With the spherical of 32 underway, the primary spherical of the NCAA Event has formally come to an in depth.
Right here’s every thing you want to know to be caught up on the insanity to date heading into the spherical of 32.
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No. 9 Baylor defeated No. Mississippi State
Baylor defeated Mississippi State in a 75-72 sport that got here right down to the wire.
Freshman facilitator Rob Wright led the Bears with 19 factors, whereas Langston Love added 15. Miami switch Norchad Omier posted a double-double, dropping 12 factors and grabbing 10 boards.
Nevertheless, off all of the Bears, the nation was launched to VJ Edgecombe, a projected lottery decide within the NBA Draft. On the NBA’s mock draft, specialists mission Edgecombe to be drafted third total.
On the most important stage of his profession, Edgecombe confirmed the flashes of his potential, dropping 14 factors and grabbing 5 boards. The freshman guard showcased his explosiveness, slicing into the paint to attract fouls—good for six free throws—and his sharpshooting capability with a team-leading two triples.
Josh Hubbard led Mississippi State with a game-high 26 factors. Claudell Harris Jr. added 13 factors and Riley Kugel contributed 11 factors off the bench.
The sport was evenly matched, coming right down to the wire. After Edgecombe calmly sank two free throws to provide Baylor a three-point lead, Harris had the prospect to tie the sport with seconds remaining, however got here up quick.
The Bulldogs outshot the Bears, making 50% of their photographs from the sphere, however have been doomed by turnovers. Baylor performed handsy protection, logging 10 steals within the sport. Mississippi State’s 14 turnovers became 15 factors for Baylor, the distinction within the sport.
Baylor will now play Duke within the spherical of 32, a revenge sport for Bears level guard Jeremy Roach and a reunion of between highschool teammates Wright and phenom Cooper Flagg.
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No. 2 Alabama defeated No. 15 Robert Morris
Grant Nelson was the X-Consider Alabama’s win over the No. 1 seeded North Carolina Tar Heels in final yr’s NCAA Event.
He made fought for a troublesome and-one layup that gave Alabama the lead with 39 seconds to play. He then sank two free throws to ice the sport for the Crimson Tide.
This yr, Nelson got here to the rescue once more.
Nursing a leg harm, Nelson got here off the bench and instantly supplied a spark. He threw down a ferocious alley-oop to place Alabama out in entrance with below 10 minutes left within the second half, and performed stellar protection. In Nelson’s seven minutes of sport time, the NDSU switch completed with 5 factors, three rebounds and a steal.
That spark propelled Alabama to avoiding a first-round upset towards Robert Morris, defeating the Colonials 90-81.
Mark Sears completed with a double-double to steer the Crimson Tide, dropping 22 factors and meting out 10 assists. Clifford Omoruyi scored a season-high 17 factors and Mouhamed Dioubate an 18 level, 10 rebound double-double off the bench.
Alabama’s star freshman guard Labaron Philon completed together with his lowest scoring output of the season, sinking just one free throw whereas meting out eight assists.
Amarion Dickerson led the Colonials with 25 factors and Alvaro Folgueiras posted a 15 level, 10 rebound double-double.
Alabama’s top-ranked scoring offense lived as much as the hype, capturing 58.6% from the sphere. Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide struggled from past the arc, capturing solely 28.6% from past the arc.
Robert Morris stored up with Alabama’s excessive offensive tempo, taking a four-point deficit into halftime, and finally gaining the lead with seven minutes to play.
Nevertheless, Nelson’s contributions kicked off a 24-16 run, which allowed Alabama to shut out the sport.
Alabama will play Saint Mary’s within the spherical of 32.
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No. 3 Iowa State defeated No. 14 Lipscomb
Iowa State routed Lipscomb 82-55.
Regardless of dropping star guard Keshon Gilbert for the event, the Cyclone offense dominated.
Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with 20 factors whereas Curtis Jones, the workforce’s leading-scorer, completed with 17 factors off the bench. Joshua Jefferson practically posted a triple-double, ending with 10 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Jacob Ognacevic, the ASUN Participant of the 12 months, completed with a team-leading 18 factors. Gyasi Powell adopted swimsuit with 11 factors. Ognacevic and Powell have been the one two double-digit scorers for the Bison.
