COL BKB: Memphis 92, Michigan St. 74

HOUSTON, March 29 (UPI) -- Derrick Rose helped Memphis land an early knockout blow Friday that advanced the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament with a 92-74 win over Michigan State.

Memphis became the fourth No. 1 seed to reach the tournament's Elite Eight. The Tigers will take on second-seeded Texas in the finals of the South Region Sunday. It will be the only regional final matching the top two seeds.

The Tigers built a lead early, but Michigan State was still within eight points when Goran Suton hit a three-pointer with 10:21 to play in the opening half. The Spartans, however, could score only four more points during the remainder of the half while Memphis was opening a 30-point margin at the break.

Rose finished with 27 points and Chris Douglas-Roberts had 25 for the Tigers (36-1), whose only loss this season came against Tennessee.

Michigan State (27-9) was led by Suton with 23.

Never in the history of the NCAA Tournament have all four top seeds reached the Final Four, but it will happen this year if North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas and Memphis win this weekend.

It has been nine years since as many as three No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four.