CBS NCAA Ratings Up From Last Year

Tuesday, March 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Ratings for the NCAA tournament selection show and three of four college basketball conference championship games produced significant increases over last year for CBS.

The selection show, expanded to one hour for the first time since 1995, earned an overnight rating of 5.8 and a share of 11, up 5 percent from last year's 5.5 rating and 10 share. The hour show in 1995 produced a 4.8-10.

Ratings for the Conference USA, Pac-10 and Southeastern Conference title games also were higher.

On Saturday, Cincinnati's victory over Marquette for the Conference USA title produced an overnight rating of 2.2 with a 6 share, up 47 percent from last year's 1.5 rating and 4 share for Charlotte vs. Cincinnati.

Arizona's victory over Southern California in the first Pac-10 tournament championship game since 1990 had a 3.0 rating and 6 share.

Mississippi State's victory over Alabama for the SEC championship earned a rating of 2.0 with a 5 share, up 25 percent over last year's 1.6-4 for Kentucky-Mississippi.

Ohio State's Big Ten title game victory over Iowa produced a 3.3 rating and 7 share, down slightly from last year's 3.4-7 for Iowa vs. Indiana.