Selection Sunday is here, but before we get to the bracket reveals, there were still a handful of conference championships yet to be decided, including three big ones involving potential No. 1 seeds.
First, No. 4 Alabama took down No. 18 Texas A&M in the SEC championship game in Nashville.
Later, Memphis upset No. 1 Houston to win the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
The day finished with Penn State nearly coming back from a 17-point deficit against No. 5 Purdue. But the Boilermakers held on to win the Big Ten championship game, 67-65.
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Purdue 67, Penn State 65 (Big Ten Final)
Early Edey eating
Purdue star Zach Edey was fed early, scoring eight points on four baskets in the first eight minutes of the game.
Fletcher flicks it in before the buzzer
With the shot clock winding down, Fletcher Loyer recognized he had to get his deep 3-pointer off. His shot fell, giving Purdue an early 10-point lead.
No-look Lundy
Seth Lundy was doubled in the post, but that wasn’t a problem for him because he saw Kebba Njie cutting to the basket, allowing him to throw the over-the-back dish for the dunk.
Don’t stop Dave
Dave Jenkins got open at the top of the key to drain a 3-point shot before halftime, giving him 11 first-half points off the bench while Purdue held a 35-27 lead going into the break.
Edey too big
Edey somehow got a hand on the ball to get the offensive rebound and continue the possession. As Penn State scrambled around, the big man found himself 1-on-1 in the paint for the easy bucket.
Purdue power
Caleb Furst made his way to the basket along the baseline, finding a way past his defender and making the tough layup to help Purdue expand its lead.
Not going Penn State’s way
Purdue continued its run over the middle of the second half to take a 14-point lead. Following a Boilermakers basket, Lundy tried to be aggressive and get two points back but was called for a charge.
His face said it all about how Penn State’s second half has gone.
Mason makes more for Purdue
Mason Gillis left open in the corner and sake the 3-pointer to put the Boilermakers up by 15 with seven minutes to play.
Penn State pushing back
Lundy drained a 3-pointer to make it a 62-56 game with just over three minutes left after trailing by 17.
Penn State still alive
Myles Dread made a 3-pointer to cut Purdue’s lead to 66-63 with 15 seconds remaining. Penn State successfully forced the full-court trap to get a steal, with Evan Mahaffey getting the steal and finding Camren Wynter inside for a layup to make it a one-point game.
Travel by Penn State gives Purdue the win
Down by two, Penn State looked to get a shot for the win with just seconds left. But Wynter traveled as he tried to look for his shot, giving Purdue the win.
Memphis 75, Houston 65 (AAC Final)
And we’re off!
It all came down to this for the Cougars (31-2) and the Tigers (25-8).
Houston was seeking its third straight AAC postseason title.
Prayer = answered
Tramon Mark’s shot was somehow on the mark as he tossed the midrange jumper over two defenders to beat the shot clock.
Lomax on the dot
Alex Lomax drained a deep 3-pointer to put Memphis up 24-16 early.
Memphis keeps on making ’em
Kendric Davis shot over his defender for 3 to give Memphis a surprising 35-20 lead.
Here comes Houston!
The top-ranked Cougars went on a 15-3 run during one of the opening stretches of the second half to cut the Tigers’ lead to 53-48. J’wan Roberts‘ putback helped Houston get it to a 10-point game.
Lomax gets low for the steal
Lomax gathered the ball for the steal and outran Houston down the court to get the layup plus the foul to keep the game out of the Cougars’ reach.
Stay tuned for updates!
Alabama 82, Texas A&M 63 (SEC Final)
Hot start
Alabama’s Mark Sears drained a 3-pointer for the first points of the game, which sparked an 8-0 run for the Tide.
Setting the tone
Alabama continued to pour it on as the first half continued, jumping out to a double-digit lead, 24-13, with ease.
Denied!
Texas A&M struggled to find a groove as the first half winded down. Alabama went on to keep the Aggies from making a field goal for nine and a half minutes, while the Tide extending their lead to 33-21 in the final few minutes of the first half.
Alabama held a 34-23 lead at halftime.
More of the same
Texas A&M was never able to catch up despite its best efforts and a couple clutch buckets that kept this competitive.
In the end, the Tide cruised to 19-point win after a dominating performance from start to finish.
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