Uconn Eliminates Defending Nit Champ Nebraska

Freshman Richard Hamilton scored 31 points to lead Connecticut to a 76-67 victory over defending champion Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament Friday night at Storrs, Conn.

Connecticut (17-14) moved into the NIT semifinals Tuesday night against Florida State.

Nebraska (18-15) led by as much as 36-22 with 1:38 left in the first half, but Connecticut cut the lead to 36-27 by halftime.

With the Cornhuskers still in front 42-34 early in the second half, Connecticut went on a 14-1 run to take the lead for good.

Central Washington men lose

At Tulsa, Okla., Cumberland (Ky.) used a 20-4 run during a 7-minute stretch in the second half to key an 89-68 victory over Central Washington in the NAIA Division I tournament quarterfinals.

Chad Benoit, who tied the game at 49-49 with 14:52 left, led the Indians with 17 points. The game was tied again at 52-52 when Cumberland (31-6) went on its run to take a 70-54 lead with 6:27 remaining on two free throws by Brad Gover.

The Indians then added to their lead down the stretch, opening up their biggest lead of the game with the final 21-point margin on a follow dunk shot by Omari Gletten.

Gover added 15 points and Michael Sylmon had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Cumberland, a 13th seed that is in the semifinals for the first time.

Willie Thomas led Central Washington (18-13) with a game-high 31 points. He had seven rebounds.

Lewis-Clark women out

At Jackson, Tenn., Lewis-Clark State College built an 11-point lead before Wayland Baptist (Texas) University fought its way back to a 66-65 win in a second-round game at the NAIA Division I tournament.

Laura Goulding led the Warriors (25-7) with 19 points. Rosie Albert added 12 and Amanda Campbell finished with 10.