WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? Sean Marshall and Boston College were in a tight game. Fortunately for them, they didn’t get tight against Bob Knight’s team.
“We’re a relaxed ballclub,” Marshall said. “Even when we’re down, we stay the same.”
The senior scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half to help the Eagles rally for an 84-75 win Thursday that knocked Knight and his Red Raiders out of the NCAA Tournament.
Tyrese Rice added 26 points for the Eagles (21-11), the East Regional’s seventh seed. Jared Dudley had 19 points to help BC win its first-round game for the fourth straight season.
The victory sent BC to play its former Big East Conference rival, second-seeded Georgetown, in Saturday’s second round.
In a game that stayed close the entire way, Boston College advanced by putting together one of its steadiest offensive performances of the season – particularly through the final 10 minutes.
The Eagles shot 53 percent for the game and used a 14-4 run to erase a four-point deficit midway through the second half, sending 10th-seeded Texas Tech (21-13) to its second first-round exit in six seasons under Knight.
“We didn’t need to score any more points,” Knight said. “But we just didn’t get things done defensively like we needed to in this game.”
Rice, a speedy 6-foot-1 sophomore, took care of the rest. The Eagles also got a boost from 6-10 junior John Oates, who stepped to the outside and knocked down three three-pointers for 11 first-half points.
The loss ended a season of highs and lows for Texas Tech, which had beaten Kansas University and Texas A&M this year but also had some puzzling losses along the way.
North Carolina 86, Eastern Kentucky 65
Winston-Salem, N.C. – North Carolina spent the early minutes of its NCAA Tournament opener looking like a top seed determined to beat down an overmatched opponent.
The Tar Heels then needed almost the rest of the game to do it.
Tyler Hansbrough had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Tar Heels beat Eastern Kentucky, giving coach Roy Williams an NCAA-record 18 straight years with at least one tournament victory.
Georgetown 80, Belmont 55
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Jessie Sapp scored a career-high 20 points, and Jeff Green added 15 to help second-seeded Georgetown get the win.
Sapp made a career-high four three-pointers for the Hoyas (27-6), who advanced to the second round for the second straight year and will renew a one-time Big East rivalry Saturday when they face seventh-seeded Boston College.
Roy Hibbert added 10 points and 13 rebounds for Georgetown.
Washington State 70, Oral Roberts 54
Sacramento, Calif. – Kyle Weaver stole an inbounds pass beneath his own basket and dunked to beat the halftime buzzer barely – and what a momentum swing for Washington State.
Reserve Ivory Clark scored 19 points, and Weaver had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and third-seeded Washington State (26-7) won its first NCAA game in 24 years. The Cougars will play Vanderbilt in the second round.
Ken Tutt scored 10 of his 19 points in the first half for Oral Roberts (23-11).
Vanderbilt 77, George Washington 44
Sacramento, Calif. – Shan Foster scored 18 points and led Vanderbilt’s impressive defensive effort in the first round of the East Regional.
George Washington (23-9) missed its first six shots and didn’t get a field goal for nearly 61â2 minutes. The 11th-seeded Colonials then endured another 111â2-minute stretch without a basket, falling behind by 29 late in the first half.
Derrick Byars scored 12 points for the Commodores (21-11).
George Washington committed 20 turnovers.
Michigan State 61, Marquette 49
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 14 points during a dominating first half, and Michigan State’s suffocating defense was too much for Marquette.
Drew Neitzel and Marquise Gray added 12 points apiece for the ninth-seeded Spartans (23-11), who shot nearly 54 percent and never trailed in advancing to face North Carolina.
Dominic James scored 18 points for Marquette (24-10).
