Michigan State will play No. 4 seed Louisville in the West Regional semifinals Thursday in Phoenix.
Appling added 19 points for the Spartans (29-7), who had to scrap their way past the ninth-seeded Billikens (26-8). Saint Louis controlled the tempo but never got a complete handle on Green, Michigan State’s superb senior. He added six assists and even helped mop up sweat off the floor in the final minute.
In Omaha, Nebraska, Kenny Boynton scored 20 points and Florida routed Norfolk State to reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.
Norfolk State shook up the West Regional when it upset No. 2 seed Missouri 86-84 on Friday and was trying to become the first 15 seed to reach the round of 16.
Florida put a quick end to that idea, making five 3-pointers during a 25-0 run that made it 29-6 midway through the first half.
The Gators (25-10) made it to the regional semifinals for the sixth time in 12 NCAA tournament appearances under coach Billy Donovan. They will play No. 3 seed Marquette on Thursday in Phoenix after their second straight runaway win.
Florida was 4 for 23 from beyond the arc in its tournament opener, but still managed to beat Virginia 71-45.
In Greensboro, North Carolina, John Henson proved he’s healthy enough to help North Carolina’s latest push for the Final Four. It remains to be seen if Kendall Marshall will be able to help the Tar Heels.
Henson had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in his return from a wrist injury, but Marshall broke a bone in his right wrist during the second half of North Carolina’s third-round victory over Creighton.
Coach Roy Williams confirmed the injury after the game, and said he would talk to Marshall and his parents about his status Sunday night. The point guard still finished with 18 points and 11 assists.
North Carolina got off to a fast start and built a 15-point lead in the first half, then kept control and pushed the margin to 19 after the break on the way to its second straight double-digit victory in the Midwest Regional. The top-seeded Tar Heels (31-5) reached the round of 16 for a record 25th time.
In Nashville, Tennessee, Walter Offutt scored 21 points, D.J. Cooper had 19 and Ohio beat South Florida to advance to the regional semifinals.
The Bobcats (29-7) will play No. 1 seed North Carolina in their second trip to the round of 16.
Ohio trailed by two when Offutt swished a 3-pointer, launching a 10-0 run for the Bobcats. A pair of free throws by Cooper made it 54-46 with 3:28 left.
The Bobcats had a 59-53 lead when Toarlyn Fitzpatrick connected for South Florida’s first 3-pointer of the half.
In Omaha, Nebraska: Elijah Johnson scored 18 points, including the go-ahead basket off a steal in the final minute, and Kansas rallied to beat Robbie Hummel and Purdue after trailing almost the entire way.
Thomas Robinson had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (29-6), who were down by 10 in the second half but still managed to advance to St. Louis. They’ll play No. 11 seed North Carolina State on Friday in the Midwest Regional semifinals.
Purdue was clinging to a 60-59 lead and had the ball when Lewis Jackson, with the shot clock winding down, lost control at the top of the key. Johnson picked it up and went the other way for the go-ahead layup with 23.3 seconds left.
Hummel missed a 3-pointer at the other end and Tyshawn Taylor scored a transition dunk for Kansas with 2.5 seconds left.
In Columbus, Ohio, Lorenzo Brown hit three free throws in the final 10.6 seconds and North Carolina State conjured up its glorious tradition by upsetting Georgetown.
The Wolfpack (24-12) had to survive a furious comeback by the Hoyas (24-9) and only were assured of the win when Jason Clark’s hurried 3-point attempt from the right wing was off the mark at the buzzer.
In Greensboro, North Carolina, senior center Kenny Frease scored a career-high 25 points to go with 12 rebounds and Xavier knocked off upset-minded Lehigh to reach the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years.
Lehigh, which stunned No. 2 seed Duke on Friday, was looking to become the first 15 seed to make it to the regional semifinals. But the 7-foot Frease stood in the way.
In Nashville, Tennessee, Dion Dixon stole the ball and dunked to put Cincinnati ahead for good with 1:32 left and the Bearcats edged Florida State to reach their first regional semifinal in the NCAA tournament since 2001.
Cincinnati (26-10) will play No. 2 seed Ohio State in Boston on Thursday night in the East Regional, giving the state of Ohio four teams out of the last 16 still standing.
