No. 15 Michigan wins 2nd straight Big Ten Tournament crown
Simpson sparks Wolverines past Purdue
Zavier Simpson was a catalyst on both ends of the floor, running Michigan’s efficient offense and leading its lockdown defense, and the No. 15 Wolverines beat No. 8 Purdue 75-66 on Sunday to repeat as Big Ten Tournament champion.
Back-up big man Jon Teske scored 14 points to help fifth-seeded Michigan (28-7) become the first team to repeat since Ohio State in 2010 and ‘11.
Simpson finished with 10 points, five assists and five rebounds, and Moe Wagner led Michigan with 17 points, despite playing only 17 minutes because of foul trouble.
Isaac Haas led Purdue (28-6) with 23 points.
Jacob Evans scored 19 points and Cincinnati beat Wichita State to wrap up the American Athletic Conference title.
Cincinnati (27-4, 16-2) survived a slugfest of a second half as the teams combined for just two baskets in the final five minutes.
Wichita State (24-6, 14-4) needed a victory to share the conference title and would have earned the top seed in the AAC Tournament after beating Cincinnati earlier this season.
Landry Shamet and Shaquille Morris each scored 16 points for Wichita State.
Rob Gray scored 30 points, Corey Davis Jr. had 17 and Houston held off UConn.
Gray was 10 of 15 from the floor for the Cougars (24-6, 14-4 American Athletic Conference).
Jalen Adams had 22 points and six assists for Uconn (14-17, 7-11).
Corey Henderson Jr., scored 21 points and Martins Igbanu scored 16 and Tulsa used an early run to beat Temple 76-58 on Sunday in a regular-season finale.
Tulsa (19-11, 12-6) enters the American Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed with a first-round bye. Temple (16-14, 8-10) will be the No. 7 seed and will face 10thseeded Tulane on Thursday in Orlando, Florida.
The Golden Hurricane built a 24-0 lead shooting 8 of 10 from the field, including the three 3-pointers, while the Owls missed their first 12 shots before Quinton Rose’s jumper with 9:56 before halftime.
Tulsa led 33-18 at halftime when Temple went on a 9-1 run to start the second half to draw within 34-27 with 16:41 left. The Owls again made it a seven-point contest (5144) with eight minutes but failed to get closer.
Rose led Temple with 17 points.