Bucknell is back in NCAAs
Kimbal Mackenzie scored 18 points to help send Bucknell into the NCAA tournament with an 81-65 victory over Lehigh in the Patriot League final Wednesday night in Lewisburg, Pa.
The Bison (26-8) are back in the tournament for the first time since 2013 and seem ready to shake up the brackets one more time. Bucknell beat Kansas in 2005 and Arkansas in 2006 to earn a reputation as March upset masters.
Bucknell opened the second half on a 12-0 run that turned Sojka Pavilion into a zoo, complete with a dancing Bison (mascot) and a gyrating shark. The Mountain Hawks (20-12) didn’t fare as well and lost in the Patriot League tournament championship game for the second straight season.
No. 14 Duke 79, Clemson 72: Luke Kennard made two clutch jumpers in the final 2:04 to help the Blue Devils (24-8) advance to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament at the Barclays Center. Kennard, Jayson Tatum and Frank Jackson each scored 20 points for Duke. Jaron Blossomgame had 19 points for the Tigers (17-15).
No. 21 Virginia 75, Pittsburgh 63: Kyle Guy scored 20 points to match a career high and London Perrantes added 13 in the second half to help the Cavaliers (22-9) reach the ACC quarterfinals. Jamel Artis led the Panthers (16-17) with 18 points.
Missouri 86, Auburn 83 (OT): Kevin Puryear made a three-point shot just before the buzzer in overtime and the Tigers (8-23) won in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, keeping Coach Kim Anderson employed for at least one more game. Missouri announced Sunday that Anderson will be fired after the season.
St. Louis 72, Duquesne 71: Davell Roby’s tip-in with 1.6 seconds left gave the Billikens (12-20) their only lead of the game in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament in Pittsburgh. St. Louis scored the final six points of the game in the last 24 seconds.