10th ranked Villanova held off the 14th ranked Creighton men’s basketball team last night, 72-60. The Wildcats led by as many as 22 in the second half. With the victory the Wildcats secure the Big East title for the 7th time in the last 8 years. It’s the second straight loss for the Jays, who close out the regular season Saturday when they host Butler. Creighton needed overtime to beat the Bulldogs earlier this season in Indy. Tipoff at the CHI Health Center is set for Saturday afternoon at 4:00.
The Nebraska men’s basketball team is at 5th ranked Iowa tonight. Looking for a third straight victory, the Huskers are coming off a dominating 72-51 win over Rutgers Monday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena. In their last four games, the Huskers have been shooting 51 percent from the field and are averaging 75.8 points per night. The Hawkeyes have won five of their last six, including a 16-point win at No. 5 Ohio State. This will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams. The January meeting in Lincoln had to be cancelled due to the Huskers’ COVID outbreak. The Huskers and Hawkeyes tipoff tonight at 8:00.
The UNK women’s basketball team defeated Pittsburg State last night, 66-50, in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament at the Health and Sports Center. Now 20-3 on the season, the Lopers advance to the tourney’s semifinal round this weekend in Hays, Kansas. The Lopers will face the 7th seed Washburn Saturday afternoon at 4:00. The Ichabods dropped the 2nd seed Central Missouri last night in Warrensburg, 63-55. In other quarterfinal action; the top seed Fort Hays State defeated Missouri Southern 71-44, and the 4th seed Emporia State edged the 5th seed Central Oklahoma 82-80. The MIAA Championship Game will be played Sunday in Hays.
The MIAA revealed their all-conference basketball honors Wednesday. For the UNK men, seniors Austin Luger and Jake Walker received honorable mention accolades. Five UNK women were also honored. Junior reserve forward Elisa Backes makes the second-team, junior post Brooke Carlson and graduate point guard Haley Simental were voted to the third-team with junior wing Klaire Kirsch earned honorable mention. Senior guard Kelsey Sanger earned the Lopers first-ever “All-Defensive Team” honor.
Girl’s Basketball State Tournament
CLASS A – @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
– Tuesday’s first-round games
Lincoln Pius def. Millard North – 40-20
Omaha Central def. Lincoln Southwest – 54-50
Millard South def. Lincoln East – 62-51
Fremont def. North Platte – 72-37
– Friday’s games
Lincoln Pius vs. Omaha Central, 6:15 p.m.
Millard South vs. Fremont, 8:30 p.m.
– Saturday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 7:00 p.m.
CLASS B @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
– Tuesday’s first-round games
Norris def. Bennington – 62-41
York def. Omaha Skutt – 31-28
– Wednesday’s first-round games
Elkhorn North def. Omaha Gross – 35-28
Scottsbluff def. Crete – 34-20
– Friday’s games
Norris vs. York, 1:30 p.m.
Scottsbluff vs. Elkhorn North, 4:00 p.m.
– Saturday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 2:00 p.m.
CLASS C-1 @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
– Wednesday’s games
Winnebago def. Grand Island CC – 48-46
North Bend Central def. Broken Bow – 50-29
Lincoln Lutheran def. Sidney – 53-20
Hastings SC def. Syracuse – 54-32
– Friday’s games
Winnebago vs. North Bend Central, 9:00 a.m.
Lincoln Lutheran vs. Hastings SC, 11:15 a.m.
– Saturday’s games
Championship: Semifinal winners, 10:45 a.m.
Third place: Semifinal losers, 9:00 a.m., Lincoln Northeast
CLASS C-2
– Wednesday’s games @ Lincoln Southeast
Crofton def. Centennial – 62-37
Bridgeport def. Lourdes CC – 66-48
BRLD def. Wood River – 62-41
Ponca def. Guardian Angels CC – 59-45
– Thursday’s games @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Crofton vs. Bridgeport, 6:15 p.m.
BRLD vs. Ponca, 8:30 p.m.
– Friday’s game @ Lincoln Northeast
Semifinal losers, 2:00 p.m.
– Saturday’s championship @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Semifinal winners, 8:45 p.m.
CLASS D-1
– Wednesday’s games @ Lincoln Southwest
Pleasanton def. Elmwood-Murdock – 52-32
Archbishop Bergan def. Humphrey/LHF – 50-42
Weeping Water def. BDS – 55-45
Hartington CC def. South Platte – 46-37
– Thursday’s games @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Pleasanton vs. Archbishop Bergan, 1:30 p.m.
Weeping Water vs. Hartington CC, 4:00 p.m.
– Friday’s game @ Lincoln Northeast
Semifinal losers, 2:00 p.m.
– Saturday’s championship @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Semifinal winners, 9:00 a.m.
CLASS D-2
– Wednesday’s games @ Lincoln North Star
Humphrey SF def. Sterling – 73-41
Mullen def. Exeter-Milligan – 53-30
Falls City SH def. Maywood-Hayes Center – 42-31
Wynot def. CWC – 49-39
– Thursday’s games @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Humphrey SF vs. Mullen, 9:00 a.m.
Falls City SH vs. Wynot, 11:15 a.m.
– Friday’s game @ Lincoln Northeast
Semifinal losers, 9:00 a.m.
– Saturday’s championship @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Semifinal winners, 3:45 p.m.
