60 points.

South Florida

Elisa Pinzan scored 18 points with eight assists, Bethy Mununga had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 15 South Florida (15-2, 12-1) beat Central Florida (13-3, 11-2), 65-62, for its first American Athletic Conference regular-season title.