As we advance further into the tournament, the action intensifies. Some schools continue their Cinderalla run while other schools continue to plow through the field. Here is a recap of all the games that took place in the Second Round.

#1 Iowa vs. #7 Oregon

The Ducks faced off against Luka Garza and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Oregon took the momentum, scoring 56 points and leading by ten at the half. Garza had a great game, but the Ducks pulled away at the end, pouring in 95 points. The Ducks were led by Chris Duarte, who scored 23 points and seven assists. Luka Garza had a 36 point performance in his final collegiate game. The final score was 95-80

#1 Gonzaga vs. #8 Oklahoma

The top-seeded Bulldogs took on the Sooners in their second-round matchup. The Zags dominated from start to finish. Drew Timme led the charge, scoring a game-high 30 points along with 13 rebounds. Gonzaga won by a final score of 87-71. The Bulldogs advance to the Sweet 16 for the 5th consecutive year.

#11 UCLA vs. #14 Abilene Christian

After both teams coming off two big upset, the Bruins and the Wildcats faced off in the second round. The Wildcats forced Texas into over 20 turnovers in their previous game, but they couldn’t shake the Bruins. UCLA committed only eight turnovers as a team as they steamrolled to a 67-47 win to advance to the Sweet 16.

#5 Creighton vs. #13 Ohio

The Creighton Blue Jays looked to avoid getting upset, as Ohio did in the previous round vs. Virginia, and that they did. The Blue Jays held Jason Preston to just four points on 1-10 shooting from the field and held Ohio to just 31% shooting as a team. Marcus Zegarowski led all scorers with 20 points to help Creighton win 72-58.

#1 Michigan vs #8 LSU

The Tigers looked to spoil Michigan’s run and move on themselves to the Sweet 16. Despite a d 30 point outburst from freshman Cam Thomas, LSU came up short to the Wolverines. Eli Brooks scored 21 points with seven assists, while Chaundee Brown also scored 21 points off the Michigan bench. The final score was 86-78 as the Wolverines move on.

#4 Florida State vs #5 Colorado

Colorado came out blazing in their first-round game, knocking down 16 threes in their win over Georgetown. The Seminoles had none of that, though, holding the Buffaloes to just 24% from three with six made threes. Anthony Polite led all scorers with 22 points for Florida State, as the Seminoles advance to the Sweet 16. The final score was 71-53.

#2 Alabama vs. #10 Maryland

The Alabama Crimson Tide had complete control over this game. Alabama had five players score in double digits, with two of those five scoring over 20. Jahvon Quinerly kept Alabama’s offense flowing smoothly, finishing with 14 points and eleven assists. Alabama won by a final score of 96-77, making it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004.

#1 Illinois vs. #8 Loyola Chicago

The Loyola Chicago Ramblers are rambling in the tournament once again. Led by versatile center Cameron Krutiwg, Loyola Chicago took down the top-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini. Krutwig filled the stat sheet with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four steals as the Ramblers won 71-58. The Ramblers will look to get back to the Final Four, just as they did on their Cinderella run in 2018.

#1 Baylor vs. #8 Wisconsin

The Baylor Bears punished the Wisconson Badgers, especially their starting backcourt. There previous game vs. North Carolina, their backcourt tandem of Brad Davidson and D’Mitrik Trice combined for 50 points. But against Baylor, they only scored 20 points on a combined 8-28 from the field. Baylor took charge in the first half and never looked back, as they won by a final score of 76-63.

#3 West Virginia vs. #11 Syracuse

The Orangemen’s run continues as Syracuse took down West Virginia. Buddy Boeheim followed up his first-round 30 point performance with 25 points with six made threes to take the victory over West Virginia. The final score was 75-72 as the Orangemen survive and advance.

#3 Arkansas vs. #6 Texas Tech

The Arkansas Razorbacks battled with the Texas Tech Raiders down to the last second. Two of Arkansas’ starters, Justin Smith and Moses Moody, played 39 minutes for the Razorbacks. Texas Tech failed to convert in the game’s waning seconds, and Arkansas escaped with a 68-66 victory to move on to the Sweet Sixteen.

#3 Kansas vs. #6 USC

The USC Trojans led Kansas every second of this game, wire to wire. The Twin Tower brothers, Evan and Isaiah Mobley, fueled USC’s efficient offense and unyielding defense. Isaiah Mobley finished the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four made three-pointers, while his little brother Evan Mobley had 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. The Trojans shot 57% from the field as a team and made 11/18 threes as a team. The final score was 85-51 as USC moves on to the Sweet 16.

#2 Houston vs. #10 Rutgers

The ten-seeded Rutgers Scarlet Knights pushed Houston to the brink. Houston managed to find a way to win after trailing in the first half. Houston guard Quentin Grimes led Houston with 22 points and nine rebounds with five made three-pointers while playing all 40 minutes. , The Cougars won 63-60.

#7 Florida vs. #15 Oral Roberts

The Cinderella story for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles continued at the expense of the Florida Gators. Just as they did last game against Ohio State, the duo of Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor showed up and showed out. Obanor led all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Max Abmas scored 26 points while going a perfect 12-12 from the free-throw line. Abmas also had a game-high seven assists. The Golden Eagles upset Florida with an 81-78 victory to move on to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1974.

#4 Oklahoma State vs. #12 Oregon State

The Oregon State Beavers took on the #4 seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Cade Cunningham, who many believe will be the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Beavers jumped out to 14 point lead to end the half and kept the pressure on. Oklahoma State tried to make a run towards the end of the second half, but it was too late. Oregon State won 80-70. behind a 26 point performance from Ethan Thompson.

#4 Villanova vs. #13 North Texas

Like several others, the Villanova Wildcats didn’t want to be another top-seeded team to be upset. Villanova led the half by 20 points and cruised to the victory from there. The Wildcats knocked down 15 threes as a team and shot 55% from the floor. The final score was 84-61 as the Wildcats advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the seventeenth time in school history.