Colorado delivers blow to ASU
McKinley Wright IV had 20 points and 11 assists, and Colorado put a dent in Arizona State’s NCAA tournament hopes with a 97-85 victory over the Sun Devils in the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
Colorado (17-14) earned a spot in today’s quarterfinals against No. 15 Arizona.
The Sun Devils (20-11) went undefeated in nonconference (12-0), but the Sun Devils labored through the Pac-12 season to finish tied for eighth with Colorado.
OREGON STATE 69, WASHINGTON 66, OT >> Drew Eubanks scored 19 points, and the Beavers (16-15) move on to face No. 2 seed USC in the Pac-12 quarterfinals today. OREGON 64, WASHINGTON ST. 62, OT >> The Ducks (21-11) led for a total of 71 seconds — and not until the final minute of regulation — but rallied from 11 down and emerged from the extra period to reach the quarterfinals today against Utah. WYOMING 74, SAN JOSE STATE 61>> A 19-3 run for the Cowboys to end the first half and start the second turned a four-point deficit for the Spartans into 20, and the San Jose State season ended in the first round of the Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas. Ryan Welage scored 25 points, and Jaycee Hillsman had a career-high 24 for the Spartans (4-26). Other results from the first round: UNLV outlasted Air Force 97-90 in overtime; Utah State ousted Colorado State 76-65.
SMART OUT AT SAN DIEGO >> University of San Diego coach Lamont Smith resigned Wednesday night, 10 days after he was arrested at the Oakland airport for investigation of domestic violence at the end of a road trip.
NO. 12 NORTH CAROLINA 78, SYRACUSE 59 >> Theo Pinson had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as the No. 12 Tar Heels (23-9) advanced in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament to face thirdseeded Miami.
KANSAS LOSES STARTER >> Kansas forward Udoka Azubuike sprained his left knee during a scrimmage this week, ruling him out of the Big 12 tournament and putting his availability for the NCAA tournament in question.
MISSOURI FRESHMAN PORTER JR. TO RETURN >> Missouri standout Michael Porter Jr. will return from back surgery to play in the Southeastern Conference tournament today, marking his first time in a game since the season opener. The 6-foot-10 Porter, the top prep prospect in the country last year, has been out since playing only two minutes in the Tigers’ seasonopening win over Iowa State.