Texas State’s run in Sun Belt tourney ends in semifinals
No. 11 seed Texas State's surprising run through the Sun Belt tournament came to an end in the semifinals, as No. 2 seed James Madison extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 12 games with a 73-68 victory at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla.
The Bobcats (17-18) became the first Sun Belt team to march to the league tournament semifinals with three consecutive wins in back-toback seasons, falling to the conference's No. 2 seed in the semifinals each time.
Texas State, which ranked in the bottom five nationally in 3-pointers per game this season, went just 3 for 12 (25%) from beyond the arc, while James Madison hit 10 of 25 (40%) from 3point range.
Brandon Love led the Bobcats with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Dontae Horne added 15 with a team-high four assists and Davion Sykes netted 11.
The Dukes (30-3) used a 26-10 run over an 11minute stretch to open a 15-point lead late in the first half.
Texas State responded, scoring the final seven points of the first half and the first six points of the second to trim the margin to three. When James Madison stretched the lead back to 10 toward the midpoint of the second half, Texas State used another 10-0 run to draw even.
But the Bobcats went nearly five minutes before their next points, allowing the Dukes to build a narrow lead the final seven minutes.
LSU player’s brother arrested
The brother of LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson was arrested and charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct by the Greenville (S.C.) Police Department for his role in a fight after his sister was shoved to the court by South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardoso during the SEC final.
Trayron Milton, 24, jumped over the scorer's table to reach the court. Police say Milton made his way to the court Sunday by pushing down an SEC employee and stepping on her shoulders to get past. Milton briefly made contact with Cardoso before he was led away by police.
Milton was released from jail Monday on bonds of $1,087.50 for each charge. Both charges are considered misdemeanors in South Carolina law. Each carries a potential penalty of 30 days in jail, a fine or both.
Police and security worked to de-escalate the situation that took place with about two minutes left in No. 1 South Carolina's 79-72 win. Milton made it over the barrier and scorer's table and shoved Cardoso's back before the officer stepped in to lead him away.
Cardoso was ejected for fighting and three of her teammates were thrown out for leaving the bench area. Two LSU players who logged minutes were also sent off. South Carolina finished the game with six players and LSU five.
Iowa St. women blitz No. 19 OU
Audi Crooks had 25 points, Addy Brown added 16 and fourthseeded Iowa State romped to an 85-68 victory over top-seeded and No. 19 Oklahoma on Monday at Kansas City, Mo., giving the Cyclones a chance to defend their women's Big 12 Tournament title.
Emily Ryan added 12 points and 10 assists for the Cyclones (20-10), who also beat the Sooners in last year's semifinals before topping Texas for the title. Iowa State could play the No. 6 Longhorns again if they beat Kansas State in the other semifinal.
Payton Verhulst had 23 points for the Sooners (22-9). Sahara Williams added 16 points and league co-player of the year Skylar Vann finished with 12.
In another women's tournament, Mckenzie Forbes scored 26 points and No. 5 Southern California beat No. 2 Stanford 74-61 on Sunday to win the Pac-12 tournament championship at Las Vegas and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans (26-5) played in the championship game for the first time since 2014, when they also defeated Stanford.
That was their only other tournament title.
Forbes was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
Rayah Marshall had 18 rebounds and 10 points for the Trojans (26-5).
USC freshman sensation Juju Watkins had a frustrating game, finishing with nine points on 2-of-15 shooting. It was the first time she didn't score in double figures.
Cameron Brink led the Cardinal (28-5) with 19 points, while Kiki Iriafen added 18.
On Monday, Southern Cal rode the tournament championship to its best ranking in 38 years. The Trojans moved up to No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. It's the highest ranking for USC since the final poll of the 1986 season, when the team was also third.
SEC champion South Carolina remained No. 1 and Big Ten champion Iowa was No. 2.
Vols’ Knecht is top player in SEC
Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht has been chosen by Southeastern Conference coaches as player of the year after averaging a league-best 21.4-points per game.
South Carolina's Lamont Paris was picked as SEC coach of the year in voting by the 14 coaches announced Monday.
Kentucky's Reed Sheppard is freshman of the year, Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler was picked as the best defensive player and Kentucky's Rob Dillingham as top sixth man.
Missouri's Sean East
III earned SEC Scholarathlete of the Year honors.
Knecht and Zeigler were joined on the ALLSEC first-team by Alabama's Mark Sears, Auburn's Johni Broome, Florida's Zyon Pullin, Kentucky's Antonio Reeves, Mississippi State's Tolu Smith III and Texas A&M'S Wade Taylor IV.