NIT ROUNDUP : Hunter Scores 39, Leads Jackson State by UConn

Lindsey Hunter scored nine of Jackson State’s 10 points in overtime and finished with 39 points as the Tigers won their first Division I postseason game, defeating Connecticut, 90-88, Friday night in the National Invitation Tournament in Storrs, Conn.

The Tigers gave up three three-pointers to UConn in the final 50 seconds to force the overtime. But Hunter, who had just five points at halftime, hit a pair of free throws with 4 minutes 25 seconds left in overtime to tie the score at 84, a jumper from the left corner with 2:54 left to give the Tigers an 87-86 lead and then scored on a breakaway layup 17 seconds later.

The Huskies had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but David Simmons broke up Scott Burrell’s baseball pass to Donyell Marshall as time expired.

Jackson State (25-8), the regular-season Southwestern Athletic Conference champion, plays Southwest Missouri State either Monday or Tuesday at a site to be determined.

Connecticut (15-12) finished the season with five consecutive losses.

The Huskies used a 10-2 run with 6:23 left, started by a three-pointer by Burrell, to cut the Tigers’ lead to 60-58. The Tigers extended the lead to 76-67 with 63 seconds left and appeared to have the game under control. But Brian Fair hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left, Marshall hit another with 22 seconds left, and Marshall tied it at 80 on a three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left.

Texas El Paso 67, Houston 61--Johnny Melvin had 21 points and Roy Howard scored a key basket late in the game in the first round at El Paso.

The Miners’ next opponent will be Georgetown, which advanced by beating Arizona State, 78-68, Tuesday night. Houston, which was angered at being left out of the NCAA tournament, ended its season 21-9.

UTEP overcame a 23-4 run by the Cougars that began with 16:20 left in the second half on a three-pointer by David Diaz. The Miners battled back to take a 56-55 lead on a jumper by Eddie Rivera, who finished with 12 points.