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Southern Mississippi
Four Seniors led Southern Mississippi to victory over Central Florida 77-53 in the opening round of the Conference- USA tournament on March 11.
Courtney Beasley and Jeremy Wise led the Golden Eagles with 19 points Beasley collected nine rebounds. R.L. Horton and Craig Craft added 16 points each and Craft got 11 rebounds, for a rebounding advantage of 38-25, grabbing 16 boards overall.
“In the first time-out, I thought there was good energy,” UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said. “We were playing pretty well defensively, pushing the ball hard, and doing some things we thought were good. Then, we just got away from it. We hit a dry spell and turned it over, I think, four out of seven possessions after that first media timeout.”
A.J. Tyler played for a career high 35 minutes, scoring 16 points on five-for-28 shooting from the three point line. He scored two three pointers and collected six rebounds for the knights.
“It was a struggle, but our lack of success in making shots got to our heads a little bit on the defensive end and affected our energy on defense,” UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said. “You can’t let that happen. You still have to play hard defensively. We’ve got to be able to make shots.”
Jermaine Taylor, who was awarded C-USA player of the year, shot five of 16 for 15 points and going one of eight from the arc. He averages 26.6 points per game and his 29.1 ppg conference average this season set a league high. This marks only the second time this season that he didn’t lead UFC in scoring.
Southern Mississippi shot for 46.6 percent from the field, holding UCF to 35.7 percent from the field and 17.9 percent from the arc.
“They did a good job of denying me the ball,” Taylor said. “It seemed like every time I got it, there were two or three guys on me. I had no choice, but to just give it up. When I did have a look, it really wasn’t falling.”
With 16:12 left in the first half, Taylor scored on a slam dunk to take the lead for the knights, but Southern Mississippi went on an 18-2 run, Craft netting three treys and 8 points. They finished the run at 22-10 with 8:49 left in the half, and lead by 17 points, taking a 42-25 lead into the break.
“We really struggled playing man defense on him (Taylor),” Southern Mississippi coach Larry Eustachy said. “He is really hard to guard. We started out with (Craig) Craft on him and he did a nice job. But I wanted to go to a zone on him quickly and just be really aware of where he was. When he came into somebody’s area in our 2-3 zone, they just matched up to him. We wanted their other players to beat us. If we were going to lose we didn’t want him to do it.”
The second half was dominated by Southern Misssissippi who lead by as much as 28 points.
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North Carolina
Seniors Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and Mike Copeland closed out the regular season with a bang when The North Carolina Tarheels beat the Duke Blue Devils 79-71, for their sixth win in their college careers, and third straight regular season title.
Hansbrough put 17 points on the score board for North Carolina. He had two treys and eight rebounds before he fouled out in the last 15 seconds. Danny Green recorded a record breaking 116 victories, while adding 12 points to the score. Bobby Frasor only played for 17 minutes but added 3 points. Mike Copeland, who had been on the bench due to injury, was allowed in the game for two minutes for Senior day.
“I think it’s very important for seniors to go out on a good note, and have a good memory going on their home floor,” said Green. “… And to go out with a winning record against Duke, that’s a great feeling.”
Ty Lawson, added 13 points, 8 rebounds and nine assists, Wayne Ellington went 7 for 10 shooting, adding 16 points, and Dean Thompson scored 14, to guarantee the seniors had a positive last game. “It makes it a whole lot easier when everybody is contributing on the offensive end of the floor. It makes us a lot more effective as a team. Guys can’t just focus on one player; they have to stop on all five of us. It just makes us a much better team.”
After a slow start at 0-2, UNC has won 13 of 14, recorded their ninth season with 13 wins or more, three in the last five years, and recorded the 27th ACC regular season championship.
“I am extremely proud of our team, we started off 0-2 and a lot of people were abandoning ship and criticizing our team a great deal and I told our team at Wake Forest that it was a long year and that we had to play today but we still have chances and I think that was the important thing and since those two games I think Ty Lawson was sensational,” UNC coach Roy Williams said.
