NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Midwest Regional : Skiles Lifts Michigan State Past Washington

Scott Skiles knew what had to be done.

“When you average what I average (27.7 points a game), you have to be crazy not to want to take the shot,” he said Thursday night. “We were trying to get me the ball with five seconds left to give me time to make a move.”

Skiles head-faked, drew a foul with two seconds left and made both free throws to give Michigan State a 72-70 victory over Washington in their first-round NCAA Midwest Regional tournament game at Dayton, Ohio.

Skiles finished with 31 points.

The Spartans (22-7) will meet Georgetown, a 70-64 winner over Texas Tech, in Saturday’s second round. Saturday’s other game will pit Kansas, a 71-46 winner over North Carolina A&T;, against Temple, which beat Jacksonville, 61-50.

“We were slow and lethargic in the first half,” Spartan Coach Jud Heathcote said. “We thought we were embarrassing ourselves in being a quick team playing slow.”

Washington (19-12) was led by Chris Welp’s 22 points.

“When we face quickness like that and they get cranked up it’s hard for us to stop them,” Washington Coach Andy Russo said. “Athletically, I think they’re superior to us.”

Georgetown 70, Texas Tech 64--Ralph Dalton’s 3-point play with just over two minutes remaining erased a one-point Texas Tech lead and the Hoyas went on to win.

Texas Tech overcame a 38-32 halftime deficit to build a 51-44 lead midway through the second half behind Wendell Owens, who finished with 22 points.

Reggie Williams scored 22 points for Georgetown (24-7). The Red Raiders concluded the year at 17-14.

Kansas 71, North Carolina A&T; 46--Second-ranked Kansas improved its record to 32-3 with the lopsided victory, but Coach Larry Brown cautioned against overconfidence.

“We’ve lost in the second round the last two years in a row, so we don’t need any incentive,” Brown said.

“I think the kids want to go a step further and won’t be thinking ahead to going back to Kansas City (site of the NCAA Midwest Regional finals). We understand the pitfalls before that.”

The Jayhawks, with a great height advantage, dominated the boards. Danny Manning led Jayhawk scorers with 15 points. He was backed by Calvin Thompson with 14 points and Greg Dreiling with 12.

North Carolina A&T; finished at 19-8.

Temple 61, Jacksonville 50 (OT)--Sophomore center Tim Perry missed all but one of his seven second-half free throws, including a miss with three seconds remaining in regulation that would have given his Owls a victory.

But in overtime, Perry scored the Owls’ first six points en route to their first-round victory. He finished with 11 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.

“I had confidence in Tim,” said Temple Coach John Chaney, “due to the big shots he’s hit for us all year. We didn’t get infected with good things early.”

Ed Coe scored 16 points to lead Temple (25-5). Howard Evans added 13 points for the Owls.

Ronnie Murphy scored 22 points for Jacksonville, which ended its season at 21-10.