West Regional: Streaking Michigan routs Texas A&M 99-72.
LOS ANGELES — Michigan took all the drama out of this NCAA Tournament victory, burying Texas A&M under a barrage of 3-point shots.
After reaching the round of 16 with an improbable buzzer-beater, the Wolverines shot 62 percent from the floor and routed the Aggies 99-72 in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night to advance to the Elite Eight for the third time in six years.
Next up the Wolverines will face No. 9 seed Florida State on Saturday at Staples Center for a trip to the Final Four.
The Wolverines (31-7) dominated from start to finish, hitting 14 3-pointers — 10 in the first half when they led by 29 points — and extending their winning streak to 12 games.
“Felt like we ran into a buzz saw,” Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said. “It seemed like everything they shot went in.”
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures.
“My shot went in early and it gives you the confidence to take the next one,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “I think everyone had that confidence today.”
Abdur-Rahkman made four 3-pointers and both of his free throws, and had five rebounds and seven assists.
“This senior right here played his tail off in every single way,” Michigan coach John Beilein said.
The Wolverines were good in the first half and even better in the second. The rout was on by halftime with Michigan leading 52-28 after shooting 57 percent from the floor. In the second half, the Wolverines improved to 68 percent from the floor.
“It was kind of hard to see because I was just wondering when they were going to miss,” Aggies guard Admon Gilder said.
Michigan won its second-round game to reach the Sweet 16 on freshman Jordan Poole’s long 3 at the buzzer against Houston.
The Aggies (22-13) never made a run, going long stretches without a basket in the first half while Michigan was scoring on nearly every trip down the floor.
“We weren’t focused,” said freshman guard T.J. Starks, who had five turnovers. “We didn’t show up.”
Tyler Davis led the seventh-seeded Aggies with 24 points.
Having beaten defending national champion North Carolina by 21 points to get to Los Angeles, Texas A&M’s stay was short.
“That’s the nature of this game, the nature of this tournament,” Kennedy said. “You can be high one minute and low the next.”
The Aggies have yet to reach an Elite Eight, and Michigan made sure they never had a chance.
Poole hit the Wolverines’ first 3-pointer two minutes into the game. During one stretch, they made 3s on three consecutive possessions that extended their lead to 25-10 and had the predominantly Michigan crowd chanting, “Let’s go Blue!”
FLORIDA STATE 75, GONZAGA 60
In Los Angeles, Florida State’s upset run in the NCAA Tournament has stretched all the way to the brink of the Final Four.
Terance Mann scored 18 points, and the ninth-seeded Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight for just the third time in school history with a 75-60 victory over fourthseeded Gonzaga on Thursday night in the West Region semifinal.
C.J. Walker and Braian Angola added nine points for the Seminoles (23-11), who knocked out a third straight higher-seeded opponent in a surprising run out West for a team that went 9-9 in ACC play and lost its conference tournament opener.
Coolly maintaining a lead down the stretch at Staples Center, Florida State ended Gonzaga’s 16-game winning streak and halted the pursuit of a second straight Final Four berth for last year’s tournament finalist.
“It’s not any time to start celebrating right now,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. “These guys are working hard. We’ve worked hard all year. Not very many people think we have a chance to be where we are.”
Hamilton’s best postseason run in his 16 years at Florida State is extended to Saturday, when the Seminoles will face thirdseeded Michigan for a trip to the Final Four in San Antonio.
Florida State followed up its stunning comeback against top-seeded Xavier last weekend with a steady, dominant second half against Gonzaga. The Seminoles jumped to a 13-point lead early in the second half and never let their margin dip below four, with Mann providing the biggest buckets along the way.
Rui Hachimura scored 16 points and Zach Norvell Jr. added 14 for the Zags (32-5), who hadn’t lost since Jan. 18. Already playing without injured forward Killian Tillie, the Zags struggled when forwards Johnathan Williams and Hachimura got into early foul trouble.
After a season of running away from West Coast Conference opponents, Gonzaga played from behind for much of the night at Staples Center, even trailing at halftime for only the sixth time all season.
The Zags fell behind by 13 early in the second half while the Seminoles defended the perimeter well and moved the ball fluidly. Florida State was even more dominant than usual around the rim, and Mann led a parade of scorers from all spots on the court.