PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Baylor entered the NCAA Tournament hoping to wipe away the raw feelings from its first-round exit a year ago on a last-second shot.
It left with another heartbreaking loss.
Taurean Prince scored 28 points, but the fifth-seeded Bears were unable to stop Makai Mason and lost 79-75 to Yale on Thursday. Mason had a career-high 31 points, including six of the Bulldogs’ final nine points.
Baylor (22-12) lost its tournament opener last season on a last-second 3-pointer in Georgia State’s memorable victory.
“I thought Yale did a great job in the second half making things tough for us to score,” Bears coach Scott Drew said. “We only shot 38 percent. But I thought Mason really controlled the game. We had a difficult time matching him.”
Johnathan Motley added 15 points and seven rebounds for Baylor, which shot 44 percent from the field.
Purvis spurs UConn comeback for 74-67 win over Colorado
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Shooting extra free throws after practice is about as unglamorous as basketball gets.
The work has been worth it for UConn.
Rodney Purvis, Daniel Hamilton, a stifling defense and 96 percent shooting from the line carried Connecticut back from an 11-point first-half deficit and helped the Huskies beat Colorado 74-67 in the first round Thursday, keeping Kevin Ollie unbeaten as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 9 seed Huskies (25-10) went 22 of 23 from the foul line, the second-best performance in program history, including six straight swishes by Sterling Gibbs in the final minute to secure the lead and pad their nation-leading percentage of 79.3.
Morris and Iowa State race past Iona, 94-81
DENVER (AP) — His right shoulder no longer throbbing, Monte Morris felt good about Iowa State’s ability to make amends Thursday.
“The shoulder felt great. We’ve got a great training staff. They did everything for me these past weeks to get me back feeling good,” Morris said. “Yesterday in practice it let me know mentally that I could shoot the ball at an efficient rate.”
UVa routs Hampton 81-45 after Bennett collapses, returns
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Virginia sure got a scare in its NCAA Tournament opener.
Not from Hampton — but from coach Tony Bennett.
The top-seeded Cavaliers beat 16th-seeded Hampton 81-45 on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest Regional after Bennett collapsed in the final seconds of the first half.
Saying he felt sick earlier in the week, Bennett blamed his collapse on dehydration.
“I’ve had more Powerade than I’ve ever had in my life right now,” Bennett quipped.
Anthony Gill scored 19 points, London Perrantes had 12 points and Malcolm Brogdon finished with 11 for the top-seeded Cavaliers (28-6).
In other games Thursday, No. 1 seed Kansas crushed No. 16 Austin Peay, 105-79; No. 1 seed Virgina pummeled Hampton, 81-45; Arkansas Little Rock, a No. 12 seed, upended No. 5 seed Purdue, 85-83 in double overtime; No. 4 seed Duke got past UNC Wilmington, 93-85 and No. 9 seed Butler beat No. 8 seed Texas Tech, 71-61.
