In a defensive battle befitting both teams’ playing styles, No. 5 Purdue outworked No. 12 Northern Iowa for a 61-56 win. Sophomore guard E’Twaun Moore led Purdue with 17 points.
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Memphis: Tigers Survive Prepared Matadors
It wasn’t pretty, but No. 2 Memphis started its attempt to return to the NCAA championship game with an 81-70 win against No. 15 Cal State Northridge. The Matadors played a 1-3-1 zone that dared Memphis to shoot from long range. Sophomore guard Roburt Sallie delivered with 35 points, by far his best game of the season.
Texas A&M: Aggies Beat BYU in Second Straight Tournament
For the second consecutive year, Texas A&M beat BYU as a No. 9 seed, with the Aggies winning 79-66 this year. BYU had no defensive answer for junior forward Bryan Davis, who led the Aggies with 21 points.
LSU: Tigers Slip Past Butler
No. 8 LSU beat No. 9 Butler 75-71 thanks to a strong start and solid defense. Senior guard Marcus Thornton had a great game, with 30 points.
Virginia: Cavaliers Coach Leitao Resigns
After finishing his fourth season with the Cavaliers, Virginia coach Dave Leitao resigned Sunday. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 10-18 overall record 4-12 ACC record. The team missed the NCAA Tournament for the third time during Leitao’s tenure.
Morehead State: Faried Powers Morehead State Past Alabama State
Making its first NCAA Tournament in 25 years, No. 16 Morehead State will play at least one more game after beating No. 16 Alabama State 58-43. Sophomore forward Kenneth Faried had one of the best rebounding games in NCAA Tournament history, collecting 21 boards in addition to his 14 points.
Big Ten: Purdue Wins Last Game Before Selection Show
In front of a partisan Indianapolis crowd, No. 3 Purdue beat No. 5 Ohio State 65-61 for the Big Ten championship. Sophomore guard E’Twaun Moore led the Boilermakers with 17 points, and sophomore forward JaJuan Johnson added 16 points.
SEC: Bulldogs Crash NCAA Tournament Party
Sophomore guard Phil Turner gave No. W3 Mississippi State the lead with a little more than a minute and a half remaining on a three-pointer, and Turner hit four free throws down the stretch to give the Bulldogs a 64-61 win against No. E1 Tennessee.
Southland: Lumberjacks Claim Southland Title and First Trip to NCAA Tournament
No. 1 Stephen F. Austin advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament after knocking off No. 6 Texas-San Antonio 68-57.
In the MAC, It’s Akron
It was thought to be a rebuilding year at Akron with all the youth the Zips have. But after Saturday night’s win in the MAC championship game behind a well-balanced attack, the Zips are off to the NCAA Tournament.