Iowa State ran away with the sport from the beginning. After Lipscomb took a 16-15 lead midway into the primary half, Iowa State recaptured the lead and by no means seemed again.
The Cyclones outscored the Bison 40-24 within the first half, and later 42-31 within the second half.
The Cyclones will now play Ole Miss within the spherical of 32.
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No. 12 Colorado State upsets No. 5 Memphis
Regardless of the decrease seeding, the Colorado State Rams have been favored over the Memphis Tigers of their first spherical matchup.
Using the momentum from their Mountain West Event run, the Rams performed as much as that expectation.
Colorado State placed on a three-point capturing clinic to tug off the upset towards Memphis, 78-70.
Kyan Evans led the Rams with 23 factors. He was lethal from past the arc, cashing six triples. Nique Clifford, the workforce’s main scorer, completed with a near-triple double, logging 14 factors, eight boards and 6 assists.
Dain Dainja led the Tigers with a double-double, scoring 22 factors and grabbing 12 boards. Wood Award candidate PJ Haggerty and Colby Rogers every adopted swimsuit with 18 factors.
The sport was a back-and-forth affair, with quite a few lead modifications within the first half. Memphis entered halftime with a five-point lead, however shortly noticed the Rams tie the sport up 5 minutes into the second half, happening a 17-12 run.
After Clifford drilled a jumper to provide the Rams a 50-48 lead, Colorado State by no means seemed again.
Memphis was doomed by their inefficient capturing from past the arc. The Tigers shot 26.1% from deep and solely transformed on 70% of their free-throw makes an attempt. The Tigers additionally struggled with foul hassle, logging 20 private fouls that became 19 Ram free-throws.
Colorado State continued their three-point barrage, nailing 11 triples complete. This was the third consecutive sport through which the Rams have made 10 or extra three-pointers.
The Rams will now play Maryland within the spherical of 32.
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No. 1 Duke defeated No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s
The general storyline for the Duke Blue Devils heading into the primary spherical was the well being of freshman phenom Cooper Flagg.
Flagg’s efficiency all however erased that narrative.
The potential high total decide within the NBA Draft instantly took off, changing an and-one and scoring within the paint. To cap it off, Flagg caught an alley-oop from Patrick Ngongba and threw down a thunderous slam to ship the gang right into a frenzy.
No drawback with the ankle there.
Flagg completed with 14 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks to assist lead the Blue Devils to a 93-49 rout over Mount St. Mary’s.
Tyrese Proctor led the Blue Devils with 19 factors and freshman middle Khaman Maluach went an ideal 5-5 from the sphere, ending with 11 factors.
Arlandus Keyes led the Mountaineers with 15 factors off the bench. Keyes was the one Mountaineer to submit double-digit scoring numbers.
Duke ran away with this sport from the start, constructing a 26-point halftime lead earlier than closing out the sport within the second half. The Blue Devils shot 50% from the sphere and splashed 14 triples within the sport.
Duke will now play Baylor and fellow projected lottery decide VJ Edgecombe within the spherical of 32.
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No. 7 Saint Mary’s defeated No. 10 Vanderbilt
Randy Bennett wasn’t going to led his Gaels be a first-round exit once more.
After falling in a shock upset to Grand Canyon final yr, the Gaels gave the impression to be on upset watch once more. Enjoying a troublesome Vanderbilt workforce showing of their first NCAA Event since 2017, the Commodores began out sizzling, leaping out to a 12-point lead.
Nevertheless, the Gaels dug deep, counting on their elite protection to get the job achieved.
In a gritty comeback win, Saint Mary’s erased a 12-point deficit to safe a comeback 59-56 victory over Vanderbilt.
Jordan Ross led the Gaels with 15 factors, whereas Augustas Marciulionis added 14 factors and eight rebounds. Mitchell Saxen and Luke Barrett each recorded double-doubles, with Saxen posting 12 factors and 11 rebounds, and Barrett posting 12 factors and 10 rebounds.
Jason Edwards led the Commodores with 18 factors. He was the one Vanderbilt participant to complete the sport in double-digit scoring.
