Marquette edges UConn at Big East
Tyler Kolek had 17 points and six assists and Kam Jones added 14 points as top-seeded and sixth-ranked Marquette outlasted fourth-seeded and 11th-ranked UConn, 70-68, in a classic Big East semifinal Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Huskies (25-8) rallied from eight points down midway through the second half to tie it twice, but Joey Calcaterra and Jordan Hawkins missed game-winning 3-point attempts in the final moments as the Golden Eagles (27-6) held on.
Marquette will face second-seeded Xavier, an 82-60 winner over third-seeded Creighton, in today’s final at 6:30 p.m..
NO. 1 HOUSTON 60, EAST CAROLINA 46
Marcus Sasser scored 30 points and top-ranked Houston got its 30th win of the season in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday.
The Cougars (30-2), a surebet No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, have backto-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 were national runner-ups in back-to-back 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.
East Carolina freshman forward Ezra Ausar had 18 points and a season-high 19 rebounds in his third double-double this season. The Pirates (16-17) had a season-low scoring total and shot 31.4% (16 of 51).
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 eight-of-20 shots from long range. Charles Bediako and Noah Gurley added 11 points apiece for Alabama, and Jahvon Quinerly scored 10.
Alabama will face No. 25 Missouri, a 79-71 winner over 17thranked Tennessee, in the semifinal on Saturday.
Tolu Smith led Mississippi State (21-12) with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Dashawn Davis scored 13 points.
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 (275) 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.
Purdue will face Ohio State, a 68-58 winner over Michigan State, in the semifinals on Saturday.
Derek Simpson scored 18 points for Rutgers (19-14). Cam Spencer had 13 points, and Clifford Omoruyi finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
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.
The Tigers (24-8), who joined the SEC in 2012, will play fourthranked Alabama on Saturday. Missouri won its fifth straight this season to snap a three-game skid in the SEC quarterfinals.
D’Moi Hodge led Missouri with 26 points, 17 in the second half. Kobe Brown added 24 and nine rebounds, and DeAndre Gholston had 10.
Santiago Vescovi led five Vols (23-10) in double digits with 17 points. Tyreke Key had 16, Jahmai Mashack 14, Olivier Nkamhoua added 11 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Phillips 10.