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South Region: Slipper fits nicely for Middle Tennessee

 
Published March 17, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Middle Tennessee took down another Big Ten team in the NCAA Tournament, though the latest victory didn't really feel like an upset.

The 12th-seeded Blue Raiders stood up to Minnesota's rugged defense then blew past the foul-prone Golden Gophers, the fifth seed, for an 81-72 win Thursday.

Middle Tennessee proved it was no one-year wonder after shocking Michigan State as a No. 15 seed last March.

"We think we belong on a national stage," coach Kermit Davis said. "I knew we'd play well and we did so."

Reggie Upshaw scored 19 and Giddy Potts added 15 for the Blue Raiders (31-4).

No longer a mystery team in March, Middle Tennessee played like seasoned NCAA veterans with the way it held off the Gophers' comeback attempt from a 17-point deficit in front of a loud and large contingent of Minnesota fans.

Upshaw, a senior captain, responded with seven straight points, including a 3-pointer and a reverse layup during a 7-3 run to help give Middle Tennessee a 10-point lead with 3:40 left.

The Blue Raiders set a school record for victories and a Conference USA record with 17 league wins.

A season of redemption came to an end for fifth-seeded Minnesota (24-10), which bounced back from an eight-win season in 2015-16 to return to the NCAAs. Amir Coffey had 17 points to lead Minnesota.

Butler doesn't break a sweat

With the way Avery Woodson shot from the perimeter in the first half, Butler had little to worry about down the stretch against Winthrop. Woodson scored 18 and tied a career high with six 3-pointers in his tourney debut, and the fourth-seeded Bulldogs (24-8) contained star guard Keon Johnson in a 76-64 win over the 13th-seeded Eagles in Milwaukee.

Woodson, a graduate transfer from Memphis, hit five 3s in the first half to help the fourth-seeded Bulldogs build a 14-point halftime lead. A 12-2 run gave Butler a 60-43 lead with less than eight minutes left to put the game out of reach. Xavier Cooks had 23 points to lead the Big South champion Eagles (26-7).

Did you know?

Since 1985, when the tournament expanded, Butler has never lost in March Madness as the higher seed (9-0), according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Quotable

"Let's see. Had Michael Jordan been on crutches, with a cast on his right arm and had the stomach flu, he might have been able to beat Michael Jordan."

Anthony Kidd, a former Washington State teammate of LaVar Ball's, to the Seattle Times. Ball, dad of UCLA standout Lonzo Ball, became an Internet punch line after saying he would have trounced Jordan one-on-one back in the day. UCLA faces Kent State tonight.