San Diego State were upset 59-56 by Utah State in the Mountain West Championship game despite a double-double from Yanni Wetzell whilst Dan Fotu and St Mary’s needed double overtime to stay alive in the West Coast Conference.
At a glance – see who is playing where and when as the Men’s NCAA Division I Conference Tournaments get into full swing.
NB All games are US time therefore a day behind NZ – ie games scheduled for March 7 in the States are played March 8 in NZ.
Results March 7th
Yanni Wetzell (San Diego State University)
Ranked #5 in the national polls San Diego State are almost certain of a place in the NCAA Tournament beginning in a couple of weeks’ time. However if they had beaten Utah State in the Mountain West Championship game that place would have been certain. Unfortunately, despite 12 points and 13 rebounds from Yanni Wetzell, San Diego State were upset 59-56 by Utah State.
Dan Fotu (St Mary’s College, California)
It took double overtime but St Mary’s eventually prevailed 89-82 in the West Coast Conference Tournament quarter finals against Pepperdine. Dan Fotu was a strong contributor with 6 points and 8 rebounds in 34 minutes. A semi-final against BYU is next on the agenda for the Gaels.
Flynn Cameron (DePaul University)
A disappointing 3-15 in the Big East Conference the Blue Demons were hammered 93-55 by Providence in their final regular season game. Flynn Cameron produced 3 points and 2 rebounds – De Paul up against Marquette or Xavier in the Big East Tournament first round.
Tobias Cameron (Abilene Christian University)
Abilene Christian squeezed home 71-68 against Incarnate Word University in their final Southland Conference regular season fixture with Tobias Cameron notching 4 points and 2 rebounds. The win confirmed second seeding for Abilene and direct passage to the Southland Tournament semis next weekend.
Max de Geest (Long Beach State University)
Long Beach State (6-10) lost 75-69 to California State Fullerton in their final Big West Conference regular season fixture with Max de Geest scoring a couple of points. They now face UC Irvine in the Tournament play-offs.
Matt Freeman (UC Santa Barbara)
Also in Big West Conference play Santa Barbara (10-6) pipped Cal Poly 69-67 in the regular season finale. Matt Freeman had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in this one. UCSB will take on University of California, Riverside in tournament play on Thursday.
Callum McRae & Angus McWilliam (University of California, Riverside)
The third Big West Conference team with Kiwi interest are UC Riverside (7-9) and they defeated UC Davis 66-61 in their last regular season game. The ‘Double Macs’ were relatively quiet in this one. Callum McRae finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds whilst Angus McWilliam had 2 points and 3 rebounds.
Izayah Mauriahooho-Le’afa (Sacramento State University)
Izayah Mauriahooho-Le’afa filled the stats line in his final regular season game for the Hornets. The Wellingtonian scored 12 points and nestled 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block but couldn’t prevent a 76-72 loss at Portland State. Next up are Weber State in the Big Sky Conference play-offs.
Jackson Stent (Houston Baptist University)
Jackson Stent scored 3 points in his final appearance for Houston Baptist in their 84-78 loss to Texas A&M Corpus Christi. With just the top eight teams progressing to the Southland Conference Tournament the 4-16 Huskies miss out.
Sam Timmins (University of Washington)
After winning just three of their previous sixteen Pac 12 games Washington Huskies have won their last two regular season outings. The latest victory was a 69-63 success at Arizona with Sam Timmins scoring 5 points including a rare three from the former Tall Blacks centre.
Sam Waardenburg (University of Miami)
Miami gained a 69-65 overtime win against Syracuse in their final Atlantic Coast Conference regular season game. Sam Waardenburg contributed 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a career high equaling 3 blocks in the win. Miami head to the ACC Tournament to take on Clemson.
Anzac Rissetto (University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers)
Charlotte 49ers (10-8) went down 66-43 to Louisiana Tech in their final Conference USA fixture. Anzac Risetto came up with a single rebound in six minutes for the 49ers who will play quarter-final basketball next week.
March 8th
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (University of South Dakota)
USD (10-6) will carry third seeding into the Summit League play-offs where they will take on #6 North Dakota.
March 9th
Dan Fotu (St Mary’s College, California)
St Mary’s face BYU in a West Coast Conference semi-final.
March 11th
Sam Waardenburg (University of Miami)
Miami head to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament to take on Clemson.
Sam Timmins (University of Washington)
Washington Huskies play in the First Round of the Pac 12 Tournament.
Flynn Cameron (DePaul University)
De Paul face Marquette or Xavier in the Big East Tournament first round.
Izayah Mauriahooho-Le’afa (Sacramento State University)
Sacramento State take on Weber State in the Big Sky Conference play-offs first round.
March 12th
Anzac Rissetto (University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers)
Charlotte 49ers play quarter-final game at Conference USA Tournament.
Max de Geest (Long Beach State University)
Long Beach State face UC Irvine in a Big West Conference quarter-final.
Matt Freeman (UC Santa Barbara)
UC Santa Barbara will take on University of California, Riverside in Big West Conference play .
Callum McRae & Angus McWilliam (University of California, Riverside)
The third Big West Conference team with Kiwi interest are UC Riverside (7-9) and they face UC Santa Barbara in the BWC quarters.
March 15
Tobias Cameron (Abilene Christian University)
Second seed Abilene Christian will take on an unconfirmed opponent in the Southland Conference Tournament semi-final.
Roll of Honour
Yanni Wetzell (San Diego State University)
Mountain West Conference Regular Season Champions and Tournament Runners-up
Mountain West All-Conference Third Team
LACEY LOWDOWN 