Maryland barely escapes Belmont

Eric Ayala deflected a pass to set up a steal by Darryl Morsell that stopped Belmont’s last-second attempt at an NCAA Tournament upset and the Terrapins escaped with a 79-77 victory Thursday in the East Region.

Playing their second tournament game in less than 48 hours, the 11th-seeded Bruins left no doubt they belonged after receiving one of the selection committee’s final at-large bids.

But the mid-major powerhouse from Nashville, Tennessee couldn’t knock off the No. 6seeded Terrapins from the Big Ten, despite a 35-point performance by Dylan Windler.

LSU 79, Yale 74.

FLA.» Skylar Mays hit four free throws in the final 15 seconds to help embattled LSU slip past 14th-seeded Yale.

Mays scored 19 points but sealed the game from the foul line, and the Tigers needed each one of his free throws.

Yale hit four 3-pointers in the final minute and whittled an 18point deficit to three in the closing seconds. With the lead on the line, Mays calmly stepped to the line and sank all his free throws.

Minnesota 86, Louisville 76.

DES MOINES, IOWA» Minnesota won its first NCAA Tournament game in six years behind 24 points from freshman Gale Kalscheur as the 10th-seeded Gophers rolled past Louisville in the opening round of the East Region.

It was the first tournament win in Richard Pitino’s six seasons coaching the Gophers and came against the school that fired his father, Rick Pitino, in 2017.

Michigan State 76, Bradley 65.

DES MOINES, IOWA» Cassius Winston scored 26 points and second-seeded Michigan State held off Bradley in the East Region.

Xavier Tillman had 16 points with 11 boards for the Spartans, who’ll face Big Ten rival, 10thseeded Minnesota, on Saturday in search of their first trip to the Sweet Sixteen in four years. Michigan State throttled the Gophers 79-55 in East Lansing on Feb. 9.