DePaul’s rally falls short against A&M

Bobby Leach scored 23 points and Texas A&M nearly squandered a 20-point lead before holding on to beat DePaul 75-72 Saturday in Rosemont, Ill., in the second round of the NIT.

The Aggies (21-9) will face the winner of Holy Cross and Saint Joseph’s in the third round.

Leach gave the Aggies a 73-68 lead with 21.6 seconds left when he made a pair of free throws after a technical foul on DePaul (20-11) when Blue Demons’ guard LeVar Seals called for a timeout when the Blue Demons had none left.

Antoine Wright had 19 points and Joseph Jones 14 for the Aggies, while Leach had 13 of his points in the second half. A&M won despite missing five free throws in the final minute.

Memphis 83, Virginia Tech 62: At Memphis, Tenn., Rodney Carney scored 17 points, leading five Memphis players in double figures and helping the Tigers (21-15) beat the Hokies (16-14) in a second-round matchup.

Anthony Rice added 16 and Jeremy Hunt scored 15 for the Tigers.

Memphis will play the Vanderbilt-Wichita State winner in the third round.

Jamon Gordon led the Hokies with 16 points.

Wichita State 84, Western Kentucky 81: At Wichita, Kan., Jamar Howard scored 22 points to lead the Shockers (22-9) to a win over the Hilltoppers (22-9) in a first-round game.

Wichita State will face Vanderbilt on the road Monday night

Anthony Winchester had 25 points for the Hilltoppers.

Saint Joseph’s 55, Buffalo 50: At Philadelphia, Pat Carroll scored 26 points to lead the Hawks (21-11) past the Bulls (23-10) in a first-round game.

Carroll finished 10 for 18 from the floor for the Hawks, who will face Holy Cross in the second round Monday.

Turner Battle led Buffalo with 12 points.

Davidson 82, Southwest Missouri State 71: At Springfield, Mo., Brendan Winters scored 22 points to help the Wildcats (23-8) topple the Bears (19-13) in a first-round game.

Davidson will play at Maryland on Wednesday night.

Deke Thompson led Southwest Missouri with 15 points.