Vanderbilt jumped out to an early lead, and carried a seven-point 29-22 lead into the half. They instantly opened the second body with a 10-5 run, build up a 12-point lead.
Nevertheless, the Gaels heated up. They responded with a 16-4 run off of a pair of Ross triples and Saxen layups. On the seven minute mark within the second half, Marciulionis hit a 3 to provide the Gaels a lead they wouldn’t look again on.
With 30 seconds left, Saxen had an opportunity to the ice the sport with two free throws, however break up the pair, giving Vanderbilt an opportunity to tie the sport with a 3.
With the clock working down, Devin McGlockton pulled up from the nook, however noticed his game-tying try clank off the rim.
Regardless of an inefficient capturing night time, the Gaels knocked down seven triples, which helped them erase the deficit and pull off the comeback victory.
Saint Mary’s will now play Alabama within the spherical of 32.
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No. 6 Ole Miss defeated No. 11 North Carolina
With momentum favoring North Carolina with a minute to play, the Rebels turned to their go-to man.
Sean Pedulla, who had not too long ago hit a dagger three to ship Arkansas packing within the SEC Event, took a handoff from Jaemyn Brakefield. He faked dribbling to the nook and noticed up a 3.
He cashed it, similar to he had achieved per week prior. As Pedulla emphatically threw down the three brand to the Ole Miss bench, his dagger three elevated the Rebels’ result in 5 with below a minute to play.
With the workforce closing out the sport, the Rebels secured their first event win since 2015 by defeating North Carolina 71-64.
Pedulla’s 20 factors led the Rebels, whereas Dre Davis added 15 factors and eight rebounds. Brakefield additionally contributed 12 factors off the bench.
RJ Davis scored 15 factors to steer the Tar Heels in his last collegiate sport. Ven-Allen Lubin added 14 factors, however later fouled out within the sport.
The Tar Heels have been dominated for a lot of the sport, failing to ever seize the lead. Ole Miss opened the sport up sizzling, posting a double-digit lead and carrying an 18-point lead into the half.
Nevertheless, the Tar Heels battled again. Down 13 factors with eight minutes to play, the Tar Heels went on a 14-3 run to chop the result in two factors, capped off by a Davis and-one that despatched Kevin Harlan and the gang right into a frenzy.
Pedulla’s three silenced the gang, and helped the Rebels shut out the sport.
The Rebels have been the extra environment friendly workforce, capturing 44.4% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. North Carolina struggled to seek out effectivity, as they solely made 5 triples in 24 makes an attempt.
Ole Miss will now play Iowa State within the spherical of 32.
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No. 4 Maryland defeated No. 13 Grand Canyon
Maryland routed Grand Canyon 81-49 to advance the “Crab 5” to the spherical of 32.
Julian Reese led the Terps with 18 factors, whereas freshman phenom Derik Queen posted a dominant 12 level, 15 rebound double-double. Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 16 factors and Selton Miguel scored 13.
Tyon Grant-Foster led the Lopes with 23 factors. He was the one Grand Canyon participant to attain greater than six factors within the sport.
Maryland dominated for all the sport. The Terps shot 50.8% from the sphere and rained down seven triples at a 43.8% clip on the Grand Canyon protection.
The protection held Grand Canyon to twenty-eight.6% capturing from the sphere and 21.7% from past the arc.
Grand Canyon grabbed an early five-point lead within the first half. Nevertheless, a Gillespie jumper eight minutes into the opening body gave Maryland a lead they might by no means look again on.
The Terps took a 14-point lead into the half after which outscored the Lopes 39-21 within the last body to shut out the sport.
Maryland will tackle Colorado State within the spherical of 32.
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No. 1 Florida defeated No. 16 Norfolk State
Florida routed Norfolk State 95-69 to earn their first event win because the 2021.
Walter Clayton Jr. led the Gators with 23 factors on an environment friendly 6-11 capturing night time and Alijah Martin added 17 factors. Alex Condon dropped 12 factors and added two steals and two blocks, and Thomas Haugh contributed 13 factors off the bench.
Christian Ings led the Spartans with 16 factors and Jaylani Darden added 15 factors and 6 boards. Chris Fields Jr. contributed 14 factors off the bench on an environment friendly 7-12 night time.
