Pac-12 Splits Saturday NCAA Games

The Pac-12 split a pair of NCAA Tournament games Saturday, with Colorado bowing out of the men's tournament after losing to Baylor 80-63, while Stanford began play in the women's tournament with a 73-51 romp over Hampton.

Colorado was within 1 point of Baylor, trailing only 61-60 after Austin Dufault's layup.

But then the roof fell in on the Buffs in Albuquerque.

The Bears went on a 14-0 run, hitting 5 straight shots, the last 4 of which were from 3 point range, while the Buffs went over 5 minutes without scoring.

Askia Booker again led Colorado, with 15 points off the Buffs' bench, and Dufault added 14. Colorado had good balance, also getting 13 points apiece from both Andre Roberson and Carlon Brown. But balance, and unfortunately, only 5 of 15 shooting on3 pointers, wasn't nearly enough to overcome Baylor's Brady Heslip, who hit 9 of 12 3 pointers, the largest part of the 11 total the Bears buried, and finished with 27 points.

With the loss, Colorado finished their season 24-12, and the Pac-12 is out of the NCAA Men's tournament after the first day of the first weekend.

Coupled with Gonzaga's 73-66 loss to Ohio St., the northwest region is out of the tournament as well.

Stanford (32-1) rolled past MEAC Champion Hampton (26-5), jumping to a 42-27 halftime lead, and a 31 point, 71-40 lead with almost 7 minutes left.

The Cardinal called off the troops, and scored only once after that, yet still won by 22.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike had a game high 28 points and a game high 10 rebounds for Stanford, as well as 4 assists, 3 steals, and a blocked shot, to dominate the game, and Joslyn Tinkle was a perfect 4 of 4 on 3 pointers, on her way to another 16 points.

California's women, the only other Pac-12 team in the women's tournament, faces Iowa Sunday.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com