Two players with Dallas County connections will take part in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament and both will be on teams trying to pull bracket-busting upsets.

Former Dallas County High School star William Lee and UAB will face Iowa State in a 3 vs. 14 matchup in the second round Thursday in Louisville, Ky. Texas Southern and former Selma High School standout Malcolm Riley will travel to Portland, Ore. to take on 2 seed Arizona in a 2-15 game.

Lee and the Blazers defeated Middle Tennessee Saturday to win the Conference USA Tournament, meaning UAB only had to wait to see who it would play when the bracket was unveiled. Lee scored 13 points against the Blue Raiders and was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team. Earlier in the week Lee had been named to the Conference USA All-Freshmen team.

Eighteen 14 seeds have defeated 3 seeds in the history of the NCAA Tournament, including Mercer over Duke in the 2014 tournament. Three seeds are 102-18 versus 14 seeds all-time.

Texas Southern defeated Southern to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday, but already had the SWAC’s automatic bid locked up because the Jaguars were ineligible for the tournament.

Riley exited Saturday’s championship game after being knocked to the ground by Southern’s Trelun Banks on a flagrant foul in the final minute.

At the end of the play, another Southern player fell on Riley.

He was unable to shoot the free throws he was awarded and later was shown with a bandage wrapped around his head.

The injury required stitches. He scored 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way for the Tigers.

Two seeds are 113-7 all-time against 15 seeds all-time.

The last 15 seed to beat a 2 seed was Lehigh over Duke in 2012.

 

Peeples, Alabama State qualify for  ncaa tournament

Southwestern Athletic Conference defensive player of the year Jasmine Peeples and Alabama State will try to make NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament history Saturday when they take on Florida State.

The Hornets defeated Southern Saturday to win the SWAC title, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, but now have a tough task on their hands. Peeples scored 18 points and added nine rebounds in the Hornets’ win over Southern.

Alabama State is a 15 seed and will take on 2 seed Florida State on the Seminoles home floor.

Never in the history of the women’s tournament has a 15 seed defeated a 2 seed in 84 tries.

Saturday’s game is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.