Yahoo Sports Staff
Conference championship Saturday scores, highlights: Houston, UNC stumble in title games
Selection Sunday is nearly upon us and bids are at stake as conference championships play out.
Before the Madness begins, a jam-packed slate of Saturday action delivered as teams punched their tickets to the Dance.
With 13 conference final games and NCAA tourney implications abound, there's plenty to monitor. Wisconsin won a thriller over Purdue to advance to the Big Ten final. No. 2 UConn outlasted No. 10 Marquette in the Big East tourney final, making a case for itself to be the No. 1 overall seed. No. 7 Iowa State delivered perhaps the most shocking result of the day, blasting No. 1 Houston 69-41 in the Big 12 title game.
Here's the full schedule of conference tournament finals today:
America East: Vermont 66, UMass Lowell 61
MEAC: Howard 70, Delaware State 67
Big 12: Iowa State 69, Houston 41
Mountain West: New Mexico 68, SDSU 61
Big East: UConn 73, Marquette 57
MAAC: Saint Peter's 68, Fairfield 63
MAC: Akron 62, Kent State 61
ACC: NC State 84, UNC 76
Conference USA: Western Kentucky 78, UTEP 71
Pac-12: Oregon 75, Colorado 68
Big West: Long Beach State 74, UC Davis 70
SWAC: Grambling State 75, Texas Southern 66
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Final: Grambling State 75, Texas Southern 66
Grambling State earns its first NCAA tournament berth in program history by winning the SWAC tournament!
GRAMBLING IS #MARCHMADNESS BOUND π€©
The Tigers win the SWAC championship to punch their ticket ποΈ pic.twitter.com/1UznrkXm2Uβ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: Long Beach State 74, UC Davis 70
The Beach wins the Big West title and earns the autobid, which is especially interesting because Long Beach head coach Dan Monson was told he's out as coach after this season. Not don
TICKET PUNCHED! ποΈ
Long Beach State wins The Big West Championship! pic.twitter.com/w41pJsCatJβ The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: Oregon 75, Colorado 68
Oregon is NCAA tournament bound! Ducks pull off an unlikely Pac-12 tournament title to likely steal a bid.
N'Faly Dante was the hero for the Ducks, scoring 25 on 12 of 12 (!!!) shooting, along with 9 rebounds, 3 steals and a block.
OREGON WINS THE PAC-12 TITLE π
The Ducks are back in the dance once again πΊ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/EVyytu8Oeeβ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
N'Faly Dante has 23 points to lead Oregon. None bigger than these two so far:
HUGE throwdown by N'Faly Dante! π¨@OregonMBB pic.twitter.com/K0E9SwdvDg
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Back and forth the Ducks and Buffs go. Oregon leads 66-62 with 2:42 to play. Can the Ducks close it out? A lot on the line in Vegas.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Pac-12 final has been a tight one all game. Oregon is bubble team and may need this win to reach the Big Dance.
What a DIME! ππ@CUBuffsMBB pic.twitter.com/tBRC0kIOby
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: NC State 84, UNC 76
The Wolfpack win after an extended finish to the game. DJ Horne is the hero with 29 points, but DJ Burns made a name for himself tonight. The big fella finishes with 20 points and 7 assists.
2024 ACC CHAMPIONSπ pic.twitter.com/f7Li2ZhPjA
β NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
UNC had an opening to cut it to four points just now, but multiple 3-pointers missed the mark. Just 91 seconds left in this one.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
With just a few minutes left, NC State has extended its lead to double digits. The Wolfpack are looking very much like bid thieves here.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Wolfpack are holding it down in Washington D.C.
What a takeβΌοΈ
πͺπͺ
πΊ: ESPN pic.twitter.com/SmI476iVBAβ NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: Oregon 33, Colorado 30
Back-and-forth game so far for the Pac-12 title. Ducks finished the first half on a nice run to take the lead.
Oregon takes the lead! π€@OregonMBB pic.twitter.com/EmgrakpQ1q
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
We're under 10 minutes left in the ACC title game and the Wolfpack is still in front by five.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: Saint Peter's 68, Fairfield 63
The Peacocks punch their NCAA tourney ticket with a win in the MAAC final.
