TOM WITHERS
Florida Atlantic guard Nicholas Boyd (2) is fouled between Fairleigh Dickinson forward Ansley Almonor (5) and guard Joe Munden Jr. (1) in the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida Atlantic ends Fairleigh Dickinson's run for Sweet 16

By Tom Withers Mar. 19, 2023 10:49 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson came up just a little short this time.

Fairleigh Dickinson players celebrate beating Purdue 63-58 after a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Fairleigh Dickinson stuns No. 1 seed Purdue in March Madness

By Tom Withers Mar. 17, 2023 09:10 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson brought down a giant. Pulling

Florida State guard Sara Bejedi, center, drives to the basket between Georgia forward Brittney Smith (24) and guard Diamond Battles (3) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State muscles past USC 72-62 in March Madness

By Tom Withers Mar. 17, 2023 02:39 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Upset with the officials and his team's defense, Michigan State

FILE - Purdue head coach Matt Painter watches during the second half of an NCAA semifinal basketball game against Ohio State at the Big Ten men's tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Chicago. Purdue faces Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)
March Madness: USC hoping to mimic Dunk City's magical run

By Tom Withers Mar. 16, 2023 05:06 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — When it was time for film study this week, Southern California

Cleveland State hires Iowa State assistant Robinson as coach

By Tom Withers Apr. 05, 2022 06:23 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland State is hiring longtime Iowa State assistant Daniyal

Houston 's Taze Moore (4) gets off a pass around Illinois 's Coleman Hawkins (33) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 20, 2022. Houston won 68-53. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Moore scores 21, Houston hammers Illinois to make Sweet 16

By Tom Withers Mar. 20, 2022 02:44 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Once back in their locker room, Houston's players emptied their

Houston's Kyler Edwards (11) prepares to shoot a 3-point basket in front of UAB's Jordan Walker (10) during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Houston guard Edwards no stranger to NCAA stage, spotlight

By Tom Withers Mar. 19, 2022 07:26 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — As Houston's players went through pregame warmups before discarding

Houston 's Josh Carlton (25) dunks behind UAB 's Trey Jemison (55) during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh, Friday, March 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Edwards scores 25 to power Houston past UAB in NCAA opener

By Tom Withers Mar. 18, 2022 11:55 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Houston looks like a problem again. A Final Four team

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood watches his team as they practice for the first round of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Pittsburgh. Illinois is to take on Chattanooga on Friday. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Big and bright, Illini's Cockburn eyes deep NCAA tourney run

By Tom Withers Mar. 17, 2022 07:25 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The smile is wide and bright, like everything else about Kofi

Akron's Enrique Freeman celebrates after a dunk against Kent State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Mid-American Conference men's tournament Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Akron rocks rival Kent State 75-55 for MAC title, NCAA berth

By Tom Withers Mar. 12, 2022 10:38 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — The only video that truly mattered to Akron's players was the one of

FILE - Kent State guard Malique Jacobs (2) works the ball past West Virginia guard Taz Sherman (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va., on Dec. 12, 2021. Four Kent State players, including starting guard Malique Jacobs, have been disciplined by the Mid-American Conference for a social media post in advance of Saturday's championship game against rival Akron. (AP Photo/William Wotring, File)
Four Kent State players disciplined for profane video post

By Tom Withers Mar. 12, 2022 01:35 PM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — Four Kent State players, including starting guard Malique Jacobs,

FILE - In this March 19, 2021, file photo, Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates directs his team during the first half of a first-round game against Houston in the NCAA college basketball tournament at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. After turning around a program in just two seasons, Gates signed a contract extension Thursday, May 20, 2021, through the 2026-27 season. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)
Gates gets contract extension at Cleveland State thru 2027

By Tom Withers May. 20, 2021 11:30 AM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland State isn't going to let coach Dennis Gates get away

Cleveland State head coach Dennis. Gates watches during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the men's Horizon League conference tournament championship game against Oakland, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A memorable car ride leads Gates, Sampson to NCAA meeting

By Tom Withers Mar. 18, 2021 03:28 PM EDT
The book is never far from Dennis Gates' reach, with the inscription providing

Buffalo's LaQuill Hardnett, left, grabs a rebound ahead of Ohio's Ben Roderick during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Ohio beats Buffalo for first MAC title since 2012, NCAA bid

By Tom Withers Mar. 14, 2021 04:16 AM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Last March, the Ohio Bobcats were on the floor warming up for

Cleveland State head coach Dennis. Gates celebrates with is team following an NCAA college basketball game in the men's Horizon League conference tournament championship game against Oakland, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Indianapolis. Cleveland State won 80-69 (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Gates has Cleveland State dreaming, dancing into NCAA field

By Tom Withers Mar. 12, 2021 07:30 AM EST
CLEVELAND (AP) — When his team made history for ineptitude in December,

Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher speaks to the media, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Cleveland. The Mid-American Conference basketball tournament was cancelled Thursday, at an arena scheduled to be the site of NCAA men's tournament games next week .(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Ohio players get in one last run after MAC tourney canceled

By Tom Withers Mar. 12, 2020 03:23 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — After getting up some pregame shots, Ohio's players excitedly

FILE - In this March 6, 2018, file photo, Cleveland State head coach Dennis Felton watches the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Wright State in the Horizon League tournament championship in Detroit. Felton has been fired by Cleveland State after just two seasons. Felton and his entire staff were let go on Friday, July 12, 2019, athletic director Scott Garrett announced. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Cleveland State fires coach Dennis Felton after 2 seasons

By Tom Withers Jul. 12, 2019 03:46 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Dennis Felton's stay at Cleveland State was short, and anything but

Bowling Green's Antwon Lillard (11) and Buffalo's Jeremy Harris (2) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game of the Mid-American Conference men's tournament, Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Raging Bulls: Buffalo wins fourth MAC title in 5 years

By Tom Withers Mar. 16, 2019 09:59 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Not a coaching change. Not new players. Not any MAC team has been

Bowling Green hangs on, beats N. Illinois to make MAC final

By Tom Withers Mar. 15, 2019 11:34 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Dylan Frye scored 25 points, Justin Turner made a big late steal and

Central Michigan's Kevin McKay (20) grabs a rebound ahead of Buffalo's CJ Massinburg (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference men's tournament Friday, March 15, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
No. 18 Buffalo bulls past Central Michigan into MAC final

By Tom Withers Mar. 15, 2019 09:05 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Buffalo's hopes for another MAC championship were dangling, and as