Ohio Valley championship
March 4 at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN
ESPN
Jacksonville State is finally going dancing.
Erik Durham scored 17 points to lead a trio in double figures and the Gamecocks won 66-55 to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Jacksonville State was rarely threatened in the second half, holding a double-digit cushion for a majority of the 20-minute period. UT-Martin, which was also trying to get to the NCAAs for the first time, got as close as 37-31 on Kahari Beaufort's jumper at the 14:20 mark, but the No. 4 seed scored seven of the next nine points and the lead didn't fall below nine the rest of the way.
The Gamecocks' defense was excellent, holding a UT-Martin team that shoots 47% from the field (third in the OVC) to just 35% on Saturday. The Skyhawks had their lowest scoring output of the season and worst since collecting just 57 points against a really good Illinois State team last December.
Jacolby Mobley scored a game-high 18 points for UT-Martin.
Game 343 - (9) Youngstown State vs. (1) Oakland
Horizon quarterfinals
March 4 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI
ESPN
This one had everything you'd want in a conference tournament game:
1. A fantastic scorer. Youngstown State's Cameron Morse, a junior guard who is top-10 nationally in scoring, poured in 34 points, including 5-of-11 on threes, and added five assists and seven rebounds.
2. A tight game all the way to the end. There were nine ties and 10 lead changes, and the largest cushions for both teams - 10 for Youngstown, four by Oakland - were accumulated in the first half.
3. A memorable finish/upset. With Oakland up one point and focused on Morse for the Penguins' final offensive possession, the Golden Grizzlies used a pair of fouls they had to give. Then with four seconds to play, Morse rose to shoot, but instead found a wide-open Jorden Kaufman for an easy lay-up as time expired. That not only gave Kaufman the last of his 22 points, but Youngstown an incredible, 81-80 victory over the top seed and a spot in the semifinals.
Even more incredible was the fact that Oakland defeated Youngstown twice during the regular season with an average margin of victory of 21 1/2 points.
Jalen Hayes had a great night in a losing effort for the regular season champions, scoring 27 points to go along with 13 rebounds. It was Hayes' jumper with 45 seconds to go that put the Golden Grizzlies in front, 80-79.
March 4 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI
ESPN
This one had everything you'd want in a conference tournament game:
1. A fantastic scorer. Youngstown State's Cameron Morse, a junior guard who is top-10 nationally in scoring, poured in 34 points, including 5-of-11 on threes, and added five assists and seven rebounds.
2. A tight game all the way to the end. There were nine ties and 10 lead changes, and the largest cushions for both teams - 10 for Youngstown, four by Oakland - were accumulated in the first half.
3. A memorable finish/upset. With Oakland up one point and focused on Morse for the Penguins' final offensive possession, the Golden Grizzlies used a pair of fouls they had to give. Then with four seconds to play, Morse rose to shoot, but instead found a wide-open Jorden Kaufman for an easy lay-up as time expired. That not only gave Kaufman the last of his 22 points, but Youngstown an incredible, 81-80 victory over the top seed and a spot in the semifinals.
Even more incredible was the fact that Oakland defeated Youngstown twice during the regular season with an average margin of victory of 21 1/2 points.
Jalen Hayes had a great night in a losing effort for the regular season champions, scoring 27 points to go along with 13 rebounds. It was Hayes' jumper with 45 seconds to go that put the Golden Grizzlies in front, 80-79.
Games 341-342: Sweep
342 - Georgia Southern at Georgia State
341 - Georgia Southern women at Georgia State
March 4 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
Georgia State took both games from its in-state rival on Saturday afternoon, though neither victory came easy.
In the nightcap, the Panthers turned the ball over 20 times, but thanks to 21 points from D'Marcus Simonds and 16 points on a perfect, 4-for-4 afternoon from three-point range from Jeff Thomas, won 72-67 to clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
I've been a big fan of Thomas since the sophomore arrived on campus last season, mainly for his three-point shooting and his defense that seems to improve by the game. He hit several big shots Saturday, but his most impressive basket was probably a strong drive and off-hand lay-up that put GSU up 66-62 at the three-minute mark.
