COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONAL : Kentucky Makes Fast Work of Rider, 96-52

Any dreams Rider had of pulling off a huge NCAA tournament upset ended early against Kentucky.

Rider, champion of the Northeast Conference, was outmanned in every way and lost, 96-52, to a Wildcat team that looked every bit like a top-seeded team.

“It was basically a nightmare come true,” Rider Coach Kevin Bannon said. “When you draw Kentucky, you worry about just being physically overmatched and your kids getting rattled.”

Both happened to the Broncs. All-American Jamal Mashburn and Andre Riddick dominated inside, scoring 17 and 16 points, and Rider made only 39% of its shots in scoring its fewest points of the season.

“We’ve done a good job all year of not letting post people catch the ball so close to the basket,” Bannon said. “Tonight they seemed to get the ball wherever they wanted.”

Kentucky (27-3) used its press to force 13 first-half turnovers, then backed off and worked on its half-court defense during the second half. The Wildcats blocked nine shots--four by Riddick--and committed only eight turnovers.

“We played a combination of great offense and great defense,” Coach Rick Pitino said. “We totally overpowered Rider. They were overmatched at every position--we have too much depth. But I have a great deal of pride and respect for what they do.”

Rider (19-11) made its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1984.

At halftime, with a 39-point lead, Pitino told his players to limit the number of three-pointers they took and to settle into more of a half-court game.

Utah 86, Pittsburgh 65--Phil Dixon scored 22 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Utes, who used a zone defense to frustrate Pittsburgh.

Utah (24-6) got 17 points from leading scorer Josh Grant, 14 from Jimmy Soto and 10 from Byron Wilson.

Pitt (17-11), which trailed 43-36 at halftime, pulled within seven points three times in the second half but could get no closer.

Jerry McCullough’s three-point basket with 8:33 to play made it 64-57, but Utah used a 13-3 run to push its lead to 77-60 on two free throws by Grant.

Iowa 82, Northeast Louisiana 69--Acie Earl scored 23 points, blocked five shots and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Iowa.

The 6-foot-10 Earl, who led the Big Ten in blocks with 2.77 a game, forced Northeast Louisiana (26-5) into hurrying or changing its shots.

Northeast Louisiana, which made 52.4% of its shots during the regular season, made 32 of 71 (45.1%) against the Hawkeyes. The 13th-seeded Indians, winners of the Southland Conference, failed for the sixth time to advance past the first round of the tournament.

Iowa (23-8) made 58.9% of its shots and outrebounded the Indians, 45-23.

The Hawkeyes’ halftime lead was only 37-32 as Northeast Louisiana took advantage of 16 turnovers to stay close. But Iowa quickly took control during the second half, moving out to a 50-38 edge on a basket by James Winters with 15:21 to go.

Wake Forest 81, Tennessee Chattanooga 58--Rodney Rogers scored 26 points and Trelonnie Owens scored 22 to lead the Deamon Decons (20-8).

Tennessee Chattanooga (26-7) was outshot, 63% to 38%.

Derrick Hicks of Wake Forest had 16 rebounds and teammate Randolph Childress scored 17 points.

Tim Brooks scored 22 to lead Tennessee Chattanooga.