No. 1 Houston advances to AAC semifinals with 30-win season
Marcus Sasser scored 30 points and top-ranked Houston got its 30th win of the season, 60-46 over East Carolina in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday.
The Cougars (30-2), a sure-bet No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, have back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since their Phi Slama Jama era. Houston made three consecutive Final Four appearances from 1982-84, and was national runner-up in back-toback seasons — winning 31 games in 1982-83 and 32 the next season.
Jamal Shead added 12 points for Houston, which won despite shooting a season-low 28.1% (16 of 57) from the field. Houston plays fourth-seeded Cincinnati in the AAC semifinals Saturday.
NO. 2 UCLA 75, OREGON 56 » Tyger Campbell scored a career-high 28 points, including all seven during a key second-half run, and UCLA beat Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinals.
The Bruins (29-4) will advance to Saturday’s title game. UCLA has won 12 straight and 26 of 28, and one more victory likely would secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
NO. 3 KANSAS 71, IOWA STATE 58 » Jalen Wilson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Gradey Dick made a couple of crucial baskets during a second-half run that gave Kansas control, and the Jayhawks beat Iowa State to reach the Big 12 Tournament title game.
Dick finished with 15 points for the top-seeded Jayhawks (27-6), who fell behind early in the second half before the defending champs rallied to reach Saturday night’s title game.
NO. 4 ALABAMA 72, MISSISSIPPI STATE 49 »
Brandon Miller had 18 points and nine rebounds and Alabama never trailed in a quarterfinal victory over
Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
The top-seeded Crimson Tide (27-5) set the pace in the first half, hitting 8 of 20 shots from long range. Charles Bediako and Noah Gurley added 11 points apiece for Alabama, and Jahvon Quinerly scored 10.
NO. 5 PURDUE 70, RUTGERS 65 » Mason Gillis had 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting, and Purdue held off Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
With Zach Edey drawing his usual attention inside, the top-seeded Boilermakers (27-5) got a big lift from Gillis and reserve guard David Jenkins Jr. Gillis grabbed nine rebounds. The 7-foot-4 Edey finished with 16 points and 11 boards.
N0. 6 MARQUETTE 70, NO. 11 UCONN 68 » Tyler Kolek and David Joplin each scored 17 points, and Marquette moved into the Big East championship game for the first time by holding off UConn.
The top-seeded Golden Eagles (27-6) opened a fourpoint lead on a 3-pointer by Olivier-Maxence Prosper with 3:39 left and then held on at raucous Madison Square Garden.
NO. 7 TEXAS 66, NO. 22 TCU
60 » Dylan Disu and Christian Bishop scored 15 points apiece, Tyrese Hunter made two free throws in the closing seconds, and Texas held off TCU in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.
The win wasn’t in hand until the final minutes, when Micah Peavey’s miss that would have drawn TCU within 60-58 turned into a runout. Marcus Carr converted the layup at the other end for Texas.
NO. 13 VIRGINIA 76, CLEMSON 56 » Jayden Gardner had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Virginia beat Clemson, sending coach Tony Bennett’s team to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title game for the first time since 2018, when the Cavaliers won it all.
NO. 21 DUKE 85, NO. 14 MIAMI 78 » Kyle Filipowski had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Jeremy Roach hit a huge 3-pointer at the 1:32 mark and Duke held off Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals.
NO. 15 XAVIER 82, NO. 24 CREIGHTON 60 » Souley Boum scored 23 points, Jack Nunge added 17 and Xavier cruised into the Big East Tournament championship game with a victory against Creighton.
NO. 25 MISSOURI 79, NO. 17 TENNESSEE 71 »
Nick Honor hit a 3-pointer with 1:45 left to put Missouri ahead to stay, and the Tigers reached the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time since joining the league.
NO. 18 TEXAS A&M 67, ARKANSAS 61 »
Wade Taylor scored 18 points and Texas A&M rallied from a 13-point deficit early in the second half to beat Arkansas in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
NO 19 INDIANA 70, MARYLAND 60 »
Trayce JacksonDavis scored 24 points, Jalen Hood-Schifino added 19 points, and Indiana beat Maryland in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
NO. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 64, SAN JOSE STATE 49 »
Keshad Johnson and Darrion Trammell each scored 15 points and San Diego State beat San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinals.
VANDERBILT 80, NO. 23 KENTUCKY 73 »
Ezra Manjon scored 25 points and Vanderbilt jolted Kentucky, rallying from an early 10-point deficit to beat the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.