BookMaker Sports News - Latest US and International Sporting News

Nuggets handle Hornets to gain ground in West

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:07:12 GMT

"I was going for 20 (rebounds). That was my goal," Anthony said. "I knew we were going to need it." Nene added 20 points and J.R. Smith 17 for Denver, which took a half-game lead over Dallas for the No. 2 seed in the West. The Nuggets, who won for the eighth time in nine games, won their seventh in a row at home and moved to 30-5 this season at the Pepsi Center.

Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton each scored 15 for the Hornets, who are likely not to make the playoffs. They're now 8 1/2 games behind eighth-place Portland with Houston and Memphis in between.

Smith's jumper lifts Wake Forest over Texas in OT

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:27:28 GMT

The ninth-seeded Demon Deacons (20-10) trailed by a score of 76-68 with three minutes remaining but rallied back, as Smith's mid-range shot fell after Texas' Gary Johnson went 0-for-2 from the free throw line with 10 seconds left.

Smith ended with 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Wake Forest, which will next take on top-seeded Kentucky on Saturday. The Deacons, who have now won five games in overtime this season, received 20 points and 15 boards from Al-Farouq Aminu and 11 points apiece from Tony Woods and Ari Stewart.

Jayhawks pull away to down Lehigh

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:25:51 GMT

Morris also pulled down 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks (33-2), the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Sherron Collins finished with 18 points and six assists, Tyrel Reed drained four three-pointers to log 12 and Cole Aldrich totaled 11 points, eight boards and five blocks for Kansas, which also received 11 points from Xavier Henry.

Martinez, Gary help New Mexico hold on against Montana

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:03:04 GMT

Darington Hobson overcame a scary fall in the first half and finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the third-seeded Lobos (30-4), who will play Washington on Saturday. The Huskies earned a dramatic 80-78 win over Marquette earlier Thursday at HP Pavilion.

This the first time the Lobos have won an NCAA tourney game since 1999, when they beat Missouri in the first round before falling to eventual champion Connecticut in round two.

Lewis leads Magic to OT win over Heat

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:07:20 GMT

Lewis, who posted 12 total points in three games before Wednesday's 20-point outburst against San Antonio, finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who remain the NBA's hottest team with their 10th win in 11 games.

Vince Carter led five Orlando players in double figures with 27 points, while Jameer Nelson had 15. Matt Barnes posted 13 points and nine boards, and Dwight Howard checked in with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Pondexter's heroics send Huskies past Marquette

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:22:17 GMT

Pondexter, who had 18 points, dribbled to his left, past Marquette forward Jimmy Butler and then leaned in for a double-clutch shot that fell. Lazar Hayward's heave from center court was off the mark and the Huskies (25-9) advanced to play Saturday against either third seed New Mexico or 14th-seeded Montana.

Isaiah Thomas scored 19 and Elston Turner added 14 for the No. 11 seeded Huskies, who were coming off winning the Pac-10 tourney last weekend. It's the second straight year and fourth consecutive time Washington has made it to the second round.

Bassett and Ohio upset Georgetown

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:51:12 GMT

3 seed Georgetown, 97-83, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

D.J. Cooper added five threes as well on the way to 23 points while collecting eight assists for Ohio (22-14), which continued an improbable postseason run as the Mid-American Conference's tourney champ.

Deep three in final seconds propels Northern Iowa past UNLV

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:43:21 GMT

Farokhmanesh finished 5-of-9 from beyond the arc for a game-high 17 points. Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored 13 points and dished out four assists for the Missouri Valley Conference champion Panthers (29-4), who are seeded ninth in the Midwest Region.

Adam Koch, the MVC Player of the Year, had 11 points, while Jordan Eglseder added nine and 10 rebounds in Northern Iowa's second tourney win in school history and first since 1990.

Pistons' Stuckey cleared to return Friday

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:02:57 GMT

Stuckey has missed the last six games after collapsing on the bench of a March 5 game at Cleveland. He was taken away on a stretcher and then spent time in a hospital,buttests for any possible life-threatening condition have reportedly come back negative.