Georgia Southern, which had embarrassed Georgia State in the teams' other meeting in Statesboro last New Year's Eve, got as close as 66-65 with 2 1/2 minutes to play on a steal and lay-up by Sun Belt leading scorer Ike Smith (game-high 27 points).
Jeremy Hollowell, who struggled from the field (4-of-12), but otherwise had a really nice day with 15 points, and team-highs in rebounds (12) and assists (5), hit a pair of free throws to get the lead to 69-65, then had the biggest play of the game chasing down a loose ball on a missed free throw with 13 seconds left with the Panthers in front by three. Hollowell sealed the win at the other end with two more free throws.
UT-Arlington comes into the league tournament as the top seed, and the Mavericks have had a really good season, but I still think the tournament is up for grabs. GSU has as good a chance as anyone to secure the automatic bid.
The GSU women closed their regular season with a 63-62 win & my memories of this game will mostly revolve around Makeba Ponder.
She was just 1-of-6 from the field and had only three points at halftime, but still handed out three assists in 11 minutes and I felt the second 20 minutes could be her breakout moment. Ponder responded, hitting 5-of-10 from three-point range, including a gigantic three from the top of the key with five seconds to go that put GSU up 63-60. Southern's Alexis Brown missed a potential tying three and the Panthers survived to secure the league's No. 7 seed.
Ponder finished with a game-high 20 points and in two games against the Eagles, both wins, averaged 18 points.
Angel McGowan, who also scored 20 points, hit a three with 17 1/2 seconds left that pulled Southern even at 60-60.
341 - Georgia Southern women at Georgia State
March 4 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
Georgia State took both games from its in-state rival on Saturday afternoon, though neither victory came easy.
In the nightcap, the Panthers turned the ball over 20 times, but thanks to 21 points from D'Marcus Simonds and 16 points on a perfect, 4-for-4 afternoon from three-point range from Jeff Thomas, won 72-67 to clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
I've been a big fan of Thomas since the sophomore arrived on campus last season, mainly for his three-point shooting and his defense that seems to improve by the game. He hit several big shots Saturday, but his most impressive basket was probably a strong drive and off-hand lay-up that put GSU up 66-62 at the three-minute mark.
Georgia Southern, which had embarrassed Georgia State in the teams' other meeting in Statesboro last New Year's Eve, got as close as 66-65 with 2 1/2 minutes to play on a steal and lay-up by Sun Belt leading scorer Ike Smith (game-high 27 points).
Jeremy Hollowell, who struggled from the field (4-of-12), but otherwise had a really nice day with 15 points, and team-highs in rebounds (12) and assists (5), hit a pair of free throws to get the lead to 69-65, then had the biggest play of the game chasing down a loose ball on a missed free throw with 13 seconds left with the Panthers in front by three. Hollowell sealed the win at the other end with two more free throws.
UT-Arlington comes into the league tournament as the top seed, and the Mavericks have had a really good season, but I still think the tournament is up for grabs. GSU has as good a chance as anyone to secure the automatic bid.
The GSU women closed their regular season with a 63-62 win & my memories of this game will mostly revolve around Makeba Ponder.
She was just 1-of-6 from the field and had only three points at halftime, but still handed out three assists in 11 minutes and I felt the second 20 minutes could be her breakout moment. Ponder responded, hitting 5-of-10 from three-point range, including a gigantic three from the top of the key with five seconds to go that put GSU up 63-60. Southern's Alexis Brown missed a potential tying three and the Panthers survived to secure the league's No. 7 seed.
Ponder finished with a game-high 20 points and in two games against the Eagles, both wins, averaged 18 points.
Angel McGowan, who also scored 20 points, hit a three with 17 1/2 seconds left that pulled Southern even at 60-60.
Games 338-340: Championship week
340 - (7) Murray State vs. (2) UT-Martin
Ohio Valley semifinals
March 3 at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN
ESPN
339 - (9) Tulsa women vs. (9) Memphis
American Athletic Conference first round
March 3 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
espn3.com
338 - (5) Kennesaw State at (1) Florida Gulf Coast
Atlantic Sun semifinals
March 2 at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, FL
espn3.com
Ohio Valley semifinals
March 3 at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN
ESPN
339 - (9) Tulsa women vs. (9) Memphis
American Athletic Conference first round
March 3 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
espn3.com
338 - (5) Kennesaw State at (1) Florida Gulf Coast
Atlantic Sun semifinals
March 2 at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, FL
espn3.com
Game 337 - (7) Wofford women vs. (2) Mercer
Southern quarterfinals
March 2 at US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC
espn3.com
The league's top offensive and defensive team rolled into the semifinals as KeKe Calloway's 20 bench points led Mercer to a 67-42 win.