TICKET PUNCHED! ποΈ
Saint Peterβs wins the MAAC Championship! pic.twitter.com/gHYtT7ui0Xβ The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: Akron 62, Ken State 61
Brutal ending in the MAC final for Kent State, which took a 1-point lead with 6 seconds left, then Julius Rollins made a huge mental error by fouling Akron. Zips hit both free throws to win it.
Akron is headed to the NCAA tournament, while Kent State has to be sick about falling just short.
(8) Kent Stateβs Julius Rollins forgets the situation and FOULS UP 1 WITH 4.8 left and gives Akron the lead back in the MAC Championship. WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN?!!! (video via @cjzero) pic.twitter.com/sJmVgJRL8u
β NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Meanwhile, the Buffs are stringing together a nice little bit of offense.
Luke O'Brien splashes through the triple to make it a 10-0 Buffs run πͺ@CUBuffsMBB pic.twitter.com/FY0OjSUA1t
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Wolfpack is right back at it in the second half, getting to the rim at will. They're shooting over 60 percent from the field in the game.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: UNC 40, NC State 39
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Tar Heels battled their way back and tied it up with a few minutes before halftime. But NC State's DJ Burns Jr. pulled up from deep with his 1st career 3-pointer to give the Wolfpack the lead again.
160th career game
1st career 3 π€·
πΊ: ESPN pic.twitter.com/mAliix3Gecβ NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
NC State off to a scorching start in the ACC title game, leading UNC 14-4 at the first media timeout.
3J π―
πΊ: ESPN pic.twitter.com/HTOhg5m6sdβ NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
In non-tournament news...
BREAKING: Ohio State is targeting Jake Diebler for the permanent job, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Diebler took over and did a terrific job, leading the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record after taking over following the departure of Chris Holtmann.β Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: UConn 73, Marquette 57
UConn didn't really need it, but the Huskies fittingly win the Big East tournament title after dominating the conference all season. The defending national champs will head into the NCAA tournament as a 1 seed.
UCONN TAKES THE BIG EAST CROWN π
The Huskies sweep the Big East regular season and conference tournament titles π #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/4Ztcq4nzPlβ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final Iowa State 69, Houston 41
The Cyclones just blew the lid off the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. That wasn't even close as Milan Momcilovic led all scorers with 18 in the blowout.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: New Mexico 68, San Diego State 61
The Lobos are going dancing! New Mexico came into the week on the bubble. Now it's the Mountain West champ. Ticket punched.
NEW MEXICO WINS THE MOUNTAIN WEST π
The Lobos are dancing for the first time since 2014 π #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/5hRWdXlP9Iβ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
UConn starting to pull away from Marquette
How 'bout the freshman? This time from the opposite corner! πͺ£@Jaylinstewart6 x @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/22T9P1NHIf
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chaos in the AAC!
AAC 11th-seeded Temple survives over 2 seed Florida Atlantic 74-73 to advance to the AAC title game, where it will face UAB.
No matter who wins that game, it'll be a bid stealer!
FAU GOES DOWN π±π±
TEMPLE is headed to the AAC title game!! π€―π€― pic.twitter.com/NjAcIKv2QCβ The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
New Mexico is closing in on the MWC title, leading 65-59 with 1:04 to go.
Last gasp for San Diego State.
.@UNMLoboMBB is on a 8-0 run π₯ pic.twitter.com/Km3ZaBEACi
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The big man is going to work for UConn. Clingan's 15 points lead all scorers in the game.
Donovan Clingan with AUTHORITY! π€@clingan_donovan x @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/ww0wGJ8vTy
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
San Diego State has rallied to make it a game at the 8-minute mark. Looks like we're headed for a fun finish in the Mountain West title game.
.@jae_ledee is too strong πͺπͺ
πΊ: @CBS pic.twitter.com/iDxY9Sm7sSβ San Diego State Men's Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Cyclones are on a tear now and the lead is up over 20.
This man is living up to his word.#Cyclones | #C5C | @MilanMomcilovi5 pic.twitter.com/3eIpzWqQA9
β Iowa State Menβs Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: UConn 26, Marquette 24
Tristen Newton hit a stepback 3 just before the buzzer to give UConn the lead. Donovan Clingan leads the team with 10 points.
Newton just before half! π¨@D1Tristen x @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/2XS56vhTQw
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Points are finally being scored in the Big East final.
