Lexington, Ky. – For a few minutes in the second half here Thursday, visions of Pete Carril and the Princeton Tigers drifted into Rupp Arena. Yes, an Ivy League team led an NCAA Tournament game in the second half.
However, third-seeded Texas A&M awoke from its near-coma to put on the defensive clamps and win its first-round game in the South Regional over No. 14 Penn, 68-52.
Penn (22-9) trailed 31-18 at halftime, but used a patient offense and disciplined, sound defense to outscore the Aggies 21-6 to open the second half. When guard Ibrahim Jaaber converted a three-point play and then scored inside, Penn led 39-37.
However, Texas A&M (26-6) used its superior quickness and inside power to take over the game again. Joseph Jones, the Aggies’ 6-foot-9 center, dunked two straight Acie Law missed layups to spark a 10-0 run for a 47-39 lead.
Jones finished with a double-double – 14 points, 11 rebounds.
LOUISVILLE 78, STANFORD 58
Louisville’s trademark full- court press humiliated Stanford into a flurry of miscues and fast-break baskets and the sixth-seeded Cardinals pounded the 11th-seeded Cardinal.
“In the beginning, we noticed they were shaky with the ball,” Louisville guard Brandon Jenkins said. “Coach said, ‘Turn up the pressure, and we’ll get easy shots.”‘
Keep in mind Stanford (18-13) was a borderline NCAA Tournament team with borderline Division I guards. It arrived having lost six of its previous nine games. While it may have played before hostile crowds, it played Thursday as if it hadn’t faced a press much all year, which, in the Pac-10, it hadn’t.
Stanford had eight turnovers in the first eight minutes and trailed 27-10 after a little more than 12.
Clark’s ensuing free throw and two more from Derrick Caracter made it 35-12. Louisville (24-9) led 46-20 at halftime.
OHIO STATE 78, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT ST. 57
Greg Oden scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds and top-seeded Ohio State hit 11-of-20 3-pointers as the No. 1-seeded Buckeyes breezed past No. 16 seed Central Connecticut State in the South Regional.
Ohio State (31-3) will play Saturday afternoon against Xavier, which edged Brigham Young in Thursday’s late game.
The Buckeyes took out all the suspense early as guards Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler hit five 3-pointers in the first 6 1/2 minutes for a 17-3 lead.
Central Connecticut State (22-12), champion of the Northeast League, never got within 10 again.
Two more 3-pointers, this time from Daequan Cook, helped lift the Buckeyes to a 38-17 lead at halftime.
Butler hit 5-of-6 3-pointers for 17 points as the Buckeyes shot 52 percent overall. Senior guard Javier Mojica led the Blue Devils with 19 points.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