Calloway, fellow reserve Alex Williams (14 points) and the excellent Sydni Means (13 points and nine assists) helped make up for an uncharacteristically off-game for two-time league player of the year Kahlia Lawrence, who was held to eight points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Meanwhile, the Bears defense was good once again (Wofford shot 31%), and the Macon, Georgia school is in the semis for the third time in as many seasons since joining the league.
Second-team all-conference guard Chloe Wanink led Wofford with 19 points on 18 shots, though she received little help as no other player scored more than seven.
March 2 at US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC
espn3.com
The league's top offensive and defensive team rolled into the semifinals as KeKe Calloway's 20 bench points led Mercer to a 67-42 win.
Calloway, fellow reserve Alex Williams (14 points) and the excellent Sydni Means (13 points and nine assists) helped make up for an uncharacteristically off-game for two-time league player of the year Kahlia Lawrence, who was held to eight points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Meanwhile, the Bears defense was good once again (Wofford shot 31%), and the Macon, Georgia school is in the semis for the third time in as many seasons since joining the league.
Second-team all-conference guard Chloe Wanink led Wofford with 19 points on 18 shots, though she received little help as no other player scored more than seven.
Game 336 - (7) Campbell vs. (2) NC-Asheville
Big South quarterfinals
March 2 at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, SC
espn3.com
If Campbell was to pull off the quarterfinal upset of the co-regular season champions, it figured it would need a big day from Chris Clemons.
But this was just ridiculous.
Clemons scored a conference and school record 51 points and the Camels stunned the defending tournament champions, 81-79 for the first major upset of the postseason.
Clemons, a sophomore guard, came into the night fifth nationally in scoring at 23.2 points, but he equaled that mark with five minutes still to go in the first half, scoring 23 of Campbell's first 25. He broke the Big South Tournament record when he reached the 37-point plateau on a second-half 3-pointer (Clemons was 8-of-14 from behind the arc).
He made a great spin move at the three-point line, and drove for a difficult finish at the rim, which turned into a three-point play and tied the game at 67-67 with six minutes left. Clemons' three with 4:27 left gave the Camels the lead for good.
Clemons made a tournament-record 18 field goals in 32 attempts.
Asheville led by as much as 14 points in the opening half as Campbell struggled to find an offensive compliment to its first-team all-Big South performer. The Bulldogs built a six-point lead on Ahmad Thomas' jumper at the 7-minute mark of the second, but Clemons followed by scoring nine straight Campbell points.
Big South freshman of the year Macio Teague played really well and finished with a team-high 22 points to pace five Bulldogs in double figures. Also for Asheville, Alec Wnuk was excellent off the bench (13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, nine rebounds and three assists with no turnovers).
March 2 at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, SC
espn3.com
If Campbell was to pull off the quarterfinal upset of the co-regular season champions, it figured it would need a big day from Chris Clemons.
But this was just ridiculous.
Clemons scored a conference and school record 51 points and the Camels stunned the defending tournament champions, 81-79 for the first major upset of the postseason.
Clemons, a sophomore guard, came into the night fifth nationally in scoring at 23.2 points, but he equaled that mark with five minutes still to go in the first half, scoring 23 of Campbell's first 25. He broke the Big South Tournament record when he reached the 37-point plateau on a second-half 3-pointer (Clemons was 8-of-14 from behind the arc).
He made a great spin move at the three-point line, and drove for a difficult finish at the rim, which turned into a three-point play and tied the game at 67-67 with six minutes left. Clemons' three with 4:27 left gave the Camels the lead for good.
Clemons made a tournament-record 18 field goals in 32 attempts.
Asheville led by as much as 14 points in the opening half as Campbell struggled to find an offensive compliment to its first-team all-Big South performer. The Bulldogs built a six-point lead on Ahmad Thomas' jumper at the 7-minute mark of the second, but Clemons followed by scoring nine straight Campbell points.