The 3s are falling! π @MarquetteMBB pic.twitter.com/N7YWIPHiNr
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
New Mexico leads San Diego State 36-30 at the half of the Mountain West final.
Jaelen House leads UNM with 15 points.
House has 15 of @UNMLoboMBB's 36 points. pic.twitter.com/uu7IBmfsOw
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: Iowa State 30, Houston 23
The Cyclones are heading into the break with the lead and it hasn't been too competitive. The Cougars have been ice cold, shooting 9-for-32 from the floor and 2-for-11 from 3.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
We're nearing halftime and the Cyclones are still in control. Houston just can't find a rhythm offensively.
The Freshman!#Cyclones | #C5C | @MilanMomcilovi5
pic.twitter.com/DoRsSOVvEfβ Iowa State Menβs Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
New Mexico off to a hot start in Las Vegas, leading San Diego State 32-20 late in the 1st half.
Jaelen House is RED HOT! He has scored the last 9 points!@UNMLoboMBB pic.twitter.com/QHLNCGuLTj
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
UConn-Marquette is a meat grinder early on. Marquette leads 2-0 after more than 5 minutes of action!
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Cyclones took the lead on this 3 and have started to piece together a run here midway through the first half.
Curt from Welch Avenue!#Cyclones | #C5C | @curtis_jones3 pic.twitter.com/p2t1sWG92H
β Iowa State Menβs Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Quick Hands.
Quick Bucket. #Cyclones | #C5C | @kg2times | @TaminLipsey
pic.twitter.com/42nFBCERz1β Iowa State Menβs Basketball (@CycloneMBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
And now we turn our attention to some conference finals. Houston and Iowa State have tipped off in the Big 12 championship and we've got the Big East title between UConn and Marquette starting in a few minutes.
- Nick Bromberg
FINAL: Florida 95, Texas A&M 90
The Gators had five players in double figures as Denzel Aberdeen had 20 and Will Richard had 19. Florida shot 50% from the field and outscored the Aggies 53-40 in the second half.
Wade Taylor IV finished with 30 points for the second straight game as the Aggies hope they played their way into the NCAA tournament with their SEC tournament performance.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
- Nick Bromberg
Florida looks like it will hang on against Texas A&M. The Gators lead 94-88 with 27 seconds to go.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Final: Illinois 98, Nebraska 87
Led by Terrence Shannon's Big Ten tournament record 40 points, Illinois rallies from 15 down to advance to the Big Ten final, where it'll face Wisconsin.
The Fighting Illini to the Big Ten CHAMPIONSHIP! π€© @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/6y46gZX7wN
β FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Terrance Shannon putting up historic numbers for the Illini.
.@IlliniMBB's Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 36 points for the Big Ten Tournament record. pic.twitter.com/ljefYMtOrd
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Illinois is outscoring Nebraska 45-23 in the 2nd half. Just a complete 180 from the first 20 minutes.
- Nick Bromberg
Florida leads 85-75 at the under-4 timeout following a three by Walter Clayton Jr.. Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV has been held to three points in the second half after he scored 20 in the first half.
Clayton was fouled on the the 3-point attempt and will have a free throw to extend the lead over the Aggies to 11. Itβs been an incredible second-half performance so far for the Gators as they hope to meet Auburn in the SEC tournament title game on Sunday.
OH MY!!!#GoGators | πΊESPN pic.twitter.com/fRF1OHepZ1
β Florida Gators Menβs Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Illinois has come all the way back to take the lead with under 8 minutes to play:
Hawkins with the easy bucket and @IlliniMBB leads by 3. pic.twitter.com/1vhxdwstS7
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
We've got a good one cooking in Minneapolis:
.@IlliniMBB TIES IT UP AT 68βΌοΈ pic.twitter.com/W2OIKGgn2a
β CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Marquette will have to try to beat UConn in the Big East final tonight without its star player.
As expected, Tyler Kolek has not been cleared and will not play tonight for Marquette in the Big East title game, per the school. Heβll return for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
β Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 16, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Terrence Shannon is single-handedly keeping Illinois in this game. Illini still trailing Nebraska 57-52.
Terrence Shannon Jr. has 24 points for @IlliniMBB.
The rest of his team has 27. pic.twitter.com/K3iDnNIYHYβ CBS Sports College Basketball π (@CBSSportsCBB) March 16, 2024