Dynamic duo lifts Texas A&M to win

CHARLOTTE, N.C.» Tyler Davis and Robert Williams spent all Friday snatching rebound after rebound, blocking a few shots and had Williams offer a highlight-reel capper in the final minute.

Davis had 14 points and 15 rebounds and Williams added his own double-double to help Texas A&M beat Providence 73-69.

Williams finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds for Texas A&M (21-12), the region’s No. 7 seed. They also each blocked two shots.

“We got a lot of help from our guards, too,” Davis said. “Our guards put bodies on the outside so we can play 1on-1 inside. It was really a team effort. We were able to snag a couple of boards.”

A couple? The 6-foot-10 forwards outrebounded Providence’s entire team.

The Aggies finished with a 44-26 rebounding advantage and had 11 offensive rebounds against the 10thseeded Friars (21-14).

(1) Xavier 102, (16) Texas Southern 83.

J.P. Macura scored a career-high 29 points, Trevon Bluiett added 26 and Kerem Kanter had 24 as the Musketeers cruised.

This was Xavier’s first time out as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Only the pesky Tigers (1620) kept Xavier (29-4) from never leading by more than 24.

Damontrae Jefferson led five Tigers in double figures with 20 points. He led Texas Southern, from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, playing every minute of the game.

(2) North Carolina 84, (15) Lipscomb 66.

Kenny Williams scored 18 points for the defending national champion Tar Heels (26-10) and Theo Pinson had 15 points and flirted with a triple-double.

Playing for the first time in the NCAA Tournament, the Bisons (23-10) shot well at the start and held an early six-point edge. They led 33-31 with under four minutes left in the first half before North Carolina went on a 12-1 run to take control by the break.

(8) Missouri vs. (9) Florida State.

NASHVILLE,

Late game.