San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Houston advances; star Sasser injured
FORT WORTH — Marcus Sasser slipped as he made a move late in the first half, fell to the court in pain, and the once deafening Dickies Arena went completely silent.
Just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament, the top-ranked University of Houston must grapple with the possibility of a serious injury to its star player.
Marcus Sasser left early in the first half of Saturday’s 69-48 victory over Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference tournament semifinals. Sasser, the AAC’s player of the year and All-American guard, suffered a strained groin, a school spokesman said.
Without Sasser, the Cougars (31-2) built a 16-point lead and cruised in the second half to advance to the AAC championship game for the fifth straight time.
The Cougars will play the Memphis-Tulane winner on Sunday.
The immediate concern for the Cougars is the status of Sasser, a projected first-round NBA draft pick and the team’s top playmaker. With Sasser, UH is regarded among the national title contenders.
After struggling in Friday’s quarterfinal win over East Carolina, UH came out hot Saturday, making eight of 13 shots to take a 20-12 lead.
Jamal Shead had 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds for the Cougars, who shot 50.9 percent for the game.
J’Wan Roberts and Jarace Walker, the Cougars’ starting frontcourt, were a combined 13-of-21 for 29 points and 16 rebounds. In Friday’s win, the duo was 1-of-11 for five points.
Roberts had 16 points and eight rebounds and Walker, a 6-foot-8 freshman who is a projected NBA lottery pick, had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Sasser suffered the injury with 6:57 left in the first half on a non-contact play. He made a move just beyond the 3-point arc and appeared to slip, his legs stretching outward as he fell to the court in obvious pain.
He remained on the court for a few minutes before walking off on his own. Sasser underwent treatment in the locker room and spent the second half on the bench.
UH took its largest lead, 69-44, on a jumper by Tramon Mark with 2:03 left.
UH has won 13 straight games and 22 of the last 23 overall.
Landers Nolley II had 14 points for the Bearcats (21-12).
Joseph Duarte
SEC
In Nashville, Tenn., freshman Brandon Miller scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as fourth-ranked Alabama advanced to the finals by beating No. 25 Missouri 72-61 on Saturday. Alabama (28-5) will play in its 15th tournament championship game against either No. 18 Texas &AM or Vanderbilt on Sunday, looking for an eighth title to add to its regular-season trophy.
No. 25 Missouri (24-9) missed a chance to play in its first SEC Tournament championship since joining the league in 2012.
BIG TEN
In Chicago, Zach Edey had 32 points and 14 rebounds in Purdue’s 80-66 win over Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilermakers (28-5) will meet either No. 19 Indiana or Penn State on Sunday.
Roddy Gayle Jr. led Ohio State (16-19) with a careerhigh 20 points, 16 in the first half.
ATLANTIC 10
In New York, Jayden Nunn scored 18 points in VCU’s 90-78 win over Saint Louis in the semifinals. Nunn also had three blocks for the Rams (26-7).
IVY LEAGUE
Tosan Evbuomwan had 21 points in Princeton’s 77-70 victory against Pennsylvania on Saturday in Princeton, N.J. Evbuomwan also had six rebounds for the Tigers (20-8). The Quakers (17-13) were led by Jordan Dingle, who recorded 19 points, six assists and two steals. … John Poulakidas had 25 points in Yale’s 80-60 win against Cornell. Poulakidas had seven rebounds and five assists for the Bulldogs (21-7). The Big Red (17-11) were led by Guy Ragland Jr., who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.
AMERICA EAST
Dylan Penn scored 21 points, Matt Veretto scored 15 and ignited a game-breaking run, leading Vermont (23-11) to a 72-59 victory over UMass Lowell in the championship game in Burlington, Vt.
MEAC
In Norfolk, Va., Jelani Williams scored 20 points including two free throws with 6.1 seconds left to lead Howard (22-12) to a 65-64 win over Norfolk State in the championship and the Bison’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 31 years.