Soko Wins C-USA Title, NCAA Recap

Alabama-Birmingham got a 66-48 victory over East Carolina on Saturday night, giving the Blazers the Conference USA regular-season championship. Ovie Soko had 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in 25 minutes, going 4/4 from the floor and 2/5 at the line. It is the first outright conference championship for the Blazers (22-7, 12-4) in 21 years, since the 1989-90 team won the Sun Belt Conference. UAB shared the Conference USA title in 2004 with four other teams.The victory gives the Blazers seven wins in the past eight games and bolsters their chances of making the NCAA tournament, though they are hurt by having no nonconference victories over a team in the top 50 of the RPI.

Elsewhere….
St. Bonaventure past Rhode Island 74-68 in the regular-season finale for both teams.Ogo Adegboye added 16 points for the Bonnies (16-13, 8-8 Atlantic 10 Conference), who clinched the No. 7 seed and a first-round home game in the upcoming conference tournament. Ben Eaves finished with an empty statline in 4 minutes. Adegboye played all 40 minutes, going 4/9 from the field and 6/11 at the line, whilst adding 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.

Justin Robinson scored 13 points to lead Rider to a 79-64 victory over Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals. Robinson went 3/11 from the floor and 4/4 at the line, whilst grabbing 2 rebounds and dishing 3 assists. Tom Pereira played 1 minute, finishing with an empty statline.

Saint Peter’s defeated Loyola (Md.) 70-60 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament semifinals. Shane Walker had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block on 3/6 shooting (7/8 at the line) in 32 minutes before fouling out.

Southern California held off Washington’s furious second-half rally for a 62-60 win on Saturday night. Matthew Bryan-Amaning played 37 minutes, going 5/11 from the floor and 1/3 at the line for 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks.

Santa Clara got a 76-68 victory over Loyola Marymount in the West Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals. Ashley Hamilton had 9 points. 9 rebounds and 1 block in 35 minutes before fouling out, going 2/6 from the floor and 5/10 at the line.

Kansas State held off Iowa State 67-55. Jamie Vanderbeken had 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in 32 minutes, going 3/7 from the floor (0/2 at the line).

College of Charleston defeated Elon 78-60 to advance to the Southern Conference tournament semifinals for the fifth consecutive year. Andrew Lawrence went 2/3 from deep for 6 points and 1 assist in 27 minutes. The Cougars, who will face Furman on Sunday, are the only league team to reach five consecutive semifinals, but have not won the tournament since 1999.

Stony Brook held off Albany (N.Y.) 67-61 in the first round of the America East Conference tournament. Danny Carter had 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 26 minutes, going 2/3 from the field (0/1 at the line).

South Dakota won over Houston Baptist 96-87. Ben Daniels had 3 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes, going 1/2 from deep.

New Mexico State got a 77-68 victory over Nevada. Patrick Nyeko played 21 minutes, going 2/2 from the field for 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal.

Fairfield turned in a record defensive performance at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in defeating Marist 55-31 in the quarterfinals. Menelik Watson had 3 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal in 15 minutes in the heavy loss, going 1/3 from the field and 1/2 at the line

Hartford won over Maine 66-63 in the quarterfinals of the America East Conference tournament. Alasdair Fraser played 12 minutes, going 0/1 from the field and 2/2 at the line for 2 points and 1 assist.

Seton Hall followed its upset of No. 15 St. John’s with an impressive 85-72 victory over Marquette. Aaron Geramipoor played a season high 13 minutes before fouling out, finishing 0/4 at the line to remain scoreless.

Providence got a come-from-behind 75-74 victory over Rutgers. Lee Goldsbrough registered a DNP.

Wofford past Appalachian State 69-56 in the Southern Conference tournament quarterfinals. Ryan Kilmartin registered a DNP.

UTEP defeated Southern Methodist 59-56. Myles Luttman registered a DNP.

Oral Roberts defeated North Dakota State 72-65. Mikey Manghum registered a DNP.

UCLA got a 58-54 overtime victory over Washington State. Chris McNamara registered a DNP.

Fordham beat Massachusetts 77-73 in the regular-season finale for both teams to snap a 41-game Atlantic 10 Conference losing streak. Fahro Alihodzic registered a DNP.

Friday 4th March
Appalachian State over Georgia Southern 65-57 in the opening round of the Southern Conference tournament on Friday. Ryan Kilmartin registered a DNP.

Elon advanced to the Southern Conference quarterfinals with an 85-74 victory over The Citadel. Morakinyo Williams registered a DNP.

North Carolina-Greensboro got a 71-64 win over Davidson in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament Friday. Ben Allison had 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal in 10 minutes, going 1/2 from the field and 2/2 at the line.