NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Mercy me, Mercer

Mercer forward Jakob Gollon (20) and guard Langston Hall (21) celebrate after defeating Duke 78-71 in an NCAA college basketball second-round game against Duke, Friday, March 21, 2014, in Raleigh, N.C.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Mercer forward Jakob Gollon (20) and guard Langston Hall (21) celebrate after defeating Duke 78-71 in an NCAA college basketball second-round game against Duke, Friday, March 21, 2014, in Raleigh, N.C.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

MIDWEST REGION MERCER 78, DUKE 71

Daniel Coursey scored 17 points and Mercer pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far by knocking off Duke on Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Jakob Gollon added 20 points for the 14th-seeded Bears. Mercer scored 11 consecutive points during a late 20-5 run that clinched the biggest victory in school history. It’s the second one-and-done in three years for the third-seeded Blue Devils.

EAST REGION MEMPHIS 71, GEORGE WASHINGTON 66

Michael Dixon Jr. scored 19 points and hit four free throws in the final 10 seconds to help Memphis hold off George Washington on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C. Joe Jackson added 15 points for the eighth-seeded Tigers. They entered the tournament having lost three of five to fall out of the national rankings, and shot 49 percent in this one but struggled to put away the ninth-seeded Colonials until the final seconds.

EAST REGION NORTH CAROLINA 79, PROVIDENCE 77

James Michael McAdoo made two free throws in the final 3.5 seconds, and No. 6 seed North Carolina rallied to beat 11th-seeded Providence on Friday night in San Antonio. Providence’s Bryce Cotton scored a career-high 36 points and made one dazzling shot after another down the stretch. But he also fumbled a long rebound in the final moments, robbing the Friars of a chance for a last-second miracle. Had North Carolina lost, it would’ve been the first time since 1979 the Tar Heels and rival Duke lost on the same day of the tournament.

SOUTH REGION STANFORD 58, NEW MEXICO 53

Chasson Randle scored 23 points and No. 10 seed Stanford made an impression in its first NCAA appearance since 2008, leading almost start to finish, beating seventh-seeded New Mexico on Friday in St. Louis. The Cardinal built an early 16-point lead then held on after New Mexico rallied to tie it midway through the second half. They got four crucial free throws from reserve Robbie Lemons and Randle in the final 30 seconds after New Mexico had cut the deficit to two points.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

EAST REGIONAL Memphis 71, George Washington 66 Virginia 70, Coastal Carolina 59 North Carolina 79, Providence 77 Iowa St. 93, North Carolina Central 75 SOUTH REGIONAL Stanford 58, New Mexico 53 Kansas 80, Eastern Kentucky 69 Stephen F. Austin 77, VCU 75, OT UCLA 76, Tulsa 59MIDWEST REGIONAL Mercer 78, Duke 71 Tennessee 86, UMass 67 Wichita State 64, Cal Poly 37 Kentucky 56, Kansas State 49 WEST REGIONAL Baylor 74, Nebraska 60 Creighton 76, Louisiana-Lafayette 66 Arizona 68, Weber State 59 Gonzaga 85, Oklahoma State 77TODAY’S GAMES

EAST REGIONAL At Buffalo, N.Y.

Villanova (29-4) vs. UConn (27-8), 8:40 p.m.

At Spokane, Wash.

Michigan State (27-8) vs. Harvard (27-4), 7:40 p.m.

SOUTH REGIONAL At Buffalo, N.Y.

Syracuse (28-5) vs. Dayton (24-10), 6:10 p.m.

At Orlando, Fla.

Florida (33-2) vs. Pittsburgh (26-9), 11:15 a.m.

MIDWEST REGIONAL At Orlando, Fla.

Louisville (30-5) vs. Saint Louis (27-6), 1:45 p.m.

At Milwaukee Michigan (26-8) vs. Texas (24-10), 4:15 p.m.

WEST REGIONAL At Milwaukee Wisconsin (27-7) vs. Oregon (24-9), 6:45 p.m.

At Spokane, Wash.

San Diego State (30-4) vs. North Dakota State (26-6), 5:10 p.m.

Sports, Pages 19 on 03/22/2014

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