UC Davis’ dreams ended by Kansas
A humbling 38-point loss wasn’t enough to keep UC Davis coach Jim Les from labeling the Aggies’ season a success.
“We just had as emotional a locker room as I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve been a part of a lot of teams,” Les said after the the No. 16-seeded Aggies lost 100-62 to top-seeded Kansas on Friday night in Tulsa, Okla.
“They accomplished a lot of wonderful feats, and I don’t want this game to take away from (that). There’s a lot to be grateful for.”
Few would disagree with Les.
While the dream run ends for the Aggies (2313), they can revel in the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid and NCAA Tournament win after beating North Carolina Central in a First Four game Wednesday.
But they were no match for the Jayhawks (29-5), as Frank Mason III had 22 points and eight assists and Josh Jackson scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting in his return from a one-game suspension for an accumulation of embarrassing incidents.
Kansas’ win ensures top seeds will remain perfect since the tournament expanded, with the schools now 132-0 against No. 16 seeds.
Chima Moneke scored 20 points to lead UC Davis.
Michigan St. 78, Miami 58:
Also in Tulsa, Nick Ward scored 19 points for the ninth-seeded Spartans (20-14), who trailed by as many 12 points in the first half before blitzing past the stunned Hurricanes (21-12) the rest of the way, using a 20-2 first-half run to take control for good. Ja’Quan Newton scored 16 points to lead Miami, which had won at least one tournament game in each of its previous three trips.
Michigan 92, Oklahoma St. 91:
In Indianapolis, Derrick Walton Jr. scored 26 points and the seventh-seeded Wolverines (25-11) set a school record for threes in an NCAA Tournament game with 16 to win a nail-biter. They have won six straight — five since a frightening plane mishap on the way to last week’s Big Ten Tournament. Juwan Evans scored 23 points to lead the 10th-seeded Cowboys (20-13), who finished the season with four consecutive losses.
Louisville 78, Jacksonville St. 63:
Also in Indianapolis, Mangok Mathiang scored 18 points and Deng Adel added 16 to help the second-seeded Cardinals (25-8) pull away from the 15th-seeded Gamecocks (20-15). Louisville was making its first postseason appearance since 2015 after sitting out last year because of a one-year, school-imposed postseason ban for recruiting violations. Norbertas Giga scored 30 points for 15thseeded Jacksonville State.
Oregon 93, Iona 77: Tyler Dorsey scored 24 points to lead four players in double figures, and the third-seeded Ducks (30-5) rolled past the 14th-seeded Gaels (22-13) in Sacramento.
Rhode Island 84, Creighton 72:
Also in Sacramento, Jeff Dowtin scored a career-high 23 points with a perfect day at the free-throw line, and the 11thseeded Rams (25-9) won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since advancing to the Elite Eight and losing to Stanford in 1998. Ronnie Harrell Jr. scored 15 points for the Bluejays (25-10).