Narrow win for top-seeded Memphis

Joey Dorsey set the tempo with a performance that endeared him to football coaches everywhere, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds, a season-high six blocks, five fouls and an untold number of bumps and bruises, and top-seeded Memphis outscrapped Mississippi State, 77-74, on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament at North Little Rock, Ark.

Plenty of other Tigers were lending a hand too. Three more players finished in double figures, including 17 each from Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose, and Memphis outrebounded Mississippi State, 45-37. The Tigers also had 19 assists to only five turnovers -- one in the first half.

It was the ninth straight win for Memphis (35-1), which advanced to the round of 16 for a third straight year. The Tigers will play another bruiser Friday when they take on fifth-seeded Michigan State (27-8).

“I love the frame of mind they’re in,” Memphis Coach John Calipari said. “We may not be the best team. We may be one of them, we may not be anywhere near it, but I like the mental attitude of my team. They’re having fun playing. They competed against a good team and a physical team, and we march on.”

Jamont Gordon had 21 points and Ben Hansbrough 19 for eighth-seeded Mississippi State (23-11), which hasn’t gotten out of the first weekend since the 1996 team, which reached the Final Four.

Texas 75, Miami 72 -- A.J. Abrams calmly made two free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining, giving the second-seeded Longhorns just enough margin to hold off Miami at North Little Rock, Ark.

Abrams gave Texas a 74-69 lead, but the Longhorns weren’t quite safe yet. Miami’s Raymond Hicks made a three-pointer, and D.J. Augustin then shot an airball on his first of two free throws with 1.8 seconds to play. Augustin made the second, though, to preserve the win.

Abrams scored 26 points on six three-pointers for the second consecutive game. Texas (30-6) advances to the regional semifinals to play third-seeded Stanford on Friday in Houston.

Jack McClinton scored 18 points for Miami (23-11). The Hurricanes went 12-20 in 2006-07 but bounced back this season, reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament for only the third time.