The Week

MIDEAST

Every dog is supposed to have its day, and that's exactly what Georgia's Bulldogs had when they upset Tennessee 83-76. Georgia, last in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-13 record, won despite 41 points by the Vols' Bernard King. Giving the Bulldogs their bite were two freshmen, Center Lavon Mercer (11 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks) and Guard Jimmy Daughtry (19 points). Tennessee had earlier downed Mississippi State 76-68, but the loss at Georgia dropped the Vols half a game behind Kentucky. The Wildcats took their 17th-straight away game 81-69 at Mississippi behind Mike Phillips' 20 points, and came home to trounce Alabama 85-70.

Michigan clinched an NCAA berth by stopping Michigan State 69-65 in overtime after the Spartans had rallied from an eight-point deficit to knot the game at 57-all in regulation time. In a battle for second place in the Big Ten, Minnesota beat Purdue 84-78 in overtime as Ray Williams gunned in 29 points and pulled down 16 rebounds. Minnesota also squeezed past Illinois 72-70, Mike Thompson scoring 29 points.

Two independents, Notre Dame and Detroit, scored nearly at will. Duck Williams collected 52 points as the Irish decked Loyola of Chicago 111-86 and LaSalle 113-77. The Titans smothered Marshall 122-86 and Xavier 91-66, John Long and Terry Tyler combining for 80 points.

Miami of Ohio took a half-game lead in the Mid-American race by beating Western Michigan 76-66 and Ohio U. 83-62. Second-place Central Michigan lost to Toledo 69-61, then trimmed Western 77-61. Northern Illinois was toppled from first place as it was upset twice, 75-70 by Eastern Michigan and 64-57 by Toledo.

1. KENTUCKY (22-2)
2. MICHIGAN (21-3)
3. TENNESSEE (20-5)

MIDWEST

Kansas State missed 17 of its first 19 shots against Oklahoma, but got 20 points and 13 rebounds from Curtis Redding for a 68-55 triumph. That clinched first place in the Big Eight for the Wildcats. Runner-up Missouri was dumped by Iowa State 95-86 as Andrew Parker and Leonard Allen teamed up for 45 points. Then the league playoffs began. Kansas State converted 37 of 41 foul shots to demolish Iowa State 97-62. Also on target from the foul line was Missouri, which made 36 of 41 free throws during a 92-74 conquest of Oklahoma State. Oklahoma beat Colorado 68-56 and Kansas held off Nebraska 61-58.

Louisville stopped Georgia Tech 91-80 in a Metro Conference contest as Wesley Cox scored 31 points. The Cardinals also throttled Northeast Louisiana 95-65 in a non-league game, even though Calvin Natt had 35 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Cincinnati drubbed three outsiders. After disposing of Buffalo State 79-60, the Bearcats swept past Biscayne 74-43 and Jacksonville 78-61.

Although it squandered most of a 15-point lead and committed 23 turnovers, Arkansas outlasted Texas A&M 63-62 to win its first outright Southwest Conference title since 1941. The Razorbacks also became the first team since 1956 to complete the regular conference schedule undefeated. By finishing first, Arkansas earned a bye into the finals of the SWC playoffs, which began with three of four home teams winning; A&M beat SMU 89-79, Texas Tech wiped out Rice 93-74 and Otis Birdsong tossed in 36 points as Houston walloped TCU 111-67. Baylor was the only visiting team in the conference to win, nipping Texas 72-70.