CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ryan Conwell hit two key shots in the final 1:17 and finished with 16 points as No. 24 Louisville battled back to beat SMU 62-58 and advance to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals. Adrian Wooley added 14 points and Isaac McKneely had 10 for the Cardinals (23-9), who’ll face Miami on Thursday. Jarron Pierre Jr. had 17 points and Jaden Toombs added 13 points and nine rebounds for SMU (20-13), which led by six in the second half before Louisville stormed back behind three inside baskets from Vangelis Zougris. Louisville played without star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who is out for the tournament with a back injury.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. is hoping he'll be ready to play in March Madness. The high-end NBA prospect is sitting out the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament due to a back injury. He had missed eight games earlier this season with the injury. Then he missed the last two games of the regular season. Brown spoke to reporters Wednesday after the 24th-ranked Cardinals beat SMU in the ACC Tournament's second round. Brown says he's focused on rehab work in hopes of being ready to play in the NCAA Tournament next week.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — SMU coach Andy Enfield believes his Mustangs have done enough to earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. SMU was eliminated from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament by No. 24 Louisville in Wednesday's second round. The Mustangs entered the day with a NET rating of 37 and were 4-8 in Quadrant 1 games that top a postseason resume. Enfield says his team's strength of schedule should be taken into account. SMU has a 20-13 record.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — RJ Godfrey had 11 points and eight rebounds and Clemson rode a red-hot first half to a 71-62 victory over Wake Forest to reach the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Fifth-seeded Clemson launched 13 3-pointers in the first 12-plus minutes, making seven of them en route to a 29-18 lead. The Tigers finished the first half 9 for 18. The Tigers led 41-23 at halftime. Clemson led by 16 with seven minutes remaining, but Wake Forest got within eight points while the Tigers were missing nine straight shots and Godfrey missed the front end of the 1-and-1 three times in a row. Ace Buckner ended the drought with a layup and the Tigers made six free throws in the final 64 seconds to finish it off.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 30 points and Florida State continued its winning ways beating California 95-89 in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The eighth-seeded Seminoles advance to play top-seeded Duke on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Dai Dai Ames scored 27 points for Cal which now sweats its potential NCAA Tournament berth fate until Selection Sunday. Cal had its best success within the first four minutes darting to a 9-2 lead before the Seminoles took control. Florida State went on a on a 13-4 run and took the lead for good on a MaGee 3-pointer with 12:13 before halftime.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland had 24 points and eight assists, Ven-Allen Lubin added 18 points and No. 7 seed N.C. State beat 15th-seeded Pittsburgh 98-88 in the second round of the ACC Tournament. N.C. State advances to play No. 2 seed and 10th-ranked Virginia in the quarterfinals on Thursday. N.C. State began the second half on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 63-52 before Pitt made its first field goal at the 16:31 mark. Matt Able made the Wolfpack’s 11th 3-pointer — in just 15 attempts — for a 76-62 lead. The officials upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul with 2:13 remaining after Lubin was pushed from behind on an alley-oop attempt. Lubin made both free throws and Paul McNeil Jr. made it a four-point possession.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Adrian Autry has been fired as head basketball coach at Syracuse after three largely unsuccessful seasons. The school announced the decision Wednesday, one day after the Orange lost 86-69 to SMU in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Syracuse lost its final six games and 12 of the last 15 under Autry to finish 15-17. Autry was 49-48 over three seasons after replacing Jim Boeheim and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. Autry said in a statement on Tuesday that it had been an honor to coach at his alma mater and thanked the school for its support. A national search for a replacement will begin immediately, the school said.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA selection committee says it sticks to the usual rules for the March Madness bracket, even with travel and injury issues. On Wednesday, chair Keith Gill said organizers see more pressure on charter flights and security this year. He pointed to the partial government shutdown, spring break travel, and heavy demand for planes. The NCAA has already warned schools about fewer charter options and possible TSA delays. Teams still have to travel, and winners get priority during the busiest times.
