NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Andrew Nembhard hit a 3-pointer with a second left and Florida overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to upset LSU in the Southeastern Conference quarterfinals.
Eighth-seeded Florida (19-14) will play No. 22 Auburn in the semifinals Saturday.
They accepted their trophy as the league’s regular-season champs from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey before tipoff in a subdued ceremony. Then LSU led 35-25 at halftime and as much as 42-29 with 16:52 left.
Florida clawed back into the game by hitting eight straight shots and 10 of 11. Jalen Hudson made a pair of free throws with 6:05 left to give Florida its first lead of the game at 58-57, setting up a frantic finish. LSU led 63-60 when Johnson hit a 3-pointer, officials called a foul on LSU and the LSU bench was assessed a technical also a technical for arguing. KeVaughn Allen hit a pair of two free throws, and Kevarrius Hayes hit one for a six-point play.
LSU interim coach Tony Benford said he thought the 3 came after an official blew the whistle for the other foul and was confused about why the shot counted.
“Unfortunately, I probably shouldn’t have gotten the T, looking back on it,” Benford said.
Reid hit two 3-pointers in the final minute to tie it at 70 and again at 73 with 13.2 seconds left. Then Johnson found Nembhard for the winning 3. White credited the two freshmen with good decisions.
LSU (26-6) had won five straight without coach Will Wade, who remains suspended indefinitely despite asking Thursday to rejoin the Tigers for the postseason. LSU quickly squashed that idea with a statement noting Wade will remain suspended until he speaks to school officials about the reports of an FBI wiretap that led to his suspension, noting Wade has yet to “deny any wrongdoing to us or publicly.”
The regular-season champion Tigers did have freshman Javonte Smart back after saying before tipoff the guard has fully cooperated in a “joint inquiry” with the school and the NCAA.
Nembhard had 20 points. Naz Reid led LSU with 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Smart had 13 points.
NO. 6 MICHIGAN STATE 77, OHIO STATE 70
CHICAGO — Cassius Winston scored 18 points, Foster Loyer provided a lift off the bench with a career-high 14 points and No. 6 Michigan State gave Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo his 600th career victory, beating Ohio State 77-70 on Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Seeking a sixth conference tournament title, the Spartans (26-6) pulled away in the second half for their third victory over the Buckeyes (19-14) this season. They will face No. 19 Wisconsin in the semifinals Saturday.
Izzo improved to 600-231 in 24 seasons.
Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year, also had seven rebounds and five assists.
Keyshawn Woods scored 16 points for Ohio State.
NO. 11 HOUSTON 84, UCONN 45
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Corey Davis Jr. scored 22 points and Houston routed UConn in the American Athletic quarterfinals.
Galen Robinson Jr. had 16 points, missing only one of his eight shots, and Nate Hinton added 15 points. The top-seeded Cougars (30-2) will face Memphis in the semifinals.
Jalen Adams led UConn (16-17) with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
NO. 19 WISCONSIN 6, NEBRASKA 62
CHICAGO — Nate Reuvers and Khalil Iverson each scored 14 points, D’Mitrik Trice hit a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left and Wisconsin beat pesky Nebraska to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
The Badgers (23-9) won for the sixth time in seven games despite a shaky performance by Ethan Happ. The 6-foot-10 forward had a season-low four points and committed seven of the team’s 17 turnovers.
Glynn Watson Jr. scored 23 points for Nebraska (18-16).
NO. 22 AUBURN 73, SOUTH CAROLINA 64
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jared Harper scored 27 points to help Auburn beat South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference quarterfinals.
Auburn (24-9) went 13 of 34 from 3-point range and broke the SEC record for 3-pointer in a season with 368.
Bryce Brown had 19 points, and Samir Doughty added 10. Chris Silva led South Carolina with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
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