Jordan Hulls and Cody Zeller turned Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis into their personal stage Thursday. In the same building where the two won state high school titles, the duo ended the No. 15 Hoosiers' Big Ten tournament drought.
Hulls scored 20 points, while Zeller had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Indiana (25-7) past Penn State, 75-58. Indiana ended a six-game losing streak in the tourney, a span that dated back to Mike Davis' final team in 2006.
The Hoosiers' last win in Big Ten tourney play was a 61-56 decision over Wisconsin on March 10, 2006.
Kansas 83, Texas A&M 66 - Elijah Johnson scored a career-high 26 points as the No. 3 Jayhawks began pursuit of their third straight Big 12 tournament title with a quarterfinal win over the Aggies (14-18) in Kansas City, Mo.
Thomas Robinson, the conference player of the year, finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and all-Big 12 guard Tyshawn Taylor added 16 points for Kansas (27-5).
UNC-Wilmington 66, Georgia State 59 - In the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in Upper Marlboro, Md., the Seahawks (19-11) used a balanced attack to beat the Panthers (8-22). The Seahawks next meet Hofstra in a quarterfinal at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Old Dominion 72, Towson 58 - In the CAA tourney, the Monarchs (11-20) surprised the Tigers (16-14) in a game between teams that finished 7-11 in conference. Old Dominion takes on Delaware in a quarterfinal at noon Friday.
George Mason 70, Northeastern 60 - Sophomore Amber Easter had 22 points and junior Taleia Moton tossed in 20 to lead the Patriots (15-15) over the Huskies (8-22) in their CAA first-round match. George Mason meets James Madison at 5 p.m. Friday.
VCU 78, William and Mary 69 - Senior Courtney Hurt had 25 points as the Rams (17-13) beat the Tribe (10-20) in their CAA match. VCU will face Drexel in a quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
