NCAA Tourament: Purdue advances to Elite Eight, Michigan falls
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Down two to Tennessee with 2.7 seconds left, Purdue narrowly avoided a 5-second call before Carsen Edwards took a pass in the corner and heaved up a 3-point attempt that bounced off the rim.
But a whistle gave Edwards and the Boilermakers a reprieve.
Lamonte' Turner bumped into Edwards after he released the shot and the Big Ten's leading scorer went to the line for three free throws with 1.7 seconds left. Edwards missed the first, steadied himself, and knock down the next two to force overtime. Given a second chance to put away the Volunteers, the Boilermakers got it done.
Edwards finished with 29 points as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000, beating Tennessee 99-94 on Thursday night after blowing an 18-point lead.
"When I got to the free throw line, I was struggling all game," said Edwards, an 85.2 percent shooter who went 8 of 14 at the line in the game. "Being able to hit the last two was just a blessing. Just an opportunity, stepped up to get us some more time to play."
Texas Tech 63, Michigan 44:
ANAHEIM, Calif. - More than 24 minutes into the game, the nation's best defense had yet to allow its 20th point.
Yes, Texas Tech makes it tough on people. One more clamp-down job like this, and the Red Raiders will be D-ing up in the Final Four.
Jarett Culver's 22 points were a mere subplot in third-seeded Tech's takedown of Michigan in the West Region - a victory that set up an intriguing Elite Eight showdown against Gonzaga, which boasts the country's leading offense.
Texas Tech (29-6) is back to this point for the second straight year thanks to a shut-down job of epic proportions. The Raiders held an efficient-if-not-spectacular Michigan offense to 16 field goals, 32 percent shooting and only a single 3-point basket on 19 attempts - a clanker by C.J. Baird in mop-up duty that drooled in with 21.8 seconds left.
Only five players scored for Michigan, which was led by its brash playmaker, Iggy Brazdeikis, who finished with 17, most of which came well after the game was out of hand.
Gonzaga 72, Florida St. 58:
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Gonzaga is in the Elite Eight for the fourth time in history following a victory over Florida State in the opening West regional semifinal. Rui Hachimura scored 17 points to lead the top-seeded Bulldogs, while Brandon Clarke had 15 points and 12 rebounds as Gonzaga returned to the regional final for the second time in three seasons. Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell Jr. each scored 14 points for Gonzaga, which led most of the game. Florida State pulled within four with less five minutes to play but the Bulldogs closed with a 12-2 run and avenged last year's loss to the Seminoles in the regional semifinals.
Trent Forrest led fourth-seeded Florida State (29-8) with 20 points. The Seminoles advanced to the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1993, but fell one step short of another trip to the Elite Eight.
Virginia 53, Oregon 49:
Ty Jerome scored 13 points and put Virginia ahead for good by sinking a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:34 left as the top-seeded Cavaliers outlasted No. 12 seed Oregon in a South Region semifinal.
Oregon took a 45-42 lead on a Louis King 3-pointer with 5:43 left, but the Ducks wouldn't make another basket the rest of the night.
Virginia's victory snapped Oregon's 10-game winning streak. The Cavaliers will face No. 3 seed Purdue in the South Region championship game Saturday. Virginia is seeking its first Final Four appearance since 1984,