The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Men’s NCAA roundup
MIDWEST REGION
• Picked to finish dead last in the Pac-12, Oregon State instead might be the last one standing.
Led by unflappable guard Ethan Thompson, whose 20 points included a pair of clinching foul shots with 35 seconds left, the No. 12seed Beavers and their brilliant defense shut down eighthseeded Loyola Chicago in a 65-58victory on Saturday that sent their long-suffering program into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
It’s Oregon State’s first regional final since 1982 — one that was later vacated by the NCAA — and sets up a showdown with secondseeded Houston or No. 10 seed Syracuse on Monday night for a spot in its first Final Four since 1963.
SOUTH REGION
• Top-seeded Baylor overcame some frigid outside
shooting Saturday to move into the Elite Eight, getting 16 points from Adam Flagler in a 62-51victory over Villanova and its amoeba-like defense.
The Bears (25-2) came in as the nation’s leading 3-point team, shooting 41.5%, but made only 3 of 19 in this one, unable to find room or get into a comfort zone against fifth-seeded Villanova’s mix of 2-3 zone and man. Davion
Mitchell, a 46% shooter from 3 this season, went 0 for 3 in a 14-point night. Baylor, which started the season 18-0 and won its first-ever Big 12regularseason title, is one win from the Final Four for the first time since 2012. The Bears will play the winner of Saturday night’s game between Arkansas and Oral Roberts. The Wildcats got 16 points from Jermaine Samuels, but only three from Caleb Daniels on 1-for-11 shooting. Villanova (18-7) came in without injured point guard Collin Gillespie and with a middling defense at best, but looked to be turning things around for a while. There were mini-victories. This marked only the second time the high-powered Baylor offense was held under 65 points this season. • Davonte Davis hit a short jumper with 2.9seconds left, and Arkansas beat Oral Roberts, 72-70, to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 26years. The Muss Buss grinded its gears through the first half into the second, bad shots and even worse defense putting third-seeded Arkansas in a 12-point hole against the 15th-seeded Golden Eagles. Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks (25-6) got their swagger back, turning defensive stops into early offense opportunities and offensive rebounds into points.