Nevada tops Colorado State for MWC title
5th seed Duke wins ACC tourney; Arizona KOs Oregon in Pac-12 final
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jordan Caroline had 23 points and 10 rebounds as Nevada beat Colorado State 79-71 on Saturday in the Mountain West Conference championship game to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years.
The Wolf Pack claimed the league’s automatic bid for its first trip to the NCAAs since winning the 2006 Western Athletic Conference tournament.
After squandering a 16-point lead and allowing the Rams to tie the game midway through the second half, Nevada used an 11-3 run during a five-minute stretch to build another cushion while Colorado State missed eight consecutive field goal attempts.
The Rams pulled to 66-65 when J.D. Paige hit a 3-pointer with 2:32 left, but they never managed to tie the score again.
Marcus Marshall added 21 points and was 12 of 15 from the foul line down the stretch for Nevada, which went to the line 35 times to 11 for Colorado State.
Gian Clavell scored 30 points for Colorado State.
It marked the eighth time the top two seeds met for the Mountain West title. The second seed won the previous seven matchups.
ACC final
No. 14 DUKE 75, No. 22 NOTRE DAME 69: In New York, Jayson Tatum took over in the final 2 minutes, making key plays on both ends of the floor, as Duke became the first team to win the conference tournament with four wins in four days by beating Notre Dame.
The freshman forward had 19 points and eight rebounds for the fifth-seeded Blue Devils (27-8). Duke won its first ACC tournament championship since 2011 and its 20th overall, most in league history.
Bonzie Colson was a beast for third-seeded Notre Dame (25-9) with 29 points and nine rebounds.
Pac-12 final
No. 7 ARIZONA 83, No. 5 OREGON 80: In Las Vegas, Allonzo Trier scored 23 points and hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds, helping Arizona outlast Oregon (29-5) for the league crown.
Arizona (30-4) lost a lopsided game at Oregon earlier this season on a barrage of 3-pointers by the Ducks. The Wildcats were better defensively while building a 14-point lead and shot 58 percent to hold off Oregon’s secondhalf charge.
Next up for Arizona: A possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Big East final
No. 2 VILLANOVA 74, CREIGHTON 60: In New York, Josh Hart scored 29 points as Villanova (313) beat Creighton (25-9) to win the league tournament and probably lock up the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Hart became the third player to win the tournament MVP award twice, joining Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Peyton Siva of Louisville.
Big 12 final
No. 23 IOWA STATE 80, No. 11 WEST VIRGINIA 74: In Kansas City, Mo., Monte Morris scored 17 points, and Deonte Burton and Matt Thomas helped him deal with West Virginia’s attacking defense as Iowa State beat the Mountaineers (26-8) for the Cyclones’ third conference tournament title in four years.
Burton had 16 points for the fourth-seeded Cyclones (23-10), who have won nine of 10 games.
SEC semifinals
No. 8 KENTUCKY 79, ALABAMA 74: In Nashville, Tenn., De’Aaron Fox scored a careerhigh 28 points, including seven straight down the stretch, and Malik Monk added 20 to lift Kentucky (28-5) past Alabama (19-14) in the league semifinals.
The Wildcats shot 52 percent from the floor and 69 percent from the line after missing numerous chances that allowed Alabama to stay close.
Kentucky advances to face Arkansas in the final.
ARKANSAS 76, VANDERBILT 62: Moses Kingsley had 12 points and 13 rebounds as third-seeded Arkansas beat seventh-seeded Vanderbilt to reach the title game for the seventh time.
AAC semifinals
No. 12 SMU 70, CENTRAL FLA. 59: In Hartford, Conn., Sterling Brown scored 22 points as SMU (29-4) beat UCF (21-11).
Semi Ojeleye added 17 points for the Mustangs, who are back in the championship game after missing last year’s tournament because of NCAA sanctions. They’ll meet Cincinnati in today’s final.
No. 15 CINCINNATI 81, UCONN 71: Gary Clark scored 24 points to lead Cincinnati (29-4) past UConn (16-17) in the other semifinal.
Big Ten semifinals
No. 24 WISCONSIN 76, NORTHWESTERN 48: In Washington, Wisconsin revved up the defense against Northwestern (23-11) and got the desired result, a victory that earned the Badgers (25-8) a berth in the tournament championship game for the third time in five years.
