College basketball: Neitzel sparks Michigan State

Last update: March 6, 2008 - 11:45 PM

MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

Neitzel sparks Michigan State

• NO. 17 MICHIGAN STATE 59, ILLINOIS 51: Senior guard Drew Neitzel overcame a slow start to score 17 points as the visiting Spartans (24-6, 12-5 Big Ten) defeated the Illini (12-18, 4-13). Illinois led most of the first half and by as many as 10 points. But Michigan State took its first lead with 2:29 left in the first half on a layup by Neitzel that made it 31-29 and never trailed again. "I thought we had a pretty good game out of Neitzel considering he was guarded by one of the best defensive players," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, referring to Illinois guard Chester Frazier. Spartans center Drew Naymick added 12 points. The Illini were led by senior center Shaun Pruitt's 13 points and six rebounds.

• ST. JOSEPH'S 71, NO. 8 XAVIER 66: Pat Calathes scored 17 points and the Hawks (18-10, 9-6 Atlantic 10) upset the Musketeers (25-5, 13-2) in their final game in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Derrick Brown led the Musketeers with 18 points. No other player was in double digits.

• GEORGIA TECH 80, NO. 24 CLEMSON 75: Zack Peacock hit four consecutive free throws in the final 16 seconds as the Yellow Jackets (13-16, 6-9 ACC) upset the Tigers (21-8, 9-6). Anthony Morrow led Georgia Tech with 16 points. Peacock finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

Georgia holds off Alabama

• NO. 23 GEORGIA 71, ALABAMA 62: Christy Marshall and Ashley Houts each scored 15 points as the Bulldogs (22-8) beat the Crimson Tide (8-22) in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville. Alabama made it tough on the Lady Bulldogs for at least the first 25 minutes, with three ties and eight lead changes before finishing the season with a 14th loss.

• NO. 17 TEXAS A&M 73, NO. 11 OKLAHOMA 59: Danielle Gant celebrated her 21st birthday by scoring 21 points as the Aggies (23-7, 11-5 Big 12) beat the visiting Sooners (21-7, 11-5).

• NO. 16 OLD DOMINION 91, HOFSTRA 71: Shahida Williams scored 18 points as the Lady Monarchs (26-4, 17-1 Colonial Athletic Association) beat the visiting Flying Dutchmen (5-24, 3-15).

NOTES

• John Wooden's condition improved again Thursday, and it appears the former UCLA basketball coach will be released from the hospital soon after suffering a broken wrist and collarbone in a fall.

• George Washington star Maureece Rice has been dismissed from the program for "failure to adhere to team rules," the school said.

• The Mountain West Conference reprimanded Utah coach Jim Boylen for comments he made about Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer after a 72-64 loss.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Recent Sports stories

College basketball roundup - March 6, 2008

College basketball roundup - • NO. 4 VILLANOVA 82, NO. 5 WEST VIRGINIA 75: Scottie Reynolds scored 19 of his 21 points in the final 13 minutes and the Wildcats (21-2, 10-1) held off the Mountaineers (19-4, 8-3) in Morgantown, W.Va., on Monday night. The Wildcats rebounded from a blowout loss at No. 7 Georgetown on Saturday to pull into a first-place tie with No. 2 Syracuse in the Big East. West Virginia led only in the game's opening minutes, couldn't overcome an 11-point halftime deficit and saw its six-game winning streak stopped. The Mountaineers will have to wait until Friday night at No. 25 Pittsburgh to try for their sixth consecutive 20-victory season. More