Southern Illinois Downs Missouri State, College Scores

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Published on March 6 2015 6:39 am
Last Updated on March 6 2015 7:30 am

ST. LOUIS -- Deion Lavender scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds to help lead ninth-seeded Southern Illinois past eighth-seeded Missouri State 55-48 in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Thursday night. Anthony Beane and Sean O'Brien each added 10 points for the Salukis (12-20), who will play top-seed Wichita State on Friday. Thursday was the fifth time in six years Southern Illinois has played in an opening round "play-in game." They are 3-4 overall in the first round.

 

Belmont Downs Eastern Illinois

NASHVILLE – Belmont shot 59 percent to open the game hitting their first six shots from the floor as they beat Eastern Illinois 97-64 in the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament played Thursday night at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
EIU falls to 17-14.  Belmont improved to 20-10 and will play No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky in the OVC semifinals on Friday night.
Belmont opened the game making its first six shots as the Bruins jumped out to a 15-0 run hitting three 3-pointers with Craig Bradshaw scoring five early points.

EIU scored its first points on a bucket by Luke Piotrowski with 15:56 to play to end the 15-0 Belmont run.  The Bruins answered with four straight free throws before EIU could find any offensive rhythm.

EIU cut the lead to 32-19 on a quick 5-0 spurt with a 3-pointer by Reggie Smith and a lay-up by Josh Piper.  Smith had three first half 3-pointers and finished the game with 17 points.

Belmont answered with a barrage of 3-pointers as the Bruins led 47-24 at the half.  Belmont was 9-of-15 from 3-point range in the first half after going just 7-of-43 from 3-point range during the loss to EIU in Charleston in early January.  Belmont finished the game 16-of-26  from 3-point range.
Cornell Johnston ended the half and a 13-0 Belmont run with a lay-up with 20 seconds to play.  Johnston the OVC Freshman of the Year scored 11 points after scoring 22 in the opening round win over SIU Edwardsville.

Belmont continued its hot shooting in the second half extending the lead to 28 points on an Evan Bradds lay-up with 18:09 to play as Belmont led 52-24.  EIU was able to cut the lead under 20 points on a Smith 3-pointer with 13:07 to play.  

Belmont answered with another 13-0 run with Amanze Egekeze and Nick Smith both sinking 3-pointers.   Egekeze and Smith were two of five Belmont players to score in double figures.  Egekeze had 12 and Smith added 14.

Trae Anderson had 13 points for EIU.

Bradshaw and Bradds rounded out the double figure scorers for Belmont.  Bradshaw led all players with 23 and Bradds finished with 14.  Mack Mercer was the final Belmont player in double figures with 10 points.


(6) Wisconsin 76, Minnesota 63

Wisconsin wasn't about to let up after clinching at least a tie for the Big Ten title last weekend.The Badgers had plenty of red-clad support with them on the road for inspiration. There was a certain 7-footer with all kinds of skills who helped a lot, too. Frank Kaminsky had 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting plus seven assists, Sam Dekker added 20 points and No. 6 Wisconsin became regular season conference champions with a 76-63 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.


(18) Arkansas 78, South Carolina 74

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson wasn't comfortable up 20 points and wasn't worried down 11. He knew the best Razorback team in nearly two decades had the poise to pull this game out. No. 18 Arkansas (24-6, 13-4 Southeastern Conference) beat South Carolina 78-74 on Thursday night by scoring 18 of the final 21 points of a wild game. The win clinches second place in the SEC for the Razorbacks, who came into the league in 1992 as an elite team, but have spent plenty of time since in the basketball wilderness. The 24 wins this season are the most since 1996-97.


(5) Arizona 99, California 60

TUCSON, Ariz. -- T.J. McConnell heard the chants echo through McKale Center. "M-V-P, M-V-P." In the next-to-last home game of his college career, the senior point guard showed why he's considered one of the top candidates for Pac-12 player of the year, matching his career best with 11 assists -- without a turnover -- in No. 5 Arizona's 99-60 rout of California on Thursday night.

 

(13) Utah 67, Washington  State 59

Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak didn't think there was anything pretty about his team's victory over Washington State, except the outcome. Delon Wright scored 18 points and Jordan Loveridge added 16 as the 13th-ranked Utes rallied to beat Washington State 67-59 on Thursday night. Utah trailed early in the second half, but closed the game with a 26-11 run to remain in second place in the Pac-12.


Thursday, March 5 Scoreboard

(5) Arizona 99, California 60

(6) Wisconsin 76, Minnesota 63

(13) Utah 67, Washington St 59

(18) Arkansas 78, South Carolina 74

Maryland-Eastern Shore 89, Morgan St 76

Siena 71, Niagara 54

Western Kentucky 88, Charlotte 84

Florida Atlantic 62, UAB 59

Southern Illinois 55, Missouri St 48

 

Friday, March 6 Schedule (All Times Central)

Southern Illinois vs (8) Wichita State, noon

Bradley vs (11) Northern Iowa, 6:05 p.m.

Texas Tech at (14) Baylor, 8 p.m.

Morehead St vs (25) Murray State, 6:30 p.m.