VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Avante Cox had a career-high 10 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown, Romeir Elliott scored on a 5-yard run midway through the fourth quarter and Southern Illinois beat South Dakota 22-10 in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Southern Illinois improved to 4-3 all-time against the Coyotes. Despite both teams being in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the programs hadn’t faced off since the Salukis won 48-28 at South Dakota in 2019. The Salukis (8-4), ranked No. 23 in the FCS coaches poll, plays at third-ranked and No. 2 seed North Dakota State — another MVC member — next week. Southern Illinois won its last meeting with the Bison 38-14 on Feb. 27, ending NDSU’s 39-game win streak.
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Malevy Leons had 21 points as Bradley easily defeated Maine 71-39. Leons made 5 of 7 3-pointers. He added three blocks. Ja’Shon Henry had 15 points for Bradley (2-5). Rienk Mast added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Mikey Howell had seven assists. Peter Filipovity had 11 points for the Black Bears (2-4).
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Justin Lewis had 15 points as Marquette topped Northern Illinois 80-66. Tyler Kolek had 12 points for the Golden Eagles (6-1), who won their fourth straight at home. Stevie Mitchell added 11 points. Keshawn Williams had 17 points for the Huskies (1-5), whose losing streak stretched to five games.
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Antonio Reeves had 20 points as Illinois State defeated Purdue Northwest 81-71. Sy Chatman had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Illinois State (3-4). Kendall Lewis added 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Mark Freeman had seven assists. Anthony Barnard had 14 points for the Pride. Sangolay Njie added 13 points. Gregory Boyle had 11 points.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Jordan Nixon hit all six of her 3-point tries and scored 25 points as No. 23 Texas A&M built a third-quarter lead and held off Northwestern 77-68 on the final day of the Paradise Jam. Destiny Pitts added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Aggies (7-0), while Kayla Wells scored 15. Sahara Jones pitched in with 10 points and six boards off the bench. The Aggies pulled away from a 22-all halftime tie with a 29-19 third-quarter run. Pitts had nine points, Nixon hit three 3s and Burton scored eight — all at the foul line — in the pivotal quarter.
In top-25 men’s basketball:
— UCLA has put itself in position to move to the top of The Associated Press men’s basketball poll following Friday’s loss by Gonzaga. Jules Bernard scored 18 points and had two blocks to lead the second-ranked UCLA over UNLV, 73-51. Tyler Campbell had 15 points and Johnny Juzang (JOO’-zang) and Jaime Jaquez (HY’-may HAH’-kehz) each added 12 points each. The 6-1 Bruins shot 47% from the field and from 3-point range.
— AJ Green scored 35 points with four assists to lead Northern Iowa to a 90-80 win over No. 16 St. Bonaventure. Austin Phyfe and Nate Heise each had 15 points as the Panthers beat a ranked opponent for the first time since winning at then-No. 23 Colorado on Dec. 10, 2019.
— Azoulas Tubelis scored 22 points and Christian Koloko added 20 before leaving with an ankle injury in No. 17 Arizona‘s 105-60 thumping of Sacramento State. The 6-0 Wildcats had 31 assists on 38 field goals and shot 55% to avoid a letdown after beating Michigan earlier this week.
— Te’Jon Lucas scored a season-high 18 points to lead No. 18 BYU to a 75-64 win over Utah. Alex Barcello had 17 points for the 6-0 Cougars.