Big South freshman of the year Macio Teague played really well and finished with a team-high 22 points to pace five Bulldogs in double figures. Also for Asheville, Alec Wnuk was excellent off the bench (13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, nine rebounds and three assists with no turnovers).
Game 335 - (7) Binghamton at (2) Stony Brook
America East quarterfinals
March 1 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, NY
espn3.com
Lucas Woodhouse was named first-team all-conference before the tournament began, then went out and hit five 3-pointers on his way to 24 points and a 70-60 win for the 2 seed.
The senior guard, in his second season with the Seawolves after transferring from Longwood, led the way amongst the starters, while Akwasi Yeboah paced the reserves. Yeboah showed why he was an all-rookie team selection as the redshirt-freshman finished with career highs in points (21) and rebounds (16) in 26 minutes.
Yeboah came into the night averaging 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Stony Brook is the defending tournament champions and will host third-seeded Albany (100-71 winner over No. 6 Hartford in the quarterfinals) in Monday's semifinals.
March 1 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, NY
espn3.com
Lucas Woodhouse was named first-team all-conference before the tournament began, then went out and hit five 3-pointers on his way to 24 points and a 70-60 win for the 2 seed.
The senior guard, in his second season with the Seawolves after transferring from Longwood, led the way amongst the starters, while Akwasi Yeboah paced the reserves. Yeboah showed why he was an all-rookie team selection as the redshirt-freshman finished with career highs in points (21) and rebounds (16) in 26 minutes.
Yeboah came into the night averaging 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Stony Brook is the defending tournament champions and will host third-seeded Albany (100-71 winner over No. 6 Hartford in the quarterfinals) in Monday's semifinals.
Game 334 - (14) Arkansas women vs. (11) Florida
SEC first round
March 1 at Bon Secours Wellness Center in Greenville, SC
SEC Network
This game went from a possible Arkansas upset to a fairly-comfortable Florida win thanks to a dominant third quarter stretch for the Gators.
Led by first-team all-SEC member Ronni Williams, Florida turned a two-point deficit into a 47-35 lead with a 14-0 run over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the period and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 71-61 victory.
Williams scored 10 of the points during the run, including a pair of strong drives that led to lay-ins, a short jumper with her off hand and a steal and lay-up. Williams, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, appears more than ready to move on to the WNBA, and draftsite.com projects the 6-0 forward as a second-round selection in next month's draft.
Florida's defense was excellent as well, holding the Razorbacks to 34% shooting, picking up a season-high-tying 10 blocked shots and winning the rebounding battle 50-32.
Nice night also for Florida junior Dyandria Anderson, who did a lot of everything with 19 points (on 7-of-10 shooting), nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Arkansas forward Jessica Jackson, which draftsite.com projects as being selected three spots ahead of Williams, had a really difficult day, hitting just three of her 16 shots for a team-high 10 points before fouling out. The Razorbacks finished a 13-17 season having lost their final 11 games.
March 1 at Bon Secours Wellness Center in Greenville, SC
SEC Network
This game went from a possible Arkansas upset to a fairly-comfortable Florida win thanks to a dominant third quarter stretch for the Gators.
Led by first-team all-SEC member Ronni Williams, Florida turned a two-point deficit into a 47-35 lead with a 14-0 run over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the period and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 71-61 victory.
Williams scored 10 of the points during the run, including a pair of strong drives that led to lay-ins, a short jumper with her off hand and a steal and lay-up. Williams, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, appears more than ready to move on to the WNBA, and draftsite.com projects the 6-0 forward as a second-round selection in next month's draft.
Florida's defense was excellent as well, holding the Razorbacks to 34% shooting, picking up a season-high-tying 10 blocked shots and winning the rebounding battle 50-32.
Nice night also for Florida junior Dyandria Anderson, who did a lot of everything with 19 points (on 7-of-10 shooting), nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Arkansas forward Jessica Jackson, which draftsite.com projects as being selected three spots ahead of Williams, had a really difficult day, hitting just three of her 16 shots for a team-high 10 points before fouling out. The Razorbacks finished a 13-17 season having lost their final 11 games.
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