UCLA turns back Stanford

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Mar 7, 2008 | by Associated Press

LOS ANGLES -- Darren Collison scored off his own miss for the go- ahead basket in overtime, helping No. 3 UCLA rally from a 14-point deficit to beat seventh-ranked Stanford 77-67 Thursday night and clinch the Pac-10 title outright.

PROVIDENCE 85, NO. 13 CONNECTICUT 76: At Providence, R.I., Weyinmi Efejuku scored 25 points and Providence beat No. 13 Connecticut to keep alive its chances of qualifying for the Big East tournament.

Jeff Xavier added 21 points for the Friars (15-14, 6-11), who swept the Huskies this season. Providence closes its regular season at home against Villanova on Saturday. The Friars are tied for the 12th and last spot available in the tournament that starts next week in New York.

Stanley Robinson and Hasheem Thabeet both had 16 points to lead Connecticut (23-7, 12-5), which had already clinched a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Huskies close the regular season Saturday at home against Cincinnati.

Thabeet had 13 rebounds as the Huskies finished with a 44-30 advantage on the boards. The Huskies were hurt by 21 turnovers, eight above their season average, and they shot 39.4 percent from the field (26-for-66), including 5-for-23 from 3-point range.

GEORGIA TECH 80, NO. 24 CLEMSON 75: At Atlanta, Zack Peacock hit four straight free throws in the final 16 seconds for Georgia Tech. The Tigers (21-8, 9-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) were coming off the largest second-half deficit in school history in a 73-70 victory at Maryland five days ago. But Clemson never led after Moe Miller's 3- pointer with 11:52 left in the game.

Terrence Oglesby, who hit the winning 3-pointer against the Terrapins, missed a 26-footer with 22.5 seconds that would've tied the game at 76.f-b

Neither team scored a field goal after Clemson guard Demontez Stitt's 3-pointer cut the lead to 74-72 with 2:16 remaining.

Anthony Morrow led Georgia Tech (13-16, 6-9 ACC) with 16 points.

SAINT JOSEPH'S 71, NO. 8 XAVIER 66: At Philadelphia, Pat Calathes scored 17 points and Saint Joseph's closed Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse with one more upset win.

With former Hawks stars, including Jack Ramsay and Jameer Nelson courtside, Saint Joseph's (18-10, 9-6 Atlantic 10) added to the history of its venerable arena. Playing the 401st and final game in their on-campus arena until the 2009-10 season, the Hawks marked the occasion by knocking off No. 8 Xavier, the highest-ranked opponent to lose at the Fieldhouse.

Derrick Brown led the Musketeers (25-5, 13-2) with 18 points. No other player was in double digits.

Xavier's only two A-10 losses came in Philadelphia, the other a 78-59 loss on Jan. 16 at Temple.

The Hawks will play next season at the Palestra while the antiquated Fieldhouse undergoes sorely needed renovations, including new locker rooms and 1,000 more seats.

NO. 17 MICHIGAN STATE 59, ILLINOIS 51: At Champaign, Ill., senior guard Drew Neitzel overcame a slow start to score 17 points and lead No. 17 Michigan State.

Illinois led most of the first half and by as many as 10 points. But Michigan State (24-7, 12-5 Big Ten) took its first lead with 2:29 left in the first half on a layup by Neitzel, 31-29, and never trailed again.

Spartans center Drew Naymick added 12 points, including a pair of key second-half jump shots that helped bury Illinois.

The Illini (12-18, 4-13) were led by senior center Shaun Pruitt's 13 points and six rebounds.