UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee and Iowa have ended lengthy conference title droughts.
The 24th-ranked Hawkeyes are Big Ten champs for the first time in 16 years following a 75-66 victory over No. 9 Purdue. Keegan Murray had 19 points and 11 rebounds to help Iowa become just the fourth time to win the championship with four victories in as many days. Tony Perkins had 11 points and four assists for the Hawkeyes, while Payton Sandfort added 10 points.
Jaden Ivey scored 20 points and Trevion Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Boilermakers, who were trying to win the tournament for the first time since 2009.
Ninth-ranked Tennessee is the SEC champ for the first time since 1979 following a wire-to-wire win over Texas A&M, 65-50. The Volunteers scored the game’s first 14 points and won for the 12th time in 13 games.
Santiago Vescovi scored 17 points and Josiah-Jordan James had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Vols, who had assists on 19 of their 22 baskets.
No. 18 Houston also earned a conference tournament title, capturing the American Athletic title with a 71-53 rout of Memphis. Fabian White Jr. dropped in 20 points after playing just three minutes of the semifinal because of a back issue. Fellow big man Josh Carlton had 18 to help the Cougars close out their second straight conference crown.