A Dream Come Drew: Valparaiso Earns Bid

Valparaiso Coach Homer Drew, who came out of a yearlong retirement last fall to lead the Crusaders (18-12) once more, has them back in the NCAA tournament after they defeated Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 75-70, Tuesday night in the final of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament at Kansas City, Mo. Odell Bradley led IUPUI (21-11) with 26 points.

Horizon -- Cedrick Banks scored 14 points at Milwaukee, and Illinois Chicago (24-7) defeated Wisconsin Milwaukee, 65-62, to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. The Panthers are 19-10.

Sun Belt -- Antoine Landry scored 16 points at Bowling Green, Ky., as Louisiana Lafayette (20-8) held off New Orleans, 67-58, to earn its first NCAA tournament bid since 2000. The Privateers (17-14) shot only 33% from the field in the second half.

Big Sky -- At Cheney, Wash., Northern Arizona (15-13) rolled to a 91-72 victory over Idaho State (13-18). The Lumberjacks will play Eastern Washington (16-12), which cruised to a 72-53 victory over Weber State (15-14).

WOMEN

Amber Jacobs had 22 points to lead No. 23 Boston College (25-6) to a 75-57 victory over Rutgers (21-11) in the Big East championship game at Hartford, Conn.... Steffanie Blackmon scored 19 points at Dallas to lead No. 14 Baylor (23-7) to an 86-71 victory over Kansas (9-19) in a Big 12 tournament game at Dallas.... In another Big 12 tournament game at Dallas, Caton Hill scored 20 points to help No. 19 Oklahoma (20-8) to a 60-47 victory over Texas A&M; (9-17).

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It appears the planned doubleheader involving teams from Michigan State, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and North Carolina on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier won’t take place this fall, according to Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo.... San Francisco fired Coach Philip Mathews.... Akron fired Coach Dan Hipsher.