Men’s NCAA Tournament roundup: Baylor goes inside, muscles past Villanova into Elite Eight

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS – Top-seeded Baylor overcame some frigid outside shooting Saturday to move into the Elite Eight, getting 16 points from Adam Flagler in a 62-51 victory over Villanova and its versatile defense.

The Bears (25-2) came in as the nation’s leading 3-point team, shooting 41.5%, but made only 3 of 19 in this one, unable to find room or get into a comfort zone against fifth-seeded Villanova’s mix of 2-3 zone and man. Davion Mitchell, a 46% shooter from 3 this season, went 0 for 3 in a 14-point night.

Baylor, which started the season 18-0 and won its first Big 12 regular-season title, is one win from the Final Four for the first time since 2012. The Bears will play Arkansas in the South regional final.

This game changed midway through the second half when Baylor all but abandoned what is normally its go-to shot – the 3.

The Bears took a six-point lead with a 14-2 run during which not a single point came from outside the arc.

The Bears played some defense, too. Baylor held Villanova to 37.5% shooting in the second half and 0 for 9 from 3.

The Wildcats (18-7) got 16 points from Jermaine Samuels, but only three from Caleb Daniels on 1-for-11 shooting.

ARKANSAS 72, ORAL ROBERTS 70

Davonte Davis hit a short jumper with 2.9 seconds left, and the Razorbacks beat the Golden Eagles to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 26 years.

Coach Eric Musselman’s “Muss Bus” stalled through the first half into the second, bad shots and even worse defense putting third-seeded Arkansas in a 12-point hole against the 15th-seeded Golden Eagles.

Musselman’s Razorbacks (25-6) got their swagger back, turning defensive stops into early offense opportunities and offensive rebounds into points.

It came down to one final shot and Davis made it, sending Arkansas to the Elite Eight for the first time since the Nolan Richardson “40 Minutes of Hell” days.

The let-it-fly Golden Eagles (18-11) let history slip through their grasp. Max Abmas did his best, scoring 25 points. His 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the front of the rim.

Midwest region

HOUSTON 62, SYRACUSE 46

Quentin Grimes scored 14 points while Houston’s defense locked down on surging Buddy Boeheim, helping the second-seeded Cougars beat the 11th-seeded Orange.

Justin Gorham had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the second-seeded Cougars, who pushed through to their first trip to a regional final in 37 years, earning a matchup with Oregon State for the Midwest Region title and a spot in the Final Four.

The Cougars also got a strong all-around effort from DeJon Jarreau, who finished with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists while leading the defensive effort that kept Boeheim in check — and ultimately derailed the Orange’s latest postseason push as a double-digit seed.

Houston (27-3) came in holding opponents to a national-low 37.3% shooting and harassed Syracuse (18-10) into just 28% (14 for 50), including a 5-for-23 performance from 3-point range.