The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MIKHAIL McLean and the Houston Cougars were one of the few higher seeds to avoid an upset and have advanced to the NCAA Division I Mens’ Basketball Tournament’s “Sweet 16.”

The Cougars, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, defeated No.10 seed Rutgers 63-60 in Sunday’s second round matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

McLean, who serves as assistant director for player development, makes his second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 as a member of the Cougars’ coaching staff. Houston began the tournament with a convincing 87-56 win over the region’s No.15 seed, Cleveland State in the opening round. The win over Rutgers marked Houston’s ninth straight. They will face another double digit seed in the No.11 seeded Syracuse Orange, Saturday March 27. Tipoff is at 9:55pm local time at Finkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Orange defeated No.3 West Virginia on Sunday 75-72 after first beating No.6 San Diego State in the First Round, 78-62.

Following his playing career with the Cougars, McLean joined the staff during the 2015-16 season. He has served in his current role as assistant director for player development for the 2016-17 season.

Another Bahamian on the sidelines for his programme was eliminated in the First Four.

Michigan State had an 11-point lead at halftime and led by five points in the final two minutes of regulation but could not hang on as UCLA came back to beat the Spartans 86-80 in the NCAA First Four at Mackey Arena Thursday night.

Lourwals “Tum Tum” Nairn played four seasons for the Spartans and joined the Spartans coaching staff as a graduate manager in the Fall 2019 campaign.