Duke didn’t make it an easy win. Coming in on a five game winning streak, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler put 24 and 23 points up for Duke, respectively. Duke led at the half 39-38 in large part to 15 points by Singler, and cut the lead to one field goal several times in the game.
But during the second half, Duke was held to only 32 percent shooting and never caught up after a three pointer by Green with 17:45 left.
“Duke is a big time basketball team; we really had trouble guarding them particularly in the first half,” Williams said. “In the second half we got a little bit better but they also missed some shots. I think we always have to understand that when they miss some shots its not just our defense and we were very fortunate then. Our work on the backboards was big for us.
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Nebraska Cornhuskers
Toney McCray came off the bench to lead the Nebraska Cornhuskers to a 66-62 win over the Baylor Bears on March 7th, making this the fourth loss in five games for the Bears.
McCray came in after senior guard Sek Henry was injured in a collision with a Baylor player with 9:37 left to play in the first half. McCray shot seven of 10 and contributed four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks to the game. Not bad for his career high 27 minutes of play.
Ada Dagundo added 11 points for the Huskers.
LaceDarius Dunn put up 16, his highest since playing scoring 20 against Oklahoma for Baylor. Curtis Jerrels added 14, shooting 4 of 6 free throws, making this his 26th game in which he scored double doubles and ranking him as fifth in all time Baylor history.
“I think we can take a lot of things from this game.” Senior guard for Baylor, Henry Dugat said. “We can learn how to close this game out and have more stops on defense and also getting more second chance points. We didn’t get many second chance points. We need to get more offensive rebounds. Our guys are doing a good job down there, we just have to go down there and help them out a bit.”
Curtis Jerrells added 14, shooting Four of six free throws and Kevin Rogers added 10 to Baylor’s score.
“It was a close game all day. We had a chance at the end but we just didn’t capitalize on their mistakes,” Jerrells said.
Ryan Anderson sank a three pointer with 6:26 left on the clock, moving the lead to 44-42 and from that point on, the Huskers never trailed.
“That is always our key,” said McCray on keeping Baylor out of the lane. “We try to limit their touches in the lane and try to keep the ball outside and make them make jump shots, so I think we did that today.”
Josh Lomers handed the ball over at 1:59 left in the game, and Nebraska stretched the lead to 53-49 on a three pointer by McCray. Baylor shot 33.3percent from three point range and 51 percent from the field. But the Bears committed two devastating turnovers that Nebraska turned into 6 points, and fouls gave Nebraska’s chances at the charity line where they sank 12 for 13 free throws in the final two minutes.
“They are so difficult to play against. “Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. “They probably missed some three-pointers that they usually hit, but Jerrells is unbelievable. He hit those two big three’s late. We wanted to play him like we tried to play D.J. Augustin last year. Try to keep him out of the lane. It is hard to do for a 40 minute ball game. For the most part we did a decent job of it, but he broke us down, also on a couple of occasions. When he breaks you down, it is usually positive for Baylor. Overall I couldn’t be happier to hold a team like Baylor to 62 points. That is a credit to our guys.”
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Kansas Jayhawks
For the first time in the 13 year history of the Big 12 tournament, Kansas, the three time defending national champs, lost its opening game to Baylor 71-64. Baylor also defeated the only other top-seeded team, Iowa State in 2001, in its opening game.
Kansas had lost all of its starters for last year’s team, leaving Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins the only experienced players. Aldrich was held to only five shots, collecting eight points and 14 rebounds, while Sherron scored six of 20 from the field. 14 of his six points were scored in the second half.
Marcus Morris and Tyshawn Taylor added 12 each. “It’s disappointing,” he said. “We worked real hard to get here, and we let this one slip away from us.”
On Baylor’s side, LaceDarius Dunn scored six three pointers for a total of 24 against Kansas, and Kevin Rogers added 14 points and five rebounds.
“I think we just showed what we are capable of doing tonight,” Baylor guard Henry Dugat said. “A team like Kansas, defending national champs, we were able to come out and take care of business.
