KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Chris Lofton scored 28 points, including six 3-pointers, and No. 4 Tennessee routed South Carolina 89-56 on Sunday, prompting fans to engage in a delayed celebration of the school’s first outright SEC title since 1967.
JaJuan Smith fouled out with 17 points and four 3s, receiving a hearty standing ovation from the crowd on his and Lofton’s final home games as Volunteers.
The 33-point margin was the worst of the season for South Carolina, which suffered its second worst defeat when the Vols won 80-56 in Columbia in January.
It was the final regular season game for South Carolina coach Dave Odom, who will retire after a 22-year head coaching career after the Gamecocks play in the SEC tournament.
Ohio St. 63, No. 17 Michigan St. 54
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Jamar Butler said goodbye to the home crowd with 20 points, and the Buckeyes closed out the game with a 15-2 run to enhance its prospects of an NCAA berth.
Othello Hunter added 13 points, including a pivotal one-handed jam of a rebound in the closing minutes, David Lighty scored 12 and Kosta Koufos 11 for the Buckeyes (19-12, 10-8).
Raymar Morgan had 19 points for Michigan State (24-7, 12-6), which was frazzled by Ohio State’s defense down the stretch, missing its last six shots with three turnovers.
No. 20 Drake 79, Illinois St. 49
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Adam Emmenecker added the conference tournament MVP to his regular-season MVP, finishing with 16 points and six assists as Drake won its first postseason championship in the 32-year-old Missouri Valley tournament.
Jonathan Cox had 20 points and Klayton Korver added 10 for Drake (28-4), which became the first school to sweep the regular-season and tournament titles since co-champ Creighton in 2002.
A 19-0 run late in the first half allowed the celebration to commence early for the automatic NCAA berth, Drake’s first since 1971.
Osiris Eldridge had 14 points for Illinois State (24-9), the No. 2 tournament seed.
No. 24 Clemson 70, Virginia Tech 69
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Freshman Demontez Stitt hit two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, and the Tigers held on to lock up third place in the ACC, its best finish since 1990.
The Hokies (18-12, 9-7) led 69-68 after Deron Washington tipped in A.D. Vassallo’s miss with 9 seconds left. But Stitt drove and was fouled by Vassallo with 3.8 seconds to go.
Vassallo led all scorers with 23 points. Washington had 15 points and eight rebounds and Allen added 11 points and 12 boards for Virginia Tech.
Terrence Oglesby led the Tigers (22-8, 10-6) with 17 points. Stitt added 12.
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