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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.

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

Washington and Marquette meet in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:25 GMT

Up next for the winner of this contest is a second-round clash with either third-seeded New Mexico or 14th-seeded Montana.

Washington has lost its last 10 games against Big East Conference foes, not exactly a source of confidence heading into tonight's affair. The Huskies earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Pac-10 Conference Tournament title with three consecutive victories last week. They are 24-9 and are making their 14th appearance in the "Big Dance", posting a 15-15 record in their previous showings.

Wake Forest and Texas do battle in 2010 NCAA Tournament

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:22 GMT

Awaiting the winner of this tilt is a second-round matchup with either top- seeded Kentucky or 16th-seeded East Tennessee State.

Wake Forest is making its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row under third-year head coach Dino Gaudio. The Demon Deacons, who are 27-21 at this event all-time, earned an at-large bid after compiling a 19-10 record through the close of the ACC Tournament. They own six wins over the RPI top-50 teams and certainly have the talent to challenge the Longhorns.

Spiders and Gaels meet in South Region's first round

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:16 GMT

The Gaels are participating in their sixth NCAA Tournament this afternoon. Saint Mary's won its first-ever tournament game back in 1959 against Idaho, but after that it has been all downhill, as the team has dropped its last five contests in the Big Dance. This season the Gaels rolled through their competition, posting a 26-5 ledger, while also claiming the West Coast Conference Tournament title against Gonzaga.

The Spiders fell just short of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament title with a 56-52 loss to Temple in the championship game. Despite, the loss Richmond finished the season with an impressive 26-8 ledger, and the 26 victories tied a school record. That earned Richmond a spot in its eighth NCAA Tournament invitation and the team's first appearan

Midwest Regional affair pits Panthers against Rebels

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:14 GMT

For the second year in a row, the Panthers swept both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tourney titles to earn their spot in the Field of 65. UNI boasts a healthy 28-4 overall mark, helping the program to its highest seed ever in this event. The Panthers own a 1-5 all-time mark in the NCAA Tournament and are in search of their first win since 1990.

As for the Rebels, they earned their first at-large bid to the Big Dance since 2000 after falling short in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday. Overall, this is UNLV's 17th trip to the NCAA Tournament and its third in the past four years. The program is 33-15 all

Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:59 GMT

The Racers, the 13th seed in the West Regional, are in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th times, but the squad has just a single win to show for its efforts, thanks to a 78-75 triumph over NC State back in 1988. Other than that lone win, MSU has known nothing but disappointment in the event with a record of just 1-13 over the years.

In terms of 2009-10, Murray State lost just once in the last 22 games as it almost ran the table in the Ohio Valley Conference (17-1), capturing the regular-season title and the conference tournament crown with a 62-51 win over Morehead State.

Cougars and Gators collide in West Regional action

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:55 GMT

Florida is a 10 seed in the tourney, and the team kicked off the 2009-10 campaign with eight straight wins, but then hit the wall against SEC foes. The team nearly locked itself out of the NCAA Tournament with three straight losses to close out the regular season, but picked up a victory in the SEC Tournament before bowing to Mississippi State in a 75-69 final last Friday.

The Gators have made the Final Four four times in school history, with three of those coming with Billy Donovan as the head coach. In fact, it was Donovan who led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. The program is 22-7 in the tourney under his direction and 29-12 overall in 15 previous appearances.

Top-seeded Kansas opens tournament play against Lehigh

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:52 GMT

A heavy preseason favorite to win it all, Kansas certainly hasn't disappointed up to this point and enters the Big Dance as the No.1 overall seed. The Jayhawks, who have been ranked No.1 for a majority of the season, are 32-2 overall and are coming off a sweep of the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships. Kansas is now set to make its 39th NCAA Tournament appearance and 21st in a row, the longest active steak in the nation. The Jayhawks, who are a No.1 seed for the ninth time since 1979, are 84-37 all-time in the tourney and they have gone 24-2 over their last 26 first-round games.

As for the Mountain H

Grizzlies battle Lobos in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:49 GMT

The winner of this tilt will battle either sixth-seeded Marquette or 11th- seeded Washington on the hardwood.

Montana earned the Big Sky Conference's automatic bid to the "Big Dance" with a surprising victory over Weber State in the conference tourney title game. The Grizzlies, who are 22-9 overall, are making their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance, and they are 2-8 all-time in the event. They last took part in the NCAA Tournament back in 2006 and reached the second round.

No. 2 seed Kansas State begins tournament play against North Texas

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:39 GMT

Seeded second in the West Regional, the Wildcats tore through non-conference foes this season and ended with an overall mark of 26-7 under the direction of fiery head coach Frank Martin. However, KSU did have a serious probable trying to keep pace in the Big 12 Conference, and in-state foe Kansas, as the top team in the nation took care of the Wildcats in all three of their meetings, including the conference tournament championship game last weekend, 72-64.

K-State is 28-27 in this event over the years, landing in the Final Four four times and one title game, but the squad is just 1-2 in the Ford Center all- time.

Hoyas and Bobcats clash in Midwest Regional

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:36 GMT

As the ninth-seed, Ohio wasn't given much of a chance to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament, but the team defied all odds and won four straight games to claim its first title since 2005. It was a remarkable feat considering the Bobcats had gone just 7-9 in conference play during the regular season. The program is now set for its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where it has gone 4-12 all-time.

The Hoyas meanwhile, didn't need to win the Big East Tournament to move on to the Big Dance, but a deep run in the league championship event certainly helped in the seeding. Georgetown had l