Stuckey and Ben Wallace participated fully in practice Thursday and both are expected to be on the court against the Pacers. Wallace hasn't played in the last eight games due to a sore right knee. He is averaging 5.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 60 contests this season.

Saint Mary's ends tourney drought with win over Richmond

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:12:59 GMT

Mickey McConnell hit five three-pointers and finished with 23 points, while Clint Steindl made 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and donated 11 points for Saint Mary's (27-5), which earned the 10th seed in the South Region and will meet second-seeded Villanova in the second round on Saturday. The Wildcats escaped with a 73-70 overtime win against No.

15 seed Robert Morris earlier on Thursday.

Mack carries Butler past UTEP

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:12:54 GMT

Gordon Hayward sank 9-of-11 free throws on his way to 13 points, and Matt Howard added 11 points for the Horizon League-champion Bulldogs (29-4), who won their 21st consecutive game to extend the nation's longest winning streak.

They are in the tourney for the fourth consecutive year. Butler lost to LSU in the first round last year, but dominated the second half Thursday to take the victory and move into the second round in the West Region.

Onuaku out for Friday with quadriceps injury

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:04:39 GMT

Onuaku was hurt in the Orange's 91-84 loss to Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.

Head coach Jim Boeheim said Onuaku, who has been nursing the injury since then and has been reduced to limited duty in practices, will not suit up as the No. 1 seeded Orange take on 16-seed Vermont in Buffalo. Boeheim also was unsure in Onuaku could play on Sunday should Syracuse advance.

Kentucky clobbers ETSU in first-round matchup

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:04:05 GMT

Bledsoe went an incredible 8-of-9 from three-point range for the Wildcats (33-2), who will next take on the winner of Texas/Wake Forest on Saturday in an East Region matchup. Patrick Patterson went 9-of-10 from the field for 22 points, while John Wall posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists in the lopsided victory.

UK, appearing in this tourney for the 50th time, is beginning its road toward an eighth national championship, with its last coming in 1998 under now- Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. With one more win, the Wildcats can secure their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2005.

Kansas State pummels North Texas

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:01:54 GMT

Tristan Thompson had a game-high 28 points while Eric Tramiel contributed 11 points and eight rebounds for the Mean Green (24-9), who have lost in the first round in all three of their tournament appearances.

North Texas actually led early on as Tramiel's layup gave the team an 8-7 lead a bit over four minutes in. It was short-lived as Kelly drained a free throw a minute later and, a minute after that, Sutton put in a layup to give Kansas State a lead in never relinquished.

Let's play two: Fredette carries BYU over Florida in extra time

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:43:33 GMT

Michael Loyd Jr. chipped in a career-high 26 points for BYU (30-5), which last won an NCAA tourney game in 1993 as a seventh seed in the first round against SMU.

The Cougars, seeded seventh again this year, will next play Kansas State, which dominated North Texas, 82-62, in the second round on Saturday.

Last-second basket helps Murray State shock Vandy

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:42:50 GMT

After an inbound with 4.2 seconds left, Thomas got the ball near the top of the arc and dribbled inside the three-point line on the right side. He rose up, drilling the jumper over the outstretched arms of two Vanderbilt defenders to send the Racers into the second round in the West Region.

Isacc Miles had 17 points and six rebounds for Murray State (31-4), which got just its second-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Racers, who have won 22 of their last 23, will face either fifth-seeded Butler or No.12 seed UTEP in the second round.

Baylor gets by Sam Houston State

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:38:29 GMT

LaceDarius Dunn scored six of his 13 points during a game-sealing 8-0 run with under three minutes left, as the third-seeded Bears (26-7) advanced to Saturday's second round of the NCAA Tournament against Old Dominion, a 51-50 winner over Notre Dame in Thursday's opener at New Orleans Arena.

Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy each chipped in 10 points for the Bears, whose only loss in the past seven games came against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

Villanova avoids upset, edges Robert Morris in OT

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:27:31 GMT

Reynolds and Corey Fisher did not start for what Wright termed a "minor teaching point." Maalik Wayns started for Reynolds and Corey Stokes replaced Fisher for Villanova (25-7), which is the second seed in the South Region.