Nigel Hayes scored 18 points for the second-seeded Badgers. They never trailed in their third straight victory following five losses in six games. Wisconsin will face Michigan in the final.
MICHIGAN 84, MINNESOTA 77: Derrick Walton Jr. had 29 points to carry eighth-seeded Michigan (23-11) past fourthseeded Minnesota (24-9).
The Wolverines (23-11) have defeated Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota since their plane skidded off the runway earlier in the week and delayed their arrival in D.C.
C-USA final
MID-TENNESSEE 83, MARSHALL 72: In Birmingham, Ala., Giddy Potts matched his season high with 30 points to lead Middle Tennessee to its second straight conference championship with a victory over Marshall.
Potts scored seven straight points to help the Blue Raiders (30-4) pull away with a late 15-5 run. The Thundering Herd (2015) pulled within two points at 53-51 with 12:51 left before Potts and Middle Tennessee answered with what proved to be the decisive run.
Mid-American final
KENT STATE 70, AKRON 65: In Cleveland, Jaylin Walker scored 30 points and Jimmy Hall added 19 as sixth-seeded Kent State (22-13) earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008 by beating Akron (26-8).
The Golden Flashes (22-13) knocked off the tournament’s top three seeds to win their sixth conference title.
Big Sky final
NORTH DAKOTA 93, WEBER STATE 89 (OT): In Reno, Nev., Quinton Hooker scored 28 points as North Dakota (22-9) beat Weber State (19-13) in overtime to earns its first NCAA bid.
UND rallied with a 20-9 run to force overtime after falling behind 72-61 with 7:26 left.
Southland final
NEW ORLEANS 68, TEXAS A&M-CC 65 (OT): In Katy Texas, Tevin Broyles had 15 points, including five in OT, as UNO (2011) beat A&M-Corpus Christi (2011) to advance to its first NCAA Tournament since 1996.
Atlantic 10 semifinals
RHODE ISLAND 84, DAVIDSON 60: In Pittsburgh, E.C. Matthews scored 19 points, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts, as fourth-seeded Rhode Island (23-9) cruised into the championship game with a win over ninthseeded Davidson (17-15). The Rams face VCU today. VCU 87, RICHMOND 77 (OT): JeQuan Lewis scored 18 points, including a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, as second-seeded VCU (21-7) beat No. 3 Richmond (20-12).
Sun Belt semifinals
TEXAS STATE 83, UT ARLINGTON 62: In New Orleans, Bobby Conley scored 16 points as Texas State (20-12) upset top-seeded UT Arlington (25-8).
The fourth-seeded Bobcats (20-12) will play Troy in today’s league title game.
TROY 74, GEORGIA STATE 63: Wesley Person scored 16 points as sixth-seeded Troy (21-14) beat No. 2 seed Georgia State (20-12) in the other semifinal.
America East final
VERMONT 56, ALBANY 53: In Burlington, Vt., Payton Henson scored 17 points as Vermont (295) beat Albany (21-13) to win the league title.
It was the 21st straight victory for Vermont (29-5) — the longest streak in the nation — and the longest in the 117-year history of the program.
MEAC final
N.C. CENTRAL 67, NORFOLK STATE 59: In Norfolk, Va., Patrick Cole scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds as North Carolina Central (25-8) topped Norfolk State (17-16) in the final for the Eagles’ second NCAA Tournament spot in four years.
SWAC final
TEXAS SOUTHERN 53, ALCORN STATE 50: In Houston, Kevin Scott had 15 points as top-seeded Texas Southern (2411) beat Alcorn State (18-14) to win the tournament title. Texas Southern was assured an NCAA berth entering the game because Alcorn State is ineligible for postseason play.
Big West final
CAL DAVIS 50, CAL IRVINE 47: In Anaheim, Calif., Bryan Lemar scored 20 points to lead UC Davis past Cal Irvine for the automatic NCAA berth.
Ivy League semifinals
PRINCETON 72, PENN 64 (OT): In Philadelphia, Myles Stephens scored 21 points, including the tying tip-in in regulation and the first four points of overtime, to help send top seed Princeton (226) past No. 4 seed Penn (13-15) in the opener of the inaugural Ivy League tournament. The Tigers will face Yale in today’s final.
YALE 73, HARVARD 71: Miye Oni scored 18 points and thirdseeded Yale (18-10) never trailed to beat second-seeded Harvard (18-10).