Late surge sends Charleston to CAA final
Reyne Smith scored 16 points and top-seeded Charleston closed on a 13-1 run to get past No. 5 seed Towson 61-56 on Monday night in the semifinals of the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament in Washington.
It was the ninth victory in a row for the Cougars, who battled Stony Brook for their second straight CAA title on Tuesday night.
Smith also contributed five rebounds for the Cougars (26-7). Bryce Butler shot 5 of 9 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to add 13 points. Frankie Policelli shot 3 for 7 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points.
Tyler Tejada had 16 points to lead the Tigers (20-14). Charles Thompson added 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks and Dylan Williamson finished with 13 points.
Other CAA semifinal
Stony Brook 63, Hofstra 59: Tyler Stephenson-Moore had 23 points in Stony Brook’s victory over Hofstra.
Stephenson-Moore added nine rebounds and three steals for the Seawolves (20-14). Chris Maidoh shot 5 of 7 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line to add 13 points. Aaron Clarke had 12 points.
Tyler Thomas finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Pride (20-13). Jaquan Carlos added 13 points, six assists and three steals.
Southern Conference final Samford 76, East Tennessee State 69:
Achor Achor had 25 points and nine rebounds, Jermaine Marshall scored 23 and top-seeded Samford held off seventh-seeded East Tennessee State to win the Southern Conference Tournament championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Samford coach Bucky McMillan, who had never coached above the high school level, has the Bulldogs dancing four years after taking over the 321st-ranked program. Samford is making its first trip to the Big Dance since 2000 and just its third overall.
The Bulldogs (29-5) extended the school record for victories by beating the Buccaneers (19-16), who were playing in the title game for the 13th time. ETSU was trying to advance to the NCAA tourney for a ninth time — by winning four games in four days.
Top 25 No. 17 Gonzaga 89, San Francisco 77:
Nolan Hickman scored 20 points and Gonzaga pulled away in the second half to beat San Francisco in Las Vegas and extend its streak to 27 years of making the West Coast Conference Tournament title game.
The Bulldogs (25-6) played No. 21 Saint Mary’s on Tuesday night for the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though the loser will make the 68-team field as an at-large team.
All five Gonzaga starters scored in double figures. Ben Gregg and Anton Watson each scored 17 points, and Ryan Nembhard had 16.
No. 21 Saint Mary’s 79, Santa Clara 65:
Alex Ducas set the tone with 18 of his 21 points in the first half, and Saint Mary’s went on to beat Santa Clara to make the West Coast
Conference Tournament championship game.
Ducas made 7 of 11, all 3-pointers, and at halftime appeared well on his way to breaking his personal high of 25 points. But the Gaels (25-7) had plenty of offensive weapons, with three other players also scoring in double figures that included Mason Forbes with 16 points.
Carlos Marshall Jr. led Santa Clara (20-13) with 26 points and Christian Hammond had 13.
Top 10 women No. 10 UConn 78, Georgetown 42:
Paige Bueckers scored 27 points and had five blocks to help No. 10 UConn beat Georgetown and win its 22nd Big East Tournament title.
It was the 29th title overall for the Huskies, who haven’t lost in a conference championship contest since 2013, when Notre Dame beat them for the Big East title.
UConn (29-5), which has been in 20 consecutive conference tournament championship games, has won all four titles since rejoining the Big East in 2020-21 after taking seven straight during its run in the American Athletic Conference.