Dunn controlled the first half, sinking 11 points including three treys within the first 12 minutes of play. Cutis Jerrell netted another three pointer for a 30-13 lead. Aldrich responded by scoring 4 points off of offensive rebounds to start a 9-0 run before Taylor finished with a three pointer to narrow the gap to 37-33 at the half.
“We kept telling ourselves we can’t get down and just can’t give up,” said Dunn, who is constantly calling for the ball when he’s not defended. “We just kept fighting, and it turned out great for us.”
Two minutes into the second half, Collins scored two points on a layup and with 9:40 left in the game, Kansas and Baylor were tied after a three pointer by Reed landed in the net.
Dunn and Mamadou Diene combined to score 11 points before Reed and Collins score back to back three pointers with 3:24 left to trim the deficit to four.
“Well, I think Mamadou and Josh really stepped up and were huge today. And we were active in it. The big thing is we didn’t give up a lot of second-chance points. Kansas did get 12. But, again, they are a pretty good rebounding team, and we can live with that. We knew that was key coming in to keep them off the glass and for the most part, we did a pretty good job.”
Collins missed two chances to tie it up again when he shot a three pointer and was blocked by Dien at 1:57 on the clock, and again when with 12 seconds to go he turned over the ball.
“We didn’t end the Big 12 season like we wanted to, but we couldn’t hang our heads going into this,” Dugat said. “We knew coming into this that it was a new season and we had to leave it all on the line in order to accomplish what we needed to do.”
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Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils took the win over Florida State 79-69, for their ninth Atlantic Coast Championship in 12 years.
Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson scored 29 and 27 points, respectively, to lead their team with 5 steals, and only 4 turnovers. They out rebounded the Seminoles 35-34.
“We put in a lot of work to build this team to where it is today,” Henderson said. “This is such an accomplishment for us. We’ve waited a long time for it. It feels good.”
Florida’s horrible shooting, only landing five of 23 and 13 turnovers contributed to the loss.
Toney Douglas, who seemed to carry most of the team, led the Seminoles with 28 points and Chris Singleton added 15.
Florida’s final lead of the game came on a three pointer by Douglas to bring the Seminoles to 11-9 with 13:29 still left in the first half.
“We’re still a team that’s learning and in growth,” Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said. “We’re not quite as efficient on some areas like I think we will be after another year of experience.”
Douglas ignite a 15-7 run in the last seven minutes to cut Dukes lead to 42-36, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done.
“He’s my favorite non-Duke player in the country,” Krzyzewski said. “I love that guy. I talk about him a lot to our guys, and they’re probably mad at me for talking about him as much as I do. He’s as good as there is in college. He’s a kid I’d love to coach; no question about it.”
But the Devils answered with 14 straight points-all but two of which came from behind the three point line. Kyle Singler ended the run with three treys with eight minutes until the half for a 23-11 lead.
“They were shooting better from the three than they were from the two,” said Hamilton, the ACC’s Coach of the Year. “There were several times I thought we did a good job of contesting them. But great players make great plays.”
Going into the break Duke led 35-21, and Florida failed to take the lead in the second half.
Head coach Mike Kryzyzewski closed out his 30th year coaching on a good note. Duke has won 25 or more games for the 17th time under Kryzyzewski. They’ve shot the most three pointers of any team in the ACC. They’ve claimed the third seed in NCAA history 10 times, and celebrated three national championships. And now they have tied with rivals North Carolina for the most wins in the ACC. Each has 84.
“My class, the junior class, that’s been here the last two years, we know what it feels like to lose those N.C.A.A. games,” forward Lance Thomas said. “Come this time of the year, we’re not trying to feel that any more. I’ve felt it twice, and it’s not something I want to go out with. We want more.”
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Florida Gators
The Forida Gators swept the SEC series over the South Carolina Gamecocks for the first time in twelve years on April 24th at McKethan stadium.
Alex Panteliodis recorded the win allowing four runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out two.
“I thought Alex (Panteliodis) did well by throwing strikes,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We had a 7-0 lead after two innings. Sometimes, especially with young pitchers, you tell them over and over and over what they need to do. I was awfully proud of the way he competed and threw the ball in there. With the exception of a couple of misjudged balls in the outfield, I thought we did a great job defensively.”
