Sports

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ―



San Diego's Brandon Johnson, a 6-foot, play-making point guard, and Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, a 7-foot-3, shot-blocking center, shook hands at midcourt during pre-game introductions.

It was the only time the Toreros looked overmatched Friday.

De'Jon Jackson's pull-up jumper just inside the 3-point line with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime gave 13th-seeded San Diego a 70-69 victory over No. 4 seed Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament's West Regional.

It was the Toreros' first tournament victory in four tries and the second upset in as many games in Tampa.

San Diego (22-13) took advantage of strong inside play from Gyno Pomare, four 3-pointers from Johnson and Jackson's clutch shot to advance to the second round. The Toreros will play No. 12 Western Kentucky, which used a desperation 3-pointer to upend fifth-seeded Drake.

If Pomare (22 points on 10-of-12 shooting) and Johnson (18 points, five rebounds and four assists) play like they did against the Huskies, the small school known mostly for its scenic ocean views could be in for an extended stay in the tournament.

Jeff Adrien had 18 points and 12 rebounds for UConn, which heads home much earlier than expected and ends an inconsistent season with another up-and-down performance.

The Huskies (24-9) had an excuse in this one. They played most of the game without leading scoring A.J. Price, who injured his left knee in the first half and did not return.

The junior point guard landed awkwardly on his knee while driving to the basket with 9:39 to play in the first half. He was carried off the floor, examined on the bench and then helped to the locker room for more tests.

He briefly returned to the bench on crutches, but wasn't around for the start of the second half.


Western Kentucky 101, Drake 99 (OT)
West Bracket, Tampa

It was the shot of his life, and the shot of the tournament.

Ty Rogers hit a 3-pointer with three defenders in his face and no time on the clock, and 12th-seeded Western Kentucky stunned Drake 101-99 in overtime Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament's West Regional.

The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (28-5) overcame a 16-point deficit in the final 8 minutes of regulation and led 99-98 after Jonathan Cox's two free throws with 5.7 seconds to play. But Tyrone Brazelton raced across midcourt and kicked it to Rogers, whose 3 from the wing gave the Hilltoppers (28-6) their first tournament victory since 1995.

Brazelton finished with a career-high 33 points for Western Kentucky.

Cox had a career-high 29 points and 16 boards for Drake, which was making its first tournament appearance since 1971.

Butler 81, South Alabama 61
East Region, Birmingham

Maybe it's time to start noticing Butler.

Discounted by the selection committee, the Bulldogs opened the NCAA tournament with yet another win, beating South Alabama 81-61 Friday in the first round of the East Regional.

Pete Campbell scored 26 points and hit eight 3-pointers, including a last-second shot at the halftime buzzer that sent Butler sprinting off the court and the Jaguars hanging their heads.

Butler played like the 11th-ranked team in the nation, not a small school just happy to be in the field. It was the fourth straight time the Bulldogs advanced beyond the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs (30-3) set a school record with their 30th win, but more importantly answered the chorus of critics - including the NCAA tournament committee - who gave little credence to the Bulldogs' postseason street cred.

Davidson 82, Gonzaga 76
Midwest Region, Raleigh

Stephen Curry scored 30 of his 40 points in the second half and hit the tie-breaking 3-pointer with just over a minute left to lead Davidson to an 82-76 win over Gonzaga on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Jason Richards added 15 points and nine assists for Davidson, which extended the nation's longest winning streak to 23 games.

Tennessee 52, American 57
East Region, Birmingham

The second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers were outhustled nearly the entire game, but found their touch at the end and avoided a massive upset by breaking away from American 72-57 Friday in the first round of the East Regional.

Ahead 53-51 with 5:45 left, Tennessee (30-4) escaped from a team making its NCAA tournament debut. The Vols held the 15th-seeded Eagles to only one basket the rest of the way.
Miami 78, St. Mary's 64
South Region, Little Rock

Jack McClinton scored a career-high 38 points - 32 during a brilliant second half - and seventh-seeded Miami rallied for a 78-64 win over 10th-seeded Saint Mary's in the first round of the South Regional.

Friday's win gives Hurricanes coach Frank Haith a potential second-round matchup with second-seeded Texas, where Haith was an assistant under Rick Barnes for three seasons before taking over at Miami. 

Georgetown 66, UMBC 47
Midwest Region, Raleigh

Hibbert went over and around undersized UMBC all day, finishing with 13 points to lead the second-seeded Hoyas past the 15th-seeded Retrievers, 66-47 on Friday in the first round of the Midwest Regional.

Jonathan Wallace added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting and Austin Freeman finished with 11 for the Hoyas (28-5), who shot 51 percent and held UMBC scoreless for a 7-minute stretch in advancing to face 10th-seeded Davidson on Saturday.

Unlike fellow No. 2 seeds Tennessee and Duke, Georgetown had a relatively easy time throughout en route to its 18th win in its last 19 first-round games.

Texas 74, Austin Peay 54
South Region, Little Rock

A.J. Abrams scored 26 points for Texas, and he, Connor Atchley and Dexter Pittman nearly outscored Austin Peay on their own Friday in a 74-54 rout of the Governors in the first round of the South Regional. Abrams scored 18 on 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range, Atchley added 12 and Pittman 11 for the Longhorns.

At 29-6, Texas is now one victory away from matching the school record for wins. The 2005-06, which lost to LSU in the regional finals of the tournament, finished 30-7.

Ernest Fields led the Governors with 14 points, 10 in the second half. Todd Babington added 11.

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