Bearcats Rumble Past the Gophers

Eric Hicks had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help Cincinnati defeat Minnesota, 76-62, in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament on Tuesday night at Cincinnati.

The Bearcats (21-12) will play host to South Carolina on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals next Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Cincinnati’s James White had 17 points, and Cedric McGowan had 11.

Vincent Grier scored 18 and Adam Boone had 12 for Minnesota (16-15).

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Tarence Kinsey made three free throws in the final 26 seconds of overtime at Tallahassee, Fla., and South Carolina (20-15) defeated Florida State, 69-68, to keep alive its hopes of repeating as NIT champion.

Todd Galloway’s two free throws got Florida State to within one with five seconds left, and the Seminoles (20-10) stole the inbounds pass, but Galloway’s desperation shot was blocked by Rocky Trice as the game ended.

The Gamecocks are trying to become the first team to win consecutive NIT titles since St. John’s in 1943 and 1944.

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Ben Hunt scored a career-high 34 points, including a game-winning three-point basket with two seconds left, to lead unseeded Texas Wesleyan (25-9) to a 67-65 victory over Oklahoma City (29-8) in the championship game of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament at Kansas City, Mo.

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Josephine Owino scored 24 points to help Union of Tennessee (31-6) take home its second consecutive NAIA women’s national championship with a 79-62 victory over Lubbock Christian (23-12) at Jackson, Tenn.

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The job of turning around Iowa State’s program was given to self-described Iowa farm boy Greg McDermott.

The Northern Iowa coach was hired by the Cyclones four days after Wayne Morgan was fired.

McDermott, 41, led the Panthers to three consecutive NCAA tournaments in his five seasons and 20-plus wins in each of the last three seasons.

“This place was special enough to leave home to come here,� said McDermott, a former Northern Iowa player. “I’m one of you. I’m a farm boy from Cascade, Iowa.�

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said that McDermott had agreed to a six-year deal at $650,000 a year, plus incentives.

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Colorado guard Richard Roby wants to follow half brother Kenyon Martin to the NBA, giving up his final two seasons of eligibility to make himself available for the draft.

Roby, however, won’t sign with an agent, allowing him to return to school if he determines he won’t go high enough in the June 28 draft.

The 6-foot-6 Roby averaged 17 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Buffaloes.

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Lamar hired assistant Steve Roccaforte to replace Billy Tubbs as coach, a day after Tubbs retired to end a 31-year career. Tubbs closed with a record of 641-340.