SJSU women lose in Mountain West semifinals
After advancing to the Mountain West Tournament semifinals for the second time in program history, the No. 4 seed San Jose State women’s basketball team saw its run end with a 94-68 loss to No. 1 seed Fresno State on Tuesday night in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Spartans (19-12) had four players score in double figures, led by Tyra Whitehead’s 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Danae Marquez added 14 points while Ayzhiana Basallo and Fieme’a Hafoka each had 12.
Fresno State jumped out to a 28-11 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
The fourth-seeded Spartans experienced the biggest turnaround in the nation this year, improving their win total by 13 games after going 6-24 a year ago. The Spartans are hoping for their first NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
Fresno State (25-6) will face either Boise State or Wyoming tonight. TENNESSEE STUNS NO. 6 KENTUCKY >> John Fulkerson scored a career-high 27 points, and Yves Pons made several key jumpers down the stretch as Tennessee rallied from a 17-point deficit to upset No. 6 Kentucky 81-73 in Lexington.
The Wildcats (24-6, 14-3 Southeastern Conference) appeared in control leading 51-34 early in the second half before the Volunteers (17-13, 9-8) outscored them 29-9 over 10:09 to lead 63-60. Kentucky tied it at 63, but Pons answered with a 3-pointer and Fulkerson added two free throws to stay ahead.
Tyrese Maxey had 21, points and Immanuel Quickley 15 for Kentucky. RUTGERS STUNS NO. 9 MARYLAND >> Jacob Young came off the bench and scored 17 points, and Rutgers bolstered its NCAA Tournament hopes with a 78-67 victory over No. 9 Maryland.
Montez Mathis added 15 points and Gio Baker had 11 as the Scarlet Knights (19-11, 10-9 Big Ten) snapped a threegame losing streak. It was their school record 18th home win (18-1) this season.
Jalen Smith had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Maryland (23-7, 13-6), which has dropped three of its past four. Coupled with Michigan State’s win over Penn State, the Terps are tied for first place in the conference with one game to go.
MICHIGAN STATE TOPS PENN STATE FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN >> Xavier Tillman Sr. scored 23 points and had 15 rebounds to lead No. 16 Michigan State over No. 20 Penn State 79-71 on the road. The Spartans erased a 46-31 halftime deficit to win their fourth straight.
The Spartans (21-9, 13-6 Big Ten) trailed by as many as 19 with 4:15 left in the first half but scored the first nine points to start the second.
The Nittany Lions (219, 11-8) , who made 10 of 17 3-pointers in the first half, went 0 for 10 from long distance to start the second.
NORTH CAROLINA WINS THIRD STRAIGHT >> Cole Anthony scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half to help North Carolina beat Wake Forest 93-83 at home. Tar Heels (13-17, 6-13 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third straight game after a seven-game losing streak.
Brandon Childress scored 24 points, and Isaiah Mucius had 13 to lead Wake Forest (13-16, 6-13).