Penn State, Minnesota Advance To Semifinals
NIT
Greg Grays scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer, as Penn State beat Georgia Tech 75-70 Wednesday in Atlanta to advance to the semifinals of the NIT.
The Nittany Lions (18-12) will play the winner of tonight’s game between Vanderbilt and Georgia on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Grays, a freshman reserve, hit a 3-pointer with 6:36 remaining to give the Nittany Lions a 57-54 lead they would not relinquish.
The Yellow Jackets (19-14) closed to within 65-64 on a 3-pointer from Michael Maddox with 3:36 left. But Calvin Booth, who had 16 points for Penn State, scored two straight baskets to give the Nittany Lions a 69-64 lead with 1:30 left.
Minnesota 73, Marquette 71
At Minneapolis, Eric Harris is going home and Minnesota is headed to the semifinals thanks to Sam Jacobson.
Jacobson hit two acrobatic, twisting layups in the final minute to rally Minnesota to a 73-71 victory over Marquette.
That sent the Golden Gophers (18-15) to New York City, the hometown of senior point guard Harris, for next Tuesday’s semifinals. Minnesota will play either Fresno State or Hawaii.
Jacobson scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half. Quincy Lewis led the Gophers with 24 points.
Aaron Hutchins had 20 points for Marquette (20-11), which rallied from a nine-point deficit early in the second half and led 71-67.
Shape up or ship out
Fresno State president John Welty said he will pull the school’s basketball team out of the NIT if any more players get into trouble.
The warning came at a news conference called by Welty on Wednesday to discuss the recent arrests of two players and a story on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that recounted a litany of drug and other legal problems.
“Obviously, the behavior of a couple of our basketball players has again generated a black eye for this university,” Welty said. “With each shameful incident, the institutional damage is compounded.
“My patience and the patience of others throughout this university are at an end.”
Senior Avondre Jones and freshman transfer Kenny Brunner were arrested Tuesday for investigation of robbing and assaulting an acquaintance, Colin DeForrest, with a gun and two samurai swords.