USC & UC Davis Get First Four Wins

Southern California and UC Davis won First Four games in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday. Here’s a recap of the night’s action:

USC 75, Providence 71

Bennie Boatwright scored 24 points, and USC rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat Providence, 75-71, in a First Four game of the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday night. The 11th-seeded Trojans advanced to face sixth-seed SMU in the East Region in Tulsa on Friday.

After trailing much of the game, Southern Cal (25-9) staged a huge rally, finally taking the lead, 61-60, with 6:46 left. Jordan McLaughlin had 18 points for the Trojans, who lost to the Friars in the opening round of last year’s tournament.

Emmitt Holt led Providence (20-13) with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Lindsey and Rodney Bullock scored 17 each.

UC Davis 67, North Carolina Central 63

Chima Moneke scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as UC Davis beat North Carolina Central, 67-63, in a First Four game of the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday night. With the win, the 16th-seeded Aggies advanced to face top-seeded Kansas in the Midwest Region in Tulsa on Friday.

Brynton Lemar tallied 15 points and Lawrence White added 14 for the Big West champs (23-12).

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Eagles were within 64-63 with 1:49 left, but could not re-take the lead they held at halftime.

Dajuan Graf led North Carolina Central (25-9) with 15 points. Kyle Benton and Patrick Cole had 13 each.