Florida dominated all the sport. Their protection held the Spartans to 14.3% capturing from past the arc and compelled 12 turnovers.
On offense, the Gators shot 48.3% from the sphere and knocked down 10 triples. They drove onerous into the paint, drawing 24 Spartan fouls. These fouls became 33 free-throw makes an attempt, of which the Gators transformed 27.
Norfolk State trailed all the sport.
The Gators will now play the two-time defending Nationwide Champion UConn Huskies within the spherical of 32.
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No. 3 Kentucky defeated No. 14 Troy
Kentucky routed Troy 76-57 to kick off the Mark Pope period within the NCAA Event
Otega Oweh practically put up a triple-double, scoring a team-high 20 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists. Elite sharpshooter Koby Brea, Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison every contributed 13 factors.
Myles Rigsby scored 17 factors to steer the Trojans and Tayton Conerway added 12 factors. Rigsby and Conerway have been the one two Trojans to complete with double-digit scoring numbers. Sophomore ahead Thomas Dowd, the workforce’s third-leading scorer, was held scoreless. Nevertheless, Dowd did contribute on the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds.
Kentucky dominated all through, taking an eight-point lead into the half earlier than outscoring the Trojans 41-30 within the last body to shut out the sport.
The Wildcats’ offense clicked, capturing 47.5% from the sphere and 38.5% from past the arc. Kentucky knocked down 10 threes, with Brea flattening a team-high three triples.
Kentucky’s protection held Troy to 8-32 capturing from past the arc and 34.9% from the sphere.
The Wildcats will now play Illinois within the spherical of 32.
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No. 10 New Mexico defeated No. 7 Marquette
New Mexico defeated Marquette 75-66.
The Lobos’ two-headed monster of Donovan Dent and Nelly Junior Joseph excelled on the massive stage, combining for 40 factors. Tru Washington added 12 factors and CJ Noland contributed 11 factors off the bench.
David Joplin led the Golden Eagles with 28 factors, whereas Kam Jones added 15 factors in what was probably his last collegiate sport.
The sport was a back-and-forth affair, with New Mexico holding a slim three-point lead on the half. Nevertheless, the Lobos pulled away within the second half. After being deadlocked at 53, the Lobos rattled off a 17-8 run, constructing a nine-point benefit with a little bit over a minute to play.
Marquette was unable to catch up and surrendered one other devastating loss.
Poor capturing doomed the Golden Eagles, who transformed on 40.7% of their photographs from the sphere and 36.7% of their threes. Nevertheless, regardless of successful the turnover margin 13-12, Marquette did not capitalize on the alternatives. New Mexico scored 21 factors off of the Marquette turnovers, which turned the difference-maker within the sport.
The Lobos will now play Michigan State within the spherical of 32.
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No. 4 Arizona defeated No. 13 Akron
Arizona routed Akron 93-65.
Jaden Bradley scored 19 factors to steer the Wildcats whereas Oakland switch Trey Townsend added 16 factors and eight rebounds. Caleb Love scored 10 factors, whereas Carter Bryant and KJ Lewis contributed a mixed 22 factors off the bench.
Tavari Johnson and Nate Johnson each scored 13 factors to steer the Zips. Shammah Scott contributed 11 factors off the bench.
Arizona dominated all the sport, because the Zips did not take the lead at any level within the sport.
The Wildcats placed on a clinic, draining 12 three-pointers at a 48% clip and capturing 56.5% from the sphere. They held the Zips in verify, holding them to 33.3% capturing from the sphere and solely permitting seven three-pointers.
Arizona took a 10-point lead into the half and later outscored Akron 52-34 within the last body to shut out the sport.
Arizona will now play their former Pac-12 rival Oregon within the spherical of 32.
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No. 8 UConn defeated No. 9 Oklahoma
Projected lottery decide Jeremiah Fears went out with a bang. In probably his final collegiate sport, the freshman guard showcased his entire bag.
He began early with an explosive drive to the basket that instantly drew free throws and adopted it up with one other robust lefty layup.
He then continued his scoring tear, draining a triple and hitting a spotlight reel 360 layup that left Jaylin Stewart within the mud.
