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Purdue advances, Michigan falls

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Down two to Tennessee with 2.7 seconds left, Purdue narrowly avoided a 5-second call before Carsen Edwards took a pass in the corner and heaved up a 3-point attempt that bounced off the rim.

But a whistle gave Edwards and the Boilermakers a reprieve.

Lamonte' Turner bumped into Edwards after he released the shot and the Big Ten's leading scorer went to the line for three free throws with 1.7 seconds left. Edwards missed the first, steadied himself, and knock down the next two to force overtime. Given a second chance to put away the Volunteers, the Boilermakers got it done.

Edwards finished with 29 points as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000, beating Tennessee 99-94 on Thursday night after blowing an 18-point lead.

"When I got to the free throw line, I was struggling all game," said Edwards.

Texas Tech 63,

Michigan 44

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- More than 24 minutes into the game, the nation's best defense had yet to allow its 20th point.

Yes, Texas Tech makes it tough on people. One more clamp-down job like this and the Red Raiders will be D-ing up in the Final Four.

Jarett Culver's 22 points were a mere subplot in third-seeded Tech's 63-44 takedown of No. 2 Michigan in the West Region on Thursday night -- a victory that set up an intriguing Elite Eight showdown against Gonzaga, which boasts the country's leading offense.

Texas Tech (29-6) is back to this point for the second straight year thanks to a shut-down job of epic proportions. The Raiders held an efficient-if-not-spectacular Michigan (30-7) offense to 16 field goals, 32 percent shooting and only a single 3-point basket on 19 attempts -- a clanker by C.J. Baird in mop-up duty that drooled in with 21.8 seconds left.

Only five players scored for Michigan, which was led by its brash playmaker, freshman Iggy Brazdeikis, who finished with 17, most of which came well after the game was out of hand.

Gonzaga 72,

Florida State 58.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Gonzaga was not going to be bullied by Florida State again with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

The top-seeded Bulldogs beat Florida State 72-58 in a Sweet 16 rematch Thursday night that moved Gonzaga to a regional final for the fourth time.

Gonzaga will face Texas Tech on Saturday for the first spot in the Final Four.

Virginia 53,

Oregon 49.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Ty Jerome's 3-pointer was memorable not only for its timing, but because it marked one of the few Virginia made against Oregon.

Jerome gave the Cavaliers a three-point lead with 3:34 remaining, and then they used their trademark defense to smother the Ducks and make it stand.

No. 1 seed Virginia reached its second regional final in four years with a 53-49 victory over 12th-seeded Oregon Thursday night. The Cavaliers face third-seeded Purdue in the South Regional finals Sunday.

Starting at /week.