By Sam Federman
Here's what you missed last night on a big mid-major ball Thursday
A 40 bomb and buzzer beater from Lamar Washington led Pacific over Washington State in Pullman. The Tigers are a scrappy and well-coached bunch, with Dave Smart in his first year at the helm, but they are still a long way away from relevance, and this loss knocks Washington State from the at-large conversation for now, and maybe for good. Yes, Isaiah Watts didn't play, and Cedric Coward is out for the year, but the Cougars couldn't afford a loss like that.
Another 40 bomb, 44 from Issac McBride, wasn't enough for Oral Roberts to overcome North Dakota State, who has a top 30 offense on KenPom. Final score in this game? 110-96. Three players scored 20+ for NDSU, including 29 from Jacksen Moni, one of the best players in mid-major basketball.
South Alabama is 4-0 in the Sun Belt with wins of 28, 26, 29, and 14. The Jaguars have mixed in a funky zone defense that has the Sun Belt rattled, and last night's win over league favorite Arkansas State cemented USA as the new team to beat.
Another huge upset last night came in Nashville, as Queens went into Lipscomb's building and knocked them off with a game-winner from Bryce Cash. The Royals are now 3-0 in the ASUN.
UC Irvine never trailed and led by as many as 21 in a road win over CSUN, who was ranked as the Big West's third highest team in KenPom before the game.
In some women's ball notes, it was a big night in the SEC, as Texas throttled Alabama to improve to 16-1, LSU moved to 18-0 with a road win over Tennessee, who has now lost two home games in a row. Missisippi State also took down No. 10 Oklahoma.
In the ACC, No. 19 North Carolina outlasted No. 14 Duke in overtime, and Virginia Tech knocked No. 13 Georgia Tech from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 105-94 double overtime win.
What to watch on Friday
Sadly, no #FridA10, no Ivy Friday yet, and no Big East game either. My favorite league, the MAAC, is on, and you can 2300 words that I wrote about that on Mid-Major Madness. Also some NEC action and MACtion. Only two high-major games.
Minnesota at Wisconsin, 7 p.m., Peacock
UCLA at Maryland, 8 p.m., Big FOX