B.J. Tyler led No. 25 Texas to an 87-62 victory over Texas A&M for its first Southwest Conference tournament title in the 19-year history of the event Saturday.
Texas (25-7), the regular-season SWC champion, earned an automatic NCAA bid as the Longhorns won their eighth consecutive game and 18th in the last 19. Texas is making its fifth trip to the NCAA tournament in six years under coach Tom Penders. Texas missed the tournament last year with an 11-17 record.The Longhorns had lost in six previous trips to the SWC tournament finals.
Texas A&M, which finished tied for second in the regular season, has a 19-10 record and will have to wait for the NCAA tournament selection committee's decision on an at-large bid, which will be announced Sunday evening. The Aggies haven't been to the tournament since 1987.
Tyler hit five 3-pointers and scored 35 points to lead the Longhorns, who also got 17 points from Albert Burditt. Tyler was 14-of-25 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
Texas led 31-12 before A&M made an 8-0 run. The Longhorns led 48-27 at halftime.
Great Midwest Championship
Cincinnati 68, Memphis St. 47
At Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Bearcats won their third straight Great Midwest Conference tournament championship behind streaky LaZelle Durden, who scored 31 points - 25 in the first half - for a victory over Memphis State.
Cincinnati (22-9) has beaten Memphis State in all three GMC tournament title games, but never by as big a margin as Saturday night.
There wasn't much at stake because the conference lacks an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Cincinnati was playing to improve its tournament seeding; Memphis State (13-16) was playing for respect at the end of its first losing season in 13 years.
Big Ten games
N'western 97, No. 8 Mich. 93
At Evanston, Ill., Patrick Baldwin made a key 3-pointer and Kip Kirkpatrick scored six points in overtime as Northwestern beat No. 8 Michigan 97-93 and ensured the Wildcats' first winning regular season in 11 years.
No. 18 Indiana 78, Wisconsin 65
Wearing protective padding after pulling some muscles in his side during a loss at Michigan State on Wednesday, Damon Bailey scored 19 points as the 18th-ranked Hoosiers finished the regular season with a 44-game home winning streak.
Pac-10 games
Arizona St. 94, No. 7 Arizona 87
At Tempe, Ariz., Ron Riley scored 17 of his team-high 27 points in the second half as Arizona State upset No. 7 Arizona in the Pacific-10.
Oregon 80, No. 15 UCLA 79
At Eugene, Ore., Orlando Williams scored 23 points, including two 3-pointers in the final two minutes, and Zach Sellers scored the game-winning layup for the upset victory.
Washington St. 94, No. 16 Cal 82
At Pullman, Wash., Eddie Hill scored 27 points, including 21 from 3-point range, to boost Washington State's hopes for its first NCAA tournament bid in 11 years.