With two runners left on base in the top of the first innings, South Carolina was unable to get the leadoff score and in the bottom half, Florida drove in four runs to take an early lead.
Three consecutive singles by Avery Barnes, Daniel Pigott, and Preston Tucker loaded the bases before Josh Adams added a single to drive in Barnes and Pigott.
Brandon Mcarthur flied out to right field, scoring Tucker. Teddy Foster was hit by a pitch and Buddy Munroe reached on a throwing error by third baseman Andrew Crisp, sending Adams home. With two outs and two on base, Mike Mooney flied out to close the inning.
Blake Cooper faced two batters in the bottom of the second. Barnes smacked a double before Pigott walked. They both advanced on a balk before Cooper was pulled, relieved by Adam Westmoreland.
Tucker walked and Adams singled to bring Barnes and Pigott home. Tucker scored on a fly out by Matt Den Dekker. Adams stole second but was unable to complete the circuit before the third out.
Florida added two runs in the fourth when Adams singled then advanced to second on a den dekker walk. Mcarthur singled before Foster was hit by a pitch to score Adams. Mooney walked to score Den Dekker.
South Carolina scored a much needed run in the fifth inning when DeAngelo Mack blasted a triple to center field then crossed the plate on a fly out by Jackie Bradley Jr.
South Carolina showed Florida that they were still in the game in the sixth, scoring four runs to narrow the margin to 5-9.
Crisp hit a double to open the inning, Kyle Enders walked, and Bobby Haney singled through the right side to load the bases, prompting Florida’s first pitcher change as reliever Greg Larson took the mound.
Whit Merrifield reached on a fielder’s choice, but the threat was stopped when Crisp was put out at home. But when Mack reached on a fielding error, South Carolina claimed three unearned runs.
Nick Ebert singled up the middle to score Mack before Bradley Jr. lined out for the third out.
The next three and a half innings were held scoreless on both sides.
Blake Cooper pitched one inning, facing two batters in the second, and giving up six runs on five hits, with one walk and no strikeouts.
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The Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs won the series opener against Ole Miss 6-3 on April 24th at Oxford University Stadium/Swayze field in front of 9,232 fans.
The Bulldogs opened the first inning to take the lead when Matt Cerione took advantage of an Ole Miss error to reach first. Colby May walked before rich Poythress popped a two RBI double, but the Rebels tied it up in the bottom of the half when Jordan Henry drew a walk to reach first before Logan Powers hit his fifth homer of the season.
Though Georgia didn’t get on the board in the next five innings, Trevor Holder only allowed two hits. Holder pitched six innings allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three.
“This one was tough,” Georgia coach David Perno said. “Trevor (Holder) was phenomenal after the first inning. We walked the leadoff guy in eight and ninth, but we were still able to win. Our home run was worth four runs and their two were worth three. We didn’t get any help anywhere else in the league tonight but we took care of business. To come here in this environment and win was quite an experience.”
Neither team scored again until the seventh inning. In the top of the inning Michael Demperio singled to left field and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Cerione.
A pitching change brought the Rebels reliever David Goforth to the mound. Goforth tossed a fly out to May and Demperio moved to third. Rich Poythress was intentionally walked and Bryce Massanari drew a walk to load the bases.
Joey Lewis smacked a grand slam homer for the tie-breaker.
The home run marked Lewis’s 13th of the season.
Kyle Henson came back in the bottom of the eighth to smack a two out solo homer. Wil Harvel threw two walks in his 1.2 innings before Dean Weaver put an end to the threat.
Weaver pitched the last 1.1 innings, allowing one walk, and was credited for his ninth save of the season.
Drew Pomeranz suffered the loss. He allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits, struck out eight and walked two in his 6.1 innings of play.
“It was a great college baseball game and one Georgia deserved to win,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We left too many base runners on and they were able to get the big hits. The home run in the seventh was the deciding thing and just knocked the wind out of us after we had pitched so well. At the end of the day, they got the hits and we didn’t. We left too many runners on.”
