NEW YORK (AP) — Alijah Martin, Vladislav Goldin and ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic became the first and lowest-seeded team to reach this year’s Final Four. The Owls withstood another huge game by Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell to beat the Wildcats 79-76. FAU, making just its second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, won the East Region at Madison Square Garden and will head to Houston to play the winner of Sunday’s South Region final between Creighton and San Diego State. The winningest team in Division I this season had never won an NCAA Tournament game before ripping off four straight, all by single digits.
NEW YORK (AP) — Playing in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that was riveted every time he touched the ball, Markquis Nowell did everything he could to carry Kansas State to its first Final Four since 1964. The 5-foot-8 Harlem native had 50 points, 31 assists and 10 steals in two games at the famous New York City arena and was named the East Region’s most outstanding player. But it wasn’t enough against a hard-driving Florida Atlantic team that beat Kansas State 79-76 in a nip-and-tuck game to earn a trip to the Final Four. Nowell finished with 30 points, 12 assists and five steals.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jordan Hawkins scored 20 points and UConn overwhelmed its fourth straight NCAA Tournament opponent, earning its first trip to the Final Four in nine years with an 82-54 blowout of Gonzaga. The Huskies have felt right at home in their first extended March Madness run since winning the 2014 national championship, playing their best basketball of what had been an up-and-down season. UConn controlled the usually efficient Bulldogs at both ends in the West Region final. These elite Huskies did what the UConn women couldn’t for once and are headed to Houston. Drew Timme had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Gonzaga in his final collegiate game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texas is aiming for its first trip to the Final Four in 20 years, and Miami is seeking the first in school history. The teams will meet in the Midwest Region final of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The Longhorns have rallied around interim coach Rodney Terry, who took over in December following Chris Beard's suspension and later firing. But the Big 12 tourney champs could be without star big man Dylan Disu, who is dealing with a foot injury. The Hurricanes have ridden red-hot Nijel Pack and Isaiah Wong to a second straight Elite Eight. They eliminated No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet 16.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Miami coach Jim Larrañaga wants to know how much money athletes at other schools are making through name, image and likeness deals. He said it's only fair since no school has had the values of its athletes’ deals publicized more than Miami. Larrañaga said full disclosure is important for competitive reasons and also so the NCAA or Congress can have more information at their disposal when and if they bring clarity to NIL rules. Star guard Nijel Pack’s two-year, $800,000 contract with Miami booster John Ruiz is the most publicized NIL deal since the NCAA began allowing athletes to make money off their popularity.
SATURDAY SCORES
NCAA Elite Eight
EAST
Final FAU 79 Kansas St. 76
WEST
Final UConn 82 Gonzaga 54
INTERLEAGUE
Final Atlanta 9 Minnesota 4
Final Atlanta 9 Minnesota 4
Final N.Y. Yankees 8 Philadelphia 3
Final Kansas City 6 L.A. Dodgers 3
Final San Diego 5 Texas 3
Final Milwaukee 6 Oakland 5
Final L.A. Angels 8 Chicago Cubs 7
Final Arizona 4 Seattle 1
Final San Francisco 7 Seattle 4
Final Houston 6 Washington 1
Final Baltimore 6 Pittsburgh 4
Final Chicago White Sox 9 Cincinnati 2
Final Cleveland 4 Colorado 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 4 Boston 2
Final Detroit 4 Toronto 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 3 Miami 2
Final St. Louis 4 N.Y. Mets 4
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Atlanta 143 Indiana 130
Final Brooklyn 129 Miami 100
Final Denver 129 Milwaukee 106
Final Sacramento 121 Utah 113
Final Phoenix 125 Philadelphia 105
Final New Orleans 131 L.A. Clippers 110
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 3 Detroit 0
Final Boston 2 Tampa Bay 1
Final Seattle 7 Nashville 2
Final Los Angeles 4 Winnipeg 1
Final Calgary 5 San Jose 3
Final Buffalo 2 N-Y Islanders 0
Final Minnesota 3 Chicago 1
Final N-Y Rangers 4 Florida 3
Final Montreal 8 Columbus 2
Final Carolina 5 Toronto 3
Final Vancouver 3 Dallas 1
Final New Jersey 5 Ottawa 3
Final Pittsburgh 4 Washington 3
Final OT Vegas 4 Edmonton 3
Final St. Louis 6 Anaheim 3