NCAA Tournament Game Capsules
Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – After breaking the team tournament record with 14 3-pointers against Texas in the third round, Michigan was on pace to challenge that mark again. Until a cold spell and a Tennessee onslaught nearly spoiled another trip to the Elite Eight. And when Jordan McRae’s heave from halfcourt soared over the backboard, Michigan was finally able to exhale. Jordan Morgan had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Nik Stauskas added 14 and the Wolverines held off Tennessee, 73-71, in a Midwest Regional semifinal. Second-seeded Michigan (28-8), which finished 11-of-20 from deep following a 14-of-28 performance against Texas, will face the Kentucky winner in the Midwest Regional final on Sunday. Michigan, which made 7-of-9 3-point attempts in the first half, built an advantage as large as 15 over the final 20 minutes. The 11th-seeded Volunteers (24-13) used an 11-2 run to get back in it and capitalized on four straight Michigan turnovers later to make it interesting in the closing seconds. After Josh Richardson banked in a floater with 24.6 seconds on the clock, the Vols trapped Glenn Robinson III along the right endline and his pass bounced past Caris LeVert near halfcourt. The third consecutive Michigan giveaway led to a McRae layup to make it 72-71. LeVert then stepped out of bounds on the ensuing inbounds, but Jarnell Stokes was called for an offensive foul with six seconds to go. Stauskas split a pair of free throws to extend the Wolverines edge to 73-71 and McRae’s heave from halfcourt was well off the mark.
Final Score: Connecticut 81, Iowa State 76
New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – DeAndre Daniels scored 27 points on 10- of-15 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, as Connecticut weathered a late charge from Iowa State and held on for an 81-76 win at Madison Square Garden. Star guard Shabazz Napier had 19 points, five assists and five rebounds, helping the seventh-seeded Huskies (29-8) reach the East Regional final where The Huskies will face Michigan State on Sunday for a berth in the Final Four. The Spartans edged Virginia, 61-59, late Friday night.Ryan Boatright supplied 16 points for UConn, which led by as many as 17 in the second half before the Cyclones mounted a furious comeback. Dustin Hogue tied an Iowa State NCAA Tournament record with 34 points. Melvin Ejim, the Big 12 Player of the Year, struggled for the third-seeded Cyclones (28-8), finishing with only seven points while missing 10 of his 13 shots.
Final Score: Kentucky 74, Louisville 69
Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – The young Wildcats are growing up at the right time. Anything’s possible now. Julius Randle had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Kentucky defeated defending national champion and bitter Bluegrass State rival Louisville, 74-69, in a Midwest Regional semifinal from Indianapolis. Eighth-seeded Kentucky (27-10) will face second-seeded Michigan in the Regional Final on Sunday. The Wildcats, who led for a duration of just 1:07, finally took their first lead since it was 2-0 when Alex Poythress split a pair of foul shots with 1:27 left to put them up 67-66. Russ Smith made a jumper at the other end, but Aaron Harrison swished a wide- open left corner triple on Kentucky’s next trip down the floor to give it a 70-68 edge with 40 ticks to play. Wayne Blackshear drew a foul on Randle with 14 seconds remaining, but made just 1-of-2 to keep Kentucky in front. Randle then hit two foul shots to make it 72-69 and Smith’s potentially game-tying 3-pointer from the left wing clanked off the front rim. Harrison then sunk a pair of foul shots to seal the outcome. Kentucky, which also beat Louisville in Lexington earlier this season in December, dispatched the Cardinals in the 2012 Final Four en route to a national championship. The Wildcats, who start all freshman, beat undefeated and top- seeded Wichita State in the third round. Harrison scored 15 points, while twin brother Andrew tallied 14 points, seven assists and five boards. Dakari Johnson added 15 points and six rebounds in the triumph. Kentucky played most of the game without paint protector Willie Cauley-Stein, who left early with a sprained left ankle. Smith netted 23 points to lead the fourth- seeded Cardinals (31-6). Luke Hancock supplied 19 points and Montrezl Harrell provided 15 points and eight rebounds in defeat.
Final Score: Michigan State 61, Virginia 59
New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – Branden Dawson had 24 points, Adreian Payne scored 16 and Michigan State fought through Virginia’s tenacious defense to advance to the Elite Eight with a 61-59 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Dawson added 10 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Spartans (29-8), who will face Connecticut in the East Regional final on Sunday. The Huskies topped Iowa State, 81-76, earlier on Friday. Joe Harris and Malcolm Brogdon scored 17 points apiece for top-seeded Virginia (30-7).
Categorized in: NCAA Basketball