Poythress went 3-3 with two doubles, two RBI and a walk, for Georgia, while Levi Hyams and Peter Verdin each added one for Ole Miss.
Although four of the six runs by Georgia were from Lewis’s grand slam, Georgia outhit the Rebels 11-4.
All three of the Ole Miss runs came off of homers.
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LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers swept the series against Auburn 7-6 in front of 5,998 fans on April 26th at Alex Box stadium.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a Mikie Mahtook single to left center and advanced to second when Micah Gibbs walked.
Buzzy Haydel doubled to score Mahtook. Austin Nola was hit by a pitch before Schimpf reached on a fielder’s choice to send Gibbs across the plate. Auburn answered in the third when Casey McElroy singled up the middle before crossing the plate on a homer by Hunter Morris.
Auburn cushioned their lead, 4-2 in the fifth when Trent Mummey singled to the right side then advanced to second on Hargett’s ground out to first base. McElroy singled to left advancing Mummey to third and prompting a pitching change.
Paul Betuccini threw .1 inning, striking out Morris before giving up a run to Mummey as he advance McElroy on a wild pitch, walked Ben Jones then hit Brian Fletcher to load the bases, resulting in the run.
Daniel Bradshaw relieved Bertuccini, walking Wes Gilmer for the second run as McElroy crossed the plate.
Tony Caldwell fouled for the third out and LSU came back to score four runs in the bottom half to take the lead, 6-4.
“We had the bases loaded a couple of times with some of the middle of the lineup guys up and we weren’t able to manufacture even one run,” Auburn head coach, John Pawlowski said. “We had a couple of big strikeouts just when we didn’t need them. When LSU needed to make a pitch, they made a pitch. When they needed to make a play, they made a play. They were certainly better than us this weekend.”
Jared Mitchell singled to right center and Blake Dean walked. Bradley Hendrix replaced Dexter Price on the mound before Dean stole second and Mitchell stole third. Then Tyler Hanover beamed a homer to score Dean and Mitchell.
LSU added a run in the sixth as Mitchell scored another run on a single by DJ LeMahieu.
Auburn rallied for two in the eighth but was unable to pull ahead. The inning opened as Mummey was hit by a pitch and Hargett walked, prompting the fourth change in pitchers of the game.
McElroy singled through the left side and after Jones struck out Morris and Chad Jones, Ott was called to the mound.
Brian Fletcher tagged a single off of Ott to score Hargett and Mummey.
“Tyler Hanover gave us the big hit of the game when we were down 4-2,” LSU head coach Paul Mainieri said. “He hit the three-run homer to give us the lead. Daniel Bradshaw did a pretty good job for a couple of innings there, but he kind of lost it in the eighth inning, so I pulled out the secret weapon (Jones).
Bradshaw was credited with the win allowing two runs on three hits while walking three.
Bradley Hendrix was burdened with the loss in his 1.1 innings of play. He allowed three runs on four hits, striking out two.
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Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns snapped a four game losing skid, holding the Texas State Bobcats to only six hits in nine innings, in front of 5,495 fans on April 28th at UFCU Disch-Falk field.
At the top of the first innings, Longhorns starting pitcher Brandon Workman hit Tyler Sibley who then advanced to second, when the next batter, Bret Atwood grounded out, resulting in a score by Sibley on a single up the middle by Keith Prestridge.
The Longhorns offense took control in the bottom half with a two run homer by Brandon Belt to send Travis Tucker across the plate.
Workman walked Ben Theriot to open the second inning, and Theriot advance to second when Kyle Livingstone grounded out. He advanced again during a fly out by Kyle Kubitza. Jason Martinson was walked to leave runners at the corners before Sibley singled and Theriot crossed the plate.
It was the last time Texas State would score. Workman was relieved by Stayton Thomas at the mound and Thomas pitched five scoreless innings, with three hits and two strikeouts. The Longhorns added 10 runs over the next seven innings.
Kevin Lusson led Texas, going 4-4 with one walk and contributing two doubles, two RBI and five runs, all career highs.
