The NCAA Tournament First Round started with a bang. Here is a quick recap of every game from the Round of 64.
#7 Florida vs. #10 Virginia Tech
Florida and Virginia Tech faced off in an OT thriller. Nahiem Alleyne led all scorers with 28 points, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Gators. The final score was 75-70 as Florida advances.
#3 Arkansas vs. #14 Colgate
Colgate gave #3 seeded Arkansas a first-half scare, but senior Forward Justin Smith’s 29 points, 13 rebound outing helped lift Arkansas to the Round of 32. The final score was 85-68
#1 Illinois vs. #16 Drexel
The Fighting Illini led by junior guard Ayo Dosunmu made light work of Drexel in a 78-49 victory. Ayo finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
#6 Texas Tech vs. #11 Utah State
The Texas Tech Raiders faced off against the Utah State Aggies in the First Round. The Raiders, led by Mac McClung, won by a score of 65-53. McClung led all scorers with 16 points.
#1 Baylor vs #16 Hartford
The Baylor Bears came out swinging vs. Hartford. Baylor forced 24 turnovers as they routed Hartford 79-55.
#2 Houston vs. #15 Cleveland State
The Houston Cougars dominant defense made life uncomfortable for the Cleveland State Vikings, holding them under 39% shooting team. Quentin Grimes’s 18 points led Houston to an 87-56 victory.
#2 Ohio State vs. #Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts duo of Max Abmas (29) and Kevin Obanor(30) combined for 59 points in an upset over Ohio State. The Buckeyes failed to convert an open three at the end of OT to force double OT. The final score was 75-72.
#4 Oklahoma State vs. #13 Liberty
Cade Cunningham and the Oklahoma State Cowboys were in a dogfight with the Liberty Flames. Cunningham hit a big three down the stretch to put out the Flames. The final score was 69-60 as, as the Cowboys advance.
#3 West Virginia vs. #14 Morehead State
Miles McBribe scored a game-high 30 points along with six assists for the Mountaineers, as they dominated Morehead State by a final score of 84-67.
#6 San Diego State vs., #11 Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange dominated San Diego State in an upset victory. Buddy Boeheim lit up the Aztecs with 30 points and making seven threes to advance to the Round of 32. The final score was 78-62.
#8 Loyola Chicago vs. #9 Georgia Tech
The Loyola Chicago Ramblers and their stifling defense held off the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to win 71-60. Lucas Williamson led all scorers with 21 points for Loyola Chicago.
#5 Villanova vs. #12 Winthrop
The Wildcats, led by James Robinson-Earl’s 22 points and 11 rebounds, defeated Winthrop by a score of 73-63.
#4 Purdue vs. #13 North Texas
The North Texas Mean Green upset Purdue by a score of 78-69. The Mean Green were led by Javion Hamlet, who pulled down 12 rebounds along with 24 points.
#5 Tennessee vs. #12 Oregon State
The Oregon State Beavers upset Tennesee in dominating fashion. The final score was 70-56. Oregon State had four starters score over 10+ points in the victory.
#8 North Carolina vs. #9 Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers dominated the Tar Heels behind a 29 point performance from Brad Davidson. Wisconsin shot 50% from the field and 48% from three as a team as they steamrolled to an 85-62 victory.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights faced off against the Clemson Tigers in the First Round. Rutgers balanced offensive attack lifted them over the Tigers in a 60-56 victory.
#3 Texas vs. #14 Abilene Christian
The Abilene Christian Tigers frenetic defense forced the Longhorns into 23 turnovers. Two clutch free throws from Joe Pleasant and a steal sealed the victory for the Wildcats as they upset Texas 53-52.
#3 Kansas vs. #14 Eastern Washington
The Groves Brothers, Tanner, and Jacob had a fantastic performance against the Jayhawks. Tanner scored 35, and Jacob scored 23, but it wasn’t enough to take down Kansas. Kansas had three players score 20+ points as they won 93-84.
#8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Missouri
The Oklahoma Sooners took on Missouri Tigers in an evenly matched game. Austin Reaves led the Sooners with 23 points and making 10 of 12 free throws. The Sooners pulled out the victory by a final score of 72-68.
#2 Alabama vs. #15 Iona
Alabama Crimson Tide faced off against the Iona Gaels. Iona kept it close in the first half, but ‘Bama flipped the switch in the second half. The final score was 68-55.
#2 Iowa vs. #15 Grand Canyon
Luka Garza, likely the National player of the Year, scored 24 points while going 4/5 from three. The Iowa Hawkeyes won 86-74 to advance to the Round of 32.
#4 Florida State vs. #UNC Greensboro
The Seminole’s defense smothered the Spartans. They held UNC Greensboro to 31% shooting from the field. The Seminoles also went 0-9 as a team from three but still managed to pull out a 64-54 victory to advance.
#4 Virginia vs. #13 Ohio
The Ohio Bobcats stunned the Virginia Cavaliers with an upset victory. Ohio guard Jason Preston had a near triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists for Ohio. The final score was 62-58, as UVA goes down as one of the only teams in tournament history to lose in the first Round after winning the
National Championship.
#5 Creighton vs. #12 UC Santa Barbara
Creighton avoids becoming another upset by holding off UC Santa Barbara. Christian Bishop led the Blue Jays with 15 points and 11 rebounds as they won 63-62.
#5 Colorado vs. #12 Georgetown
The Colorado Buffaloes had a fast start, making 11 threes in the first half alone. Jabari Walker led all scorers with 24 points, including 5-5 from three off of the bench. The Buffaloes won 96-73.
#8 LSU vs. #9 St. Bonaventure
The LSU Tigers, led by freshman sensation Cam Thomas defeated the St. Bonaventure Bonnies 76-61. Cam Thomas poured in 27 points in the victory for the Tigers.
#1 Michigan vs. #16 Texas Southern
The Michigan Wolverines defense held Texas So. to 24 first-half points. Although the Tigers outscored Michigan 42-40 in the second half, it was too little too late as the Wolverines cruised to an 82-66 victory.
#6 USC vs. #11 Drake
The Trojans, led by twin towers in Evan and Isaiah Mobley, defeated Drake 72-56. Evan Mobley, who is a projected top 5 prospect, scored 17 points while pulling down 11 rebounds and blocking three shots.
#7 UCONN vs. #10 Maryland
The Terps gave UCONN fits all game, holding the Huskies to 32% shooting from the field. The Terps guard Eric Ayala led them with 23 points over the Huskies in an upset victory. The final score was 63-54.
#1 Gonzaga vs. #16 Norfolk State
Gonzaga entered this game as the nation’s best offense, and they proved it once again. The Bulldogs shot 55% from the field and 51% from three. Corey Kispert led the way scoring 23 points while knocking down six threes. Gonzaga won by a score of 98-55 over the Spartans.
#6 BYU vs. #11 UCLA
After defeating Michigan State to get into the tournament, UCLA keeps their run alive by upsetting BYU. Johnny Juzang led the way for the Bruins by scoring 27 points. UCLA won by a score of 73-62.