Friday’s results
MIAMI (FLA.) 78 ST. MARY’S (CALIF.) 64
Jack McClinton scored a career-high 38 points in seventh-seeded Miami’s win over 10th-seeded St. Mary’s. And here’s a scary thought: McClinton might not have been at full strength. In the second half, the score was McClinton 32, St. Mary’s 32. Miami (23-10) missed all six of its three-point attempts in the first half, but McClinton alone made three in the second. When St. Mary’s (25-7) pulled within 64-56, McClinton calmly sank a three.
TEXAS 74 AUSTIN PEAY 54
A.J. Abrams scored 26 points for second-seeded Texas, and he, Connor Atchley and Dexter Pittman nearly outscored 15th-seeded Austin Peay on their own in the rout. Abrams was 6 of 10 from three-point range, Atchley added 12 points and Pittman 11 for the Longhorns. At 29-6, Texas is a victory from matching the school record for wins. Ernest Fields led the Governors (24-10) with 14 points.
MISSISSIPPI ST. 76 Oregon 69
Charles Rhodes scored a career-high 34 points and the eighth-seeded Bulldogs (23-10) came back from a 13-point second-half deficit for the victory over ninth-seeded Oregon (18-14). Mississippi State trailed 41-28 after Malik Hairston’s three-pointer at the start of the second half, but Oregon didn’t make another three until the final seconds, finishing 9-for-38 and 2 of 21 after halftime. Hairston scored 22 points for the Ducks.
MEMPHIS 87 TEX.-ARLINGTON 63
No. 1 seed Memphis (34-1) hit 9 of 20 three-pointers and was led by guard Chris Douglas-Roberts’ 23 points. Antonio Anderson and Simeon’s Derrick Rose each added 17. 16th-seed Texas-Arlington (21-12) was led by Anthony Vereen’s 20 points. It took 49 years of Division I play for Texas-Arlington (21-11) to earn its first trip to the tournament and it ending quickly.
SATURDAY’S MATCHUPS
Broadcast on WBBM-Ch. 2
Marquette (25-9)
Stanford (27-7)
5:45 p.m.
LINE: Stanford by 3
Stanford has the beef in big twins Brook and Robin Lopez, but Marquette sees plenty of big bruisers in the Big East. The Cardinal flexed its muscles in a 77-53 first-round rout of Cornell, while Marquette had a slightly tougher challenge in beating Kentucky 74-66. The key for this game will be how well Cardinal point guard Mitch Johnson keeps up with the Warriors’ fleet of speedy guards. Tempo will be key. Marquette will try to run, while a game in the 50s or low 60s favors Stanford.
Michigan State (26-8)
Pittsburgh (27-9)
8 p.m.
LINE: Pittsburgh by 2
Perhaps the best matchup of the day. These are big, physical teams that can bang and guard. Michigan State got contributions from its deep bench Thursday to overwhelm Temple 72-61. It will need a better performance from guard Drew Neitzel, who was 2-for-11 from the field in the first round. Pitt has won six consecutive games, including its 82-63 first-round blowout of Oral Roberts. The Panthers never have won more than two games in any NCAA tournament, but their recent play in winning the Big East tournament suggests they are a real threat.