Mouphtaou Yarou turned in a solid game with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for the Wildcats, who will play either Richmond or Saint Mary's in the second round. Taylor King ended with 10 points.

Old Dominion edges Notre Dame

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:51:47 GMT

Carter finished with 11 points, while Frank Hassell carried the load with 15 points and nine rebounds for the Monarchs (27-8), who sat for nine days after capturing the Colonial Athletic Association crown on March 8th.

Old Dominion, which captured its first tourney win since 1995, will move on in the South Region and face either Baylor or Sam Houston State on Saturday.

Bracket Breakdown

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:51:50 GMT

If it is how a team finishes the season as opposed to how it starts the campaign that is most important, than there is really no justification for Villanova - which began the year on fire but faltered big time down the stretch - receiving a two-seed. On the flip side, not far from the Villanova campus, the Temple Owls, who won the Atlantic 10 regular and tournament titles and beat Villanova head-to-head, had to be disappointed when learning of their five-seed.

The Wildcats were handed a gift in the South Region (although it remains to be seen if they can capitalize on it), while the Owls have their w

Reynolds, Fisher held out of Villanova starting lineup

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:12:46 GMT

CBS Sports reported that head coach Jay Wright called it a "teaching point," but added that both will play Thursday.

Reynolds is Villanova's leading scorer, entering Thursday's game averaging 18.5 points in 31 games, while Fisher is second at 13.7 points per game.

West Regional action features Bulldogs against Miners

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:38 GMT

The good news for the Bulldogs is that they have all five starters back from last year's team which fell in the first round of the tourney against LSU, 75-71. Butler is playing in the event for the 10th time overall and is hoping to at least even its record in the tourney because as it stands now the squad is 8-9 since making its first appearance back in 1962.

The fifth-seeded Bulldogs ripped through the Horizon League yet again this season with a perfect record of 18-0 and are enjoying the longest win streak in the nation at a staggering 20 games. The most recent loss for the squad came back on December 22nd against UAB, another Conference USA program, by a score of 67-57 on the road.

Vols set sights on Aztecs in first-round action

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:36 GMT

The Aztecs have won nine of their last 10 games and included in that run is a victory over UNLV in the Mountain West Tournament title game on Saturday. It marked the third MWC Championship for SDSU, which is making its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2006. The Aztecs however, have yet to advance past the first round, although they came close in an 87-83 loss to Indiana in their last appearance.

On the flip side, the Vols received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after they were thrashed by Kentucky, 74-45, in the semifinals of the SEC Championship on Saturday. That loss obviously hurt the team's

Bears and Bearkats collide in South Regional action

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:32 GMT

The Bearkats set a school record this season for wins, grabbing 25 victories, surpassing the team's previous high of 23 set back in 2003 and 2008. The Bearkats claimed the regular-season and the tournament title in the Southland Conference, earning them just their second trip to the NCAA Tournament. The only other appearance for Sam Houston State in this event came in 2003 and the team was promptly dismissed by Florida in the first round, 85-55.

As for the Bears, this will be their sixth appearance in the Big Dance, and the second in the last three seasons. However, Baylor is just 3-7 all-time in this tournament. This season the Bears racked up an impressive 25-7 ledger and finished 11-5 in Big 12 action, The team's reward was th

Second-seeded Villanova takes on Robert Morris in first-round action

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:29 GMT

The Colonials will be making their second straight appearance in the Big Dance and the seventh overall in school history, which is the most by any team in Northeast Conference history. However, in the past NCAA Tournaments for Robert Morris the team is just 1-7. This season the Colonials tallied 23 overall victories and claimed their second straight NEC Tournament title.

The Wildcats will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which is one off the school mark of seven straight showings set from 1980 to 1986. This will be the 31st overall showing in the tournament for Villanova, which is 48-30 all-time. Last season the Wildcats made a tremendous run in the Big Dance, advancing to the Fina