Conner Rowe drove in three and hit his third double of the season while Tucker and Brandon Loy each added two hits a piece.
Lusson singled to the right side in the bottom of the second followed by a single by Loy. Preston Clark tapped a sacrifice bunt to advance Lusson and Loy then Loy moved to third on a wild pitch as Lusson crossed the plate.
Rowe singled to bring Loy home, and Torres grounded out into a double play before heading into the third inning.
Lusson crossed the plate again in the fourth when he smacked a double before Rowe also doubled to send him over the plate.
Two more runs exaggerated the lead in the sixth inning when once again, Lusson crossed the plate on a single by Rowe. Tucker walked to score Clarke.
In the seventh inning, Tim Maitland scored a run when Kevin Keyes singled up the middle. A single by Clare drove in Lusson for a 8-2 score.
Texas didn’t stop in the eighth, adding three runs to their already substantial lead. Jordan Eitier singled then advanced to second as Belt walked. Lusson grounded into a double play to put out Belt. Maitland was hit with a pitch before Lusson singled to score Etier. With two outs and two on base, Loy smacked a double to drive in Maitland and Lusson.
Thomas picked up the win, moving his record to 2-0. Andrew McKirahan closed out the game, pitching the remaining two innings holding Texas State to no runs on one hit and walking two.
Garrett Carruth suffered the loss, pitching 3.2 innings before the mound saw seven changes in pitchers. He allowed five runs on eight hits, striking out two to snap a 12 game winning streak for the Bobcats.
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Alabama Crimson Tide
Jake Smith led the Alabama Crimson Tide with two runs and five RBI to an 11-6 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in front of 4,145 fans on April 24th in the series opener at Sewell-Thomas stadium.
Smith’s grand slam in the seven run eighth inning was the sixth of the year for the University of Alabama and the second for Smith. It stretched his season record to 15 home runs, and marked his fourth go-ahead home run of the season.
Kentucky came into the second inning to score first on a homer by Chris Wade. The Tide responded by taking advantage of two wild pitches to advance Kent Matthes and Smith who scored the only two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a one point lead.
Matthes opened the bottom of the inning, smacking a double to left center before he moved to third on a wild pitch with Brandon May up to bat. Smith followed with a single and advanced to second as Wes Henderson was struck out. Vin Difazio hit a double to drive Smith home.
The third inning landed Kentucky’s Bryan Rose on first when he was hit by a pitch with one out before Chad Wright drove Rose home with his third homer of the season.
Matthes added a homer to his leading NCAA record with his 23rd career home run in the sixth inning, giving Alabama a 4-3 lead.
Kentucky took their second lead of the night as Mcclendon singled, then scored on a double by Nidiffer. Nidiffer crossed the plate on a throwing error by second baseman Chris Besson. Another single by Wright prompted a pitching change as Nathan Kilgrease came in for Hyatt.
Hyatt pitched six innings allowing five runs on seven hits, and striking out seven. He allowed no walks, stretching his record to no walks in the last 27.1 frames.
Kentucky added one run in the top of the eighth to take the lead at 6-4.
The cushion wouldn’t last Clint Tilford came in to relieve James Paxton at the mound, giving up seven runs on five hits. He struck out one and walked two.
Tilford started off to foul out Rutledge but the next five batters landed on base, one on a walk. Wilson opened the rally with a single to left field. Matthes walked, then May singled to load the bases with one out.
Smith made it count as he smacked a homer to left center to drive in Wilson, Matthes and May.
With empty bases, Tilford walked Difazio, who reached third on a single by Alex Kubal. Tilford tossed a wild pitch to Taylor Dugas, scoring Difazio. Rutledge smacked the game ending single to score Dugas and Kubal before ending the inning trying to steal second.
Kilgrease held Kentucky to no score in the ninth to pick up his first SEC win in his 2 2/3 innings of relief.
Tilford suffered his fourth loss of the year, erasing a solid 7 innings performance by James Paxton who struck out 11 alabama batters and allowing four runs on six hits.
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