The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Graham, De Sousa lift Jayhawks to Big 12 title
Devonte Graham had 18 points and 13 assists, Silvio De Sousa came up big in place of Udoka Azubuike, and ninth-ranked Kansas proved its toughness down the stretch for an 81-70 victory over No. 18 West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament title game Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo.
De Sousa had 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Malik Newman added 20 points to cap a phenomenal tournament, lifting the Jayhawks (27-7) to their 11th tournament title and a likely No. 1 seed when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed today.
It was the second time in three years they’ve beaten West Virginia (24-10) in the title game.
Svi Mykhailiuk also had 16 points for the Jayhawks, who scrapped their way through three games in three days without their 7-foot anchor. Azubuike hurt a ligament in his left knee in practice early in the week and spent the weekend on the bench, though he’s expected to return next week.
Daxter Miles Jr. finished with 25 points, and Jevon Carter had 17 points and nine assists for the Mountaineers, who have lost three straight Big 12 Tournament championship games.
No. 13 Tennessee 84, Arkansas 66: Jordan Bone scored 19 points to help spark a hot-shooting first half for the Volunteers (25-7) in a win over the Razorbacks (23-11) in a SEC Tournament semifinal in St. Louis.
Tennessee will try to win its first SEC Tournament title in almost 40 years when it faces Kentucky today.
Kentucky 86, Alabama 63: Wenyen Gabriel shot 7 for 7 on 3-pointers and matched his career high with 23 points to send the Wildcats (23-10) past the Crimson Tide (19-15) in a SEC Tournament semifinal.
Collin Sexton scored 21 points on 6 for 14 shooting for Alabama.
No. 8 Cincinnati 70, Memphis 60: Jarron Cumberland scored 18 points, and Gary Clark had 17 points and 12 rebounds to rally the Bearcats (29-4) past the Tigers (2113) in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Orlando.
No. 21 Houston 77, No. 11 Wichita State 74: Rob Gray had a key steal and scored 33 points, including two free throws with 5 seconds remaining, as the Cougars (26-6) topped the Shockers (25-7) in an AAC Tournament semifinal.
Corey Davis Jr. added 19 points for Houston, which advanced to play No. 8 Cincinnati in the championship game today.
No. 25 Rhode Island 90, Saint Joseph’s 87: Andre Berry scored 18 points, Fatts Russell made two crucial 3-pointers in the final six minutes, and the Rams (256) topped the Hawks (16-16) in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament semifinals in Washington, D.C.
San Diego State 82, New Mexico 75: Troy Kell scored 28 points to lead the Aztecs (22-10) past the Lobos (19-15) in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship in Las Vegas.
UMBC 65, Vermont 62: Jairus Lyles hit a long 3-pointer with less than a second left, lifting Maryland Baltimore County (24-10) over top-seeded Vermont (27-7) in the America East championship game in Burlington, Vt.
The second-seeded Retrievers had lost 23 straight times to the Catamounts over the past 10 years but rallied to earn its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2008.
N.C. Central 71, Hampton 63: Pablo Rivas had 22 points to lead the Eagles (1915) past the Pirates (19-15) in the MEAC Tournament championship game in Norfolk, Va.
Texas Southern 84, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 69: Trayvon Reed had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Demontrae Jefferson added 15 points, and the Tigers (1519) defeated the Golden Lions (14-20) in SWAC championship game in Houston.