Fears completed the sport with a game-high 20 factors, including 5 boards, 4 assists and two steals as properly. A real one man present.
Sadly, it wasn’t sufficient. Dan Hurley’s veteran UConn squad took down the Sooners 67-59 in a back-and-forth affair.
Solo Ball led the Huskies with 14 factors and Alex Karaban added 13 factors. Tarris Reed Jr. lived as much as his Massive East Sixth Man of the 12 months Award by contributing 12 factors off the bench.
Jalon Moore completed with 13 factors and 7 rebounds for Oklahoma. No different Sooner posted double-digit scoring numbers.
The Sooners fell behind early and struggled to achieve any momentum. UConn outscored the Sooners 32-26 within the first half, and matched each bucket the Sooners made.
Within the second half, Oklahoma battled again, taking the lead off of a Mohamed Wague tip-shot. Nevertheless, it lasted 17 seconds. UConn shortly took the lead again on a Ball pull-up jumper and by no means seemed again.
Oklahoma introduced the lead right down to 4 factors with two minutes to play, however the Huskies protection solely allowed a single Sooner level in that last body.
The Sooners struggled with environment friendly capturing from past the arc, flattening solely 17.6% of their threes. UConn didn’t fare significantly better, capturing 24% from deep, however have been way more environment friendly from the remainder of the sphere.
UConn will now play Florida within the spherical of 32.
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No. 6 Illinois defeated No. 11 Xavier
Illinois defeated Xavier 86-73.
Will Riley led the Preventing Illini with 22 factors on an environment friendly 8-12 night time. He additionally knocked down three triples. Tomislav Ivisic recorded a double-double, posting 20 factors and 10 rebounds. Freshman phenom Kasparas Jakucionis completed with a 16 level, 10 help double-double.
Dailyn Swain led the Musketeers with 27 factors, whereas Dayvion McKnight and Ryan Conwell each added 12 factors. Zach Freemantle, Xavier’s main scorer, struggled. Freemantle was held to 5 factors on 2-9 capturing.
The sport was tight for almost all of the primary half, with Illinois taking a five-point lead into halftime.
Nevertheless, after build up a double-digit lead within the second half, Xavier started to regain momentum, slicing the deficit to eight factors.
The Musketeers seemed to proceed their momentum after Jakucionis missed a 3. Nevertheless, Kylan Boswell soared for the offensive board who shortly swung a move out to Riley, who promptly drilled a dagger three.
Illinois later closed out the sport to advance to the spherical of 32 to face Kentucky.
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No. 2 Michigan State defeated No. 15 Bryant
Michigan State survived an early scare towards upset-minded Bryant, defeating the Bulldogs 87-62.
Coen Carr led the Spartans with 18 factors. Nevertheless, his 9 rebound efficiency placed on a present. Carr grabbed 4 offensive rebounds and threw down thunderous dunks, showcasing his unbelievable vertical. Carr repeatedly attacked the paint, ending robust layups and drawing fouls on an environment friendly 7-10 night time.
Alongside Carr, Tre Holloman contributed 14 factors off the bench, and Jase Richardson completed with 15.
Rafael Pinzon led the Bulldogs with 21 factors and Earl Timberlake added 14 factors. Barry Evans, the workforce’s third-leading scorer, solely managed seven factors on a troublesome 3-7 capturing night time.
The Bulldogs stored the sport shut early, coming into halftime in a five-point gap. Nevertheless, the Spartans shortly constructed a double-digit lead behind a pair of Richardson triples and by no means seemed again. They used an 18-9 run to construct a 19-point lead, and closed out the sport comfortably.
The Spartans, who had struggled with three-point capturing within the common season, proved the doubters improper. They drained 10 triples at a 38.5% clip and shot 44.3% from the sphere. Their protection tightened up, solely permitting Bryant to sink 5 three-pointers, properly beneath their common of round eight per sport.
With the win, Michigan State now performs New Mexico within the spherical of 32.
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No. 5 Oregon defeated No. 12 Liberty
Within the final sport of the primary spherical, Oregon routed Liberty 81-52.
Jackson Shelstad led the Geese with 17 factors, whereas Keeshawn Barthelemy added 10 extