HOOSIERSFOOTBALL.COM

Bill Self begged for a timeout, as if he were asking for mercy, after Ali Farokhmanesh hit again from about 15 feet to give Northern Iowa a 33-24 lead over the No. 1 overall seed. The Panthers are 6 of 11 from beyond the arc and shooting 52 percent from the field.

New Mexico and Washington have tipped off from the Shark Tank in San Jose, where Steve Alford’s Lobos are trying to match Murray State with its 31st win.

Kansas coach Bill Self said that Northern Iowa is one of the best defensive teams he’s seen in quite a while, and the observation is playing out. The Panthers led 19-12 with under 12 minutes to go in the first half.

Ohio finally ran out of energy, time, magic. After stunning third-seeded Georgetown and playing tough for about 30 minutes Saturday, Tennessee finally put the Bobcats away with a late surge in an 83-68 victory.

Just in case nobody in Providence realized J.P. Prince had slammed down an alley-oop, his guttural scream running back the other way made every animal in Rhode Island perk up its ears.

Matt Howard, an 80-percent foul shooter, missed the second of two free throws for Butler, and Murray State raced downcourt with a chance to tie the game. The Racers got the ball in the hands of Isaiah Canaan, a freshman, and he dribbled around as if he were lost.

Murray State nearly got a 5-second call on the inbounds play out of a timeout, but Butler got it to Matt Howard, who was immediately fouled. He made the first of two before a timeout as the Bulldogs try to hold on.

Murray State slapped on a full-court press and has shot itself back in front in San Jose with a 12-1 run. Isaiah Canaan’s 3-pointer gave the Racers the lead, and Gordon Hayward missed a gimme at the rim for Butler.

FOOTBALL Lewis granted waiver Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis was granted a medical waiver from the NCAA. Lewis suffered a knee injury in 2007 that caused him to miss most of the season.