Drake beats Wichita St. for 1st NCAA tourney win in 50 years
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.» Joseph Yesufu scored 21 points and Drake beat Wichita State 53-52 on Thursday night in the First Four, the Bulldogs’ first NCAA Tournament win in a half-century.
Drake’s previous tournament victory was 50 years ago to the day —- March 18, 1971, against Notre Dame.
Wichita State’s Dexter Dennis made a 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining to trim Drake’s lead to a point. The Bulldogs got the ball in to Yesufu, who was fouled. He missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to give the Shockers a chance, but Wichita State’s Alterique Gilbert settled for a long 3-pointer that hit the front rim as time expired.
Tremell Murphy added 11 points for 11th-seeded Drake (26-4), which advanced to play sixth-seeded Southern California in the West Region on Saturday.
Morris Udeze scored a careerhigh 22 points and Dennis added 13 for Wichita State (16-6).
TEXAS SOUTHERN 60, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 52.
BLOOMINGTON, IND.» John Walker III scored a season-high 19 points and Jordan Gilliam had 12 to help Texas Southern erase a 10-point halftime deficit and beat Mount St. Mary’s in the first NCAA Tournament game in nearly two years.
It was the second straight First Four victory for the Tigers (17-8), who also won in 2018 — their most recent tournament appearance. Texas Southern, the No. 16 seed in the East Region, won its 10th straight game and faces top-seeded Michigan (20-4) on Saturday.
Damian Chong Qui scored 14 points and Mezie Offurum had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Mountaineers (12-11), who fell to 1-9 in tourney play.
NORFOLK STATE 54, APPALACHIAN STATE 53.
BLOOMINGTON, IND.» Devante Carter made two free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining, and Norfolk State held on to beat Appalachian State 5453 in the First Four on Thursday night after blowing an 18-point second-half lead.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Spartans completed a sweep by historically Black colleges and universities on the first day of NCAA Tournament play, joining Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Texas Southern, which beat Mount St. Mary’s earlier Thursday.
Norfolk State advanced to face top overall seed Gonzaga on Saturday.
UCLA 86, MICHIGAN STATE 80, OT.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.» Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 27 points and Johnny Juzang added 23 as UCLA (18-9) defeated Michigan State (15-13) in overtime in Thursday night’s last First Four matchup.
Aaron Henry led the Spartans with 18 points and Joshua Langford had 12.
UCLA will face No. 6 BYU (20-6) on Saturday.