Alabama’s Rylan Griffen, right, battles for a rebound with Texas A&M guard Hayden Hefner, above left, and guard Wade Taylor IV during the first half of the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game in Nashville, Tenn. John Amis/Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brandon Miller scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as fourth-ranked Alabama smothered No. 18 Texas A&AM 82-63 on Sunday for the Crimson Tide’s second Southeastern Conference Tournament championship in three seasons.
The Crimson Tide also capped their second SEC double dip in three seasons after picking up their regular-season trophy before Friday’s quarterfinals. The Tide (29-5) extended the program record for wins while adding its eighth tournament title in its 15th appearance; both are second only to Kentucky in the SEC.
Miller, the tournament MVP and AP All-SEC player and newcomer of the year, posted his ninth double-double of the season. Jahvon Quinerly, who was 0-of-9 shooting with one point in the semifinal, made his first three 3s and scored 13 of his 22 points in the first half. Charles Bediako had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The second-seeded Aggies (25-9) dropped to 0-3 in the tournament finale, losing for a second straight year. Dexter Dennis led Texas A&M with 14 points, Wade Taylor IV had 13 and Tyrece Radford 12.
Alabama snapped a five-game skid to Texas A&M, which included a 67-61 loss in College Station on March 4 in the regular season.
MEMPHIS 75, (1) HOUSTON 65: Kendric Davis scored 31 points, including 14 in a big run before halftime, and Memphis (26-8) held on to beat short-handed Houston (31-3) in the American Athletic Conference tournament championship game at Fort Worth, Texas.
DeAndre Williams had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, who got the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. They are going to March Madness for the second year in a row.
Houston played without AAC player of the year Marcus Sasser, who strained his groin in the first half of Saturday’s semifinal game. The senior guard’s status will remain a question mark for the Cougars.
(5) PURDUE 67, PENN STATE 65: Zach Edey scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Purdue (29-5) hung on to beat Penn State (22-13) in the Big Ten Tournament championship game at Chicago.
WOMEN
IOWA STATE 62, (15) TEXAS 51: Ashley Joens had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead Iowa State (22-9) over Texas (25-9) in the Big 12 Conference Tournament championship game at Kansas City, Missouri, for the Cyclones’ first postseason title since 2001.
Joens, the 2022-23 Big 12 Player of the Year, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Shaylee Gonzales, Rori Harmon and DeYona Gaston of Texas, Lexi Donarski of Iowa State and Skylar Vann of Oklahoma.
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