INDIANAPOLIS — Denzel Valentine finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead No. 2 Michigan State past No. 13 Purdue 66-62 in Sunday’s Big Ten tournament championship game.

He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after flirting with triple-doubles on three consecutive days. Michigan State (29-5) has won 13 of 14 and has its fifth tourney title, giving them an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Purdue (26-8) was led by Vince Edwards with 19 points while A.J. Hammons and Caleb Swanigan had 11 each.

Michigan State took control with two 9-0 runs late in the first half and extended the margin to as much as 46-33 early in the second.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

(16) KENTUCKY 82, (17) TEXAS A&M 77: Derek Willis’s 3-pointer with 1:01 left in overtime put Kentucky (26-8) ahead to stay, and the 16th-ranked Wildcats beat No. 17 Texas A&M (16-8) in overtime for their second straight conference tournament championship and 29th overall, in Nashville, Tennessee.

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These teams split the regular season title after the Aggies edged Kentucky in College Station in overtime on Feb. 20. But SEC tournament titles are treasured by Kentucky faithful, and the Wildcats gave fans yet another to celebrate in a game they have lost only 10 times in the program’s storied history.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

UCONN 72, MEMPHIS 58: Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs scored 13 points each and Daniel Hamilton had a double-double for the third straight day, leading Connecticut (24-10) to a victory over Memphis (19-15), in Orlando, Florida.

ATLANTIC 10

SAINT JOSEPH’S 87, VCU 74: DeAndre’ Bembry scored 30 points and Isaiah Miles had 26 points and 12 rebounds as Saint Joseph’s beat VCU to win the tournament championship for the second time in three seasons, in New York.

The fourth-seeded Hawks (27-7) locked up an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, though they were likely getting in anyway.

The second-seeded and defending champion Rams (24-10) will probably be in the field of 68, too.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE

ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 70, LOUISIANA-MONROE 50: Roger Woods scored 19 points and Arkansas-Little Rock punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament with a dominant second half, beating Louisiana-Monroe at New Orleans.


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