RHODE ISLAND BEATS OKLAHOMA IN OT
E. C. Matthews hits a key 3- pointer in overtime as the Rams eliminate star freshman guard Trae Young and the Sooners 83- 78.
Here’s the PITTSBURGH skinny on a Philly guard called Fatts: The player with the best nickname in the tournament given because he was a chunky baby turned in the stout performance Rhode Island required to win.
Fatts Russell hit three 3s and showed that — for this game, at least — he was the best freshman guard around as he pressured Oklahoma’s dynamic scorer Trae Young right out of the NCAA Tournament.
E. C. Matthews hit the go- ahead 3- pointer in overtime and one more that sealed it to help Rhode Island hold off Young and beat Oklahoma 83- 78 Thursday in the Midwest Region.
The seventh- seeded Rams ( 26- 7) won a game in the tournament for the second straight season.
“I told him when I recruited him: The only point guard I saw better than him at the Peach Jam last year was Trae Young, and he told me I was wrong about that and he was going to prove me wrong today,” Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley said of Russell. “And he put on a show.”
Young needed a late surge just to hit 28 points on 9- of- 18 shooting for Oklahoma ( 18- 14). But he also committed six turnovers. ( 1) Kansas 76, ( 16) Penn 60. » WICHITA Devonte Graham ignited sluggish Kansas midway through the first half, pouring in 29 points and lifting the top- seeded Jayhawks to a tough, grind- itout victory.
Lagerald Vick added 14 points for the Jayhawks ( 28- 7), who trailed the Ivy League champs by 10 in the early stages.
A. J. Brodeur had 14 points to lead the Quakers ( 24- 9).
( 2) Duke 89, ( 15) Iona 67.
» Marvin PITTSBURGH Bagley III dominated in his NCAA Tournament debut, pouring in 22 points to go with seven rebounds as the Blue Devils rolled.
Grayson Allen scored 16 points and added a gamehigh nine assists for Duke ( 27- 7), which withstood an early push from Iona ( 20- 14) to win going away.
( 8) Seton Hall 94,
( 9) North Carolina St. 83.
» Khadeen Carrington WICHITA scored 26 points, Desi Rodriguez added 20 for the Pirates ( 22- 11) in a foul- filled game — 53 fouls resulting in 66 free throws.
Allerik Freeman hit six 3- pointers and had 36 points to lead the Wolfpack ( 21- 12), who returned to the tournament under first- year coach Kevin Keatts for the first time in three years.