Hook 'em! Texas tops Lipscomb to win NIT championship

NEW YORK (AP) - Texas can hook its horns to an NIT championship. Dylan Osetkowski had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Texas to the NIT championship with an 81-66 win over Lipscomb on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. "It's great to win a championship," coach Shaka Smart said. The Longhorns (21-16) beat South Dakota State, Xavier, Colorado and TCU to reach the final, and...

Texas Tech's Beard named AP men's college coach of the year

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Chris Beard of Texas Tech had a cheering, boisterous audience as he took stage Thursday to accept the trophy as The Associated Press men's college basketball coach of the year - his players and family filling the front row to celebrate his success as their own. He was happy to share a moment he said belonged to them, too.

Texans have bought 15% of the tickets sold for this year's Final Four

With the Texas Tech men's basketball team making their first ever trip to the Final Four, a lot of Red Raider fans have bought tickets to go and support their team in Minneapolis.

Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams taking Texas A&M job

Texas A&M hired Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams on Wednesday, luring him back to his home state to try to turn the Aggies into a basketball power. "The Buzz is Back," Texas A&M tweeted from its official team account. Virginia Tech was 100-69 during Williams' five-year tenure and went to four postseason tournaments, including a program-record three consecutive NCAA...

Roach lifts Texas past TCU 58-44 and into NIT championship

Kerwin Roach II is the Texas guard's name, not the tally marks for his season suspensions. Back on the roster, Roach stayed in the game and kept the Longhorns in the hunt to end the season in New York with a championship.

Culver, Mooney take different paths to Tech and Final Four

Hometown standout Jarrett Culver was the first recruit Chris Beard reached out to when he got to Lubbock as Texas Tech's head coach three years ago. Then, when the Red Raiders were coming off their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance last season and had to replace a senior All-Big 12 point guard, they targeted Matt Mooney, a graduate transfer from South Dakota who began his college career at...

Final Four features 3 first-time coaches and Izzo in his 8th

Tom Izzo drew up the perfect play at the perfect moment, sending Michigan State past mighty Duke for a spot in the Final Four. The trip is always emotional, but Izzo has done it before. This will be his eighth Final Four and a chance for a second national championship. The other three Final Four coaches all will be the new kids at the dance.

Top-seed Baylor routs Iowa 85-53 to cruise to Final Four

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Lauren Cox had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Baylor earned its first Final Four berth since 2012 by beating Iowa 85-53 on Monday night in the Greensboro Regional final.

TCU coach Dixon honors late sister before NIT semifinal

TCU has a date in Madison Square Garden and a championship it's trying to win. But first, coach Jamie Dixon had to make a travel stop closer to his heart before he took the Horned Frogs to New York City for an NIT semifinal game against Texas.

Final Four field boasts tough defenses, veteran lineups

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Final Four features tough defenses, a surging team that hasn't lost in five weeks and one Hall of Fame coach. Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn earned their trips to Minneapolis for this weekend's national semifinals by emerging from regions filled with high seeds. The Cavaliers are the last top seed, while the Spartans, Red Raiders and Tigers...

Texas Tech's Chris Beard takes the long way to the Final Four

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - It's fair to say there would be no Final Four for Texas Tech if there weren't plenty of places like Fort Scott. Fort Scott Community College in Kansas is one of the 11 stops Red Raiders coach Chris Beard made before he landed the top job in Lubbock, Texas, where he's built the Red Raiders into a title contender in a mere three years.

Texas Tech locks down Gonzaga to earn 1st Final Four trip

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Texas Tech is heading to its first Final Four thanks to a kid from Italy who made the big shots and a defense that refuses to rest. Davide Moretti opened up a late lead with the two most important 3-pointers of his life, Tariq Owens came up with a big rejection and the Red Raiders caught a ride straight to Minneapolis with a 75-69 victory over top-seeded Gonzaga on...

D up: Texas Tech clamps down in 63-44 win over Michigan

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - More than 24 minutes into the game, the nation's best defense had yet to allow its 20th point. Yes, Texas Tech makes it tough on people. One more clamp-down job like this, and the Red Raiders will be D-ing up in the Final Four.

Osetkowski scores 15 to lift Texas by Colorado 68-55 in NIT quarterfinals

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Dylan Osetkowski registered 15 points as Texas got past Colorado 68-55 in the NIT quarterfinals on Wednesday night. Texas advanced to play No. 1 seed TCU on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. Lipscomb and Wichita State will play in the other semifinal game. Kerwin Roach II had 14 points and six rebounds for Texas (19-16). Courtney Ramey and Matt Coleman III each had 11...

Noi scores 25 to lead TCU over Creighton 71-58 in NIT quarterfinals

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Kouat Noi had 25 points with six 3-pointers as TCU beat Creighton 71-58 in the NIT quarterfinals on Tuesday night. TCU advanced to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York for the second time in three seasons. JD Miller had 15 points for TCU (23-13). Alex Robinson added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Samuel had four blocks for the hosts.

Troy hires TCU assistant Scott Cross as basketball coach

TROY, Ala. (AP) - Troy has hired TCU assistant and former UT-Arlington head coach Scott Cross to lead the basketball program. Cross spent last season with TCU after 12 years as UT-Arlington's head coach. He led the Mavericks to the 2008 NCAA Tournament and averaged 19 wins in 12 seasons before the school fired him in March 2018. Jeremy McClain, senior vice chancellor for athletics,...

Familiar look: Top seeds dominate spots for NCAA Sweet 16

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The path to the Final Four will not be easy for Zion Williamson, Luke Maye, De'Andre Hunter and the other top-seeded stars in the NCAA Tournament. For the first time in a decade, the remaining tournament field entering the Sweet 16 looks a lot like the one set on Selection Sunday.

Bane scores 30, TCU beats Nebraska 88-72 in NIT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Desmond Bane had 30 points as TCU defeated Nebraska 88-72 in the second round of the NIT on Sunday night. Bane shot 6 for 9 from deep. He added eight rebounds. JD Miller had 15 points and seven rebounds for TCU (22-13). Kendric Davis added 12 points. Kouat Noi had 12 points for the hosts.

Virginia finally gets easy NCAA win 63-51 over Oklahoma

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Virginia coach Tony Bennett made a last-minute change in his starting lineup and the top-seeded Cavaliers finally breezed through an NCAA Tournament game to make their first Sweet 16 in three years. Bennett opted for Mamadi Diakite to start instead of Jack Salt against Oklahoma and the junior scored 14 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Cavaliers to a 63-51 win on...