Tennessee doubles down, beats UMass

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tennessee made sure it stayed aggressive after creating a double-figure lead against sixth-seeded Massachusetts in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional second round Friday at PNC Arena. Forward Jarnell Stokes scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half as the 11th-seeded Volunteers blistered Massachusetts, 86-67. Guard Jordan McRae scored 21 points […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Creighton catches fire in time to top Louisiana-Lafayette

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Creighton Bluejays began scoring in threes just in time to scoot past the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in the NCAA West Regional second round. Creighton’s All-American forward Doug McDermott scored 30 points and added 12 rebounds, and forward Ethan Wragge hit the big shots the Bluejays needed in the second half […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Kansas 80, Eastern Kentucky 69

ST. LOUIS — On a Friday highlighted by Mercer’s stunner over Duke, Eastern Kentucky nearly smote a giant of its own in Scottrade Center. But No. 2 Kansas finally gained control after a first half rife with turnovers, using its physical advantages inside to wear down the gritty Colonels and take an 80-69 NCAA Tournament […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Williams leaves Marquette for Virginia Tech

Buzz Williams is leaving Marquette to take over as the head basketball coach at Virginia Tech, the schools announced Friday. “I am extremely excited about welcoming Buzz Williams to the Hokie Nation,” Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said in a release. “Buzz is a proven winner who has earned his way up through […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Feb 2022
Gonzaga 85, Oklahoma State 77

SAN DIEGO — The seedings for the NCAA West Regional matchup were close. The game? Not so much. No. 8-seeded Gonzaga defeated No. 9-seeded Oklahoma State 85-77 on Friday. Gonzaga (31-4) was led by guard Kevin Pangos’ 26 points, with 12 coming at the free-throw line. Oklahoma State (21-13) was paced by guard Marcus Smart’s […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Kansas avoids upset with strong finish

By Bucky DentThe Sports Xchange ST. LOUIS — By the normal measures of a stat sheet, Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. did not contribute much to Friday’s 80-69 win over No. 15 seed Eastern Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament’s South Region. But it was what Selden not allow Colonels guard Glenn […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
No. 14 seed Mercer shocks Duke

RALEIGH, N.C. — Mercer’s big moment will last a little longer in this NCAA Tournament. In the first game of tournament play Friday, the Atlantic Sun rose again, with conference champion Mercer shocking third-seeded Duke 78-71 in a Midwest Regional second-round game. “Our guys continue to believe at such a high level,” coach Bob Hoffman […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Baylor toes the line, beats Nebraska

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Baylor Bears stayed cool as Nebraska went from ice cold, to warmer to melting down in the NCAA West Regional second round. Baylor’s front court duo of center Isaiah Austin and forward Cory Jefferson combined for 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Bears knocked out the Cornhuskers, 74-60, on […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021
Tearful Parker says freshman season incomplete

Jabari Parker was visibly shaken, tearful and trying to look ahead to what his future might be without Duke basketball Friday in the locker room 20 minutes after the third-seeded Blue Devils lost to 14th-seeded Mercer in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He said, in a word, his freshman season was an “incompletion.” […]

Alan Draper  •  15 Oct 2021