From combined dispatches
EAST
No. 2 Tennessee 76, No. 7 Butler 71 (OT)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — JaJuan Smith and the Volunteers lost the lead but not their poise.
Smith hit four straight free throws in the final 13.6 seconds of overtime, and Tennessee (31-4) held on for a win over the Bulldogs (30-4) yesterday in the second round of the NCAA tournament, barely surviving a game they at times threatened to turn into an East Region rout.
The first second-round game featuring two 30-win teams definitely lived up to the distinction.
The Vols scored six straight points inside after the Bulldogs took their first lead in the final two minutes of OT, including benched guard Ramar Smith’s basket with 27 seconds left to make it 72-68.
Butler still wouldn’t go away. Pete Campbell followed a missed shot to make it 72-70 with 16 seconds left. JaJaun Smith then made both free throws, and Julian Betko rebounded a missed 3-pointer by A.J. Graves and was fouled with 4.9 seconds left for Butler. He made one of two shots from the line, and Smith grabbed the rebound before icing the game with foul shots at the other end.
No. 3 Louisville 78, No. 6 Oklahoma 48
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Earl Clark scored 14 points, and the Cardinals (26-8) played to near-perfection on both ends, romping past the Sooners (23-12).
Louisville harassed freshman star Blake Griffin with double teams down low, trapped the Sooners and ran every chance it got.
David Godbold hit four 3s and finished with 15 points for Oklahoma.
No. 1 North Carolina 108, No. 9 Arkansas 77
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wayne Ellington scored 20 points, and the Tar Heels (34-2) raced to a double-digit lead in the first five minutes of a blowout over the Razorbacks (23-12), sending North Carolina to Charlotte for the East Region semifinals.
Ty Lawson had 19 points and seven assists for the Tar Heels, who followed their first-round rout of Mount St. Mary’s with another impressive offensive display.
North Carolina became the first team to score 100 points in its first two NCAA games since Loyola Marymount did it against New Mexico State and Michigan in 1990.
MIDWEST
No. 12 Villanova 84, No. 13 Siena 72
TAMPA, Fla. — Scottie Reynolds scored 25 points, and Corey Stokes added 20 as the Wildcats (22-12) beat the Saints (23-11) to reach the round of 16 for the third time in four years.
Villanova, one of the last teams picked for the tournament field, advanced to the Midwest Region semifinals in Detroit, where it will revert to an underdog role against top-seeded Kansas (33-3).
Alex Franklin led Siena with 18 points.
SOUTH
No. 2 Texas 75, No. 7 Miami 72
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A.J. Abrams sank two free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining, giving the Longhorns (30-6) just enough margin to hold off the Hurricanes (23-11).
Abrams gave Texas a 74-69 lead, but the Longhorns weren’t quite safe yet. Miami’s Raymond Hicks made a 3-pointer, and D.J. Augustin then shot an air ball on his first of two free throws with 1.8 seconds to play. Augustin made the second, however, and Texas was able to break up a long pass to preserve the win.
Abrams scored 26 points on six 3-pointers for the second consecutive game.
Jack McClinton scored 18 points for Miami after a 38-point effort in the first round against Saint Mary’s.
No. 1 Memphis 77, No. 8 Mississippi State 74
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Joey Dorsey had 13 points, 12 rebounds, a season-high six blocks and an untold number of bumps and bruises, helping the Tigers (35-1) outscrap the Bulldogs (23-11).
Three other Memphis players finished in double figures, including 17 each from Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, in the Tigers’ ninth straight win.
Jamont Gordon had 21 points and Ben Hansbrough 19 for Mississippi State.
WEST
No. 12 Western Kentucky 72, No. 13 San Diego 63
TAMPA, Fla. — Behind Courtney Lee’s dazzling array of shots early and his clutch free throws late, the Hilltoppers (29-6) advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in 15 years with a victory over the Toreros (22-14).
Lee finished with 29 points, including a huge 3-pointer that gave his team the lead for good with 6:17 remaining.
Gyno Pomare had 20 points and nine rebounds for San Diego.
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