Memphis fires renowned Smith after two seasons
Memphis fired coach Tubby Smith after two seasons amid dropping attendance and donations to the athletic department. Smith went 40- 26 with the Tigers, including 21- 13 this season.
Smith came to Memphis in April 2016 as one of only two coaches to lead five schools to the NCAA Tournament. Now 66, Smith leaves without taking Memphis to the postseason in his two seasons. Smith is 597- 302 with a national title with Kentucky in 1998. He also has worked at Tulsa, Georgia, Minnesota and Texas Tech.
Former Ohio State coach Thad Matta has withdrawn from the Georgia coaching search after becoming the first known candidate to interview. Georgia also might be interested in former Indiana coach Tom Crean, who reportedly had an interview with Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Mississippi reportedly will hire Middle Tennessee State coach Kermit Davis to be its new coach.
Syracuse 60, Arizona State 56
Freshman Oshae Brissett had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Orange ( 21- 13) in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. Trailing by two, Arizona State’s Shannon Evans II missed a three- pointer with two seconds left. Frank Howard got the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to clinch it. Syracuse will play No. 6 seed TCU on Friday.
Texas Southern 64, North Carolina Central 46
Demontrae Jefferson, a 5- 7 guard, scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to give the Tigers their first- ever NCAA Tournament victory in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. The Tigers ( 16- 19), who started the season 0- 13, became the first team with a losing record to win a tournament game.
UIC 84, St. Francis 61
Clint Robinson ( 15 points) led six players in double figures as the Flames ( 18- 15) earned their largest margin of victory in postseason history in a Collegeinsider. com Postseason Tournament first- round game at the UIC Pavilion. Godwin Boahen and Tai Odiase scored 12 points each, while Tarkus Ferguson, Marcus Ottey and Jordan Blount added 11 each.
NIT first- round highlights
Markus Howard scored 22 points, and Marquette held on to beat visiting Harvard 67- 60 despite three turnovers in the final minute. Andrew Rowsey added 15 points but shot 4- for- 13. Reserve forward Jamal Cain added 11 points for Marquette ( 20- 13), which will host Oregon at 3: 30 p. m. Sunday.
Josh Reaves had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Penn State to a 63- 57 victory against visiting Temple. Penn State ( 22- 13) plays at Notre Dame at 11 a. m. Saturday.
James Palmer Jr. scored 13 points, but visiting Nebraska ( 2210) fell 66- 59 to Mississippi State ( 22- 11), which now plays Baylor.
Sun- Times wires