No. 2-seeded Villanova avoids upset in overtime

Scottie Reynolds learned a lesson starting the game on the bench.

Once in the game, he delivered a teachable moment of his own to 15th-seeded Robert Morris: Don’t let a Final Four-tested team like Villanova off the hook.

Reynolds was benched, his shot wasn’t falling and his Wildcats were on the brink of having their NCAA tournament run end in a huge upset. He responded with a clutch performance at the foul line in the final minutes of regulation, and No. 2-seeded Villanova (25-7) survived a scare from Robert Morris in a 73-70 overtime victory Thursday in the NCAA tournament at Providence, R.I.

“I always think we’re going to win, I always think we’re going to find a way,� Coach Jay Wright said.

The Wildcats trailed, 55-47, with 4:19 left in regulation, but Reynolds, who made two of 15 shots, kept attacking the basket.

The Colonials (23-12) committed 21 turnovers, letting Villanova back in the game.

Wright benched Reynolds at the start of the game to make a “teaching point.� He declined to reveal the reasons behind the disciplinary action against Villanova’s leading scorer.

St. Mary’s 80, Richmond 71: Omar Samhan had 29 points and 12 rebounds despite spending most of the game in foul trouble, and the 10th-seeded Gaels (27-5) pulled away at Providence to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time in six tries since 1959.

Mickey McConnell, the West Coast Conference tournament MVP, scored 23 points for the Gaels, who had a 40-18 rebounding edge and 21-4 advantage in second-chance points. David Gonzalvez scored 18 and Kevin Anderson had 16 for Richmond (26-9).

Old Dominion 51, Notre Dame 50: Carleton Scott’s three-pointer rattled out in the closing seconds, and 11th-seeded Old Dominion stunned the Irish and star Luke Harangody at New Orleans.

The Fighting Irish rushed the ball up the court as the clock wound down, but Scott’s attempt to tie the game didn’t fall and Harangody’s putback at the buzzer wasn’t enough.

Frank Hassell scored 15 to lead Old Dominion (27-8), which held Harangody to four points — and scoreless until the final minute. Ben Hansbrough scored 17 points to lead the Irish (23-12).

Baylor 68, Sam Houston State 59: Ekpe Udoh had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and LaceDarius Dunn scored 13 at New Orleans to help the third-seeded Bears win an NCAA tournament game for the first time in 60 years.

Udoh also had five assists, two blocks and two steals for Baylor (26-7), which broke open a close game down the stretch.

Gilberto Clavell had 23 points and Preston Brown added 13 for Sam Houston State (25-8), which tied it at 55 on a short floater by Ashton Mitchell with 3:48 to go. The game remained tied until Quincy Acy dunked to put Baylor ahead for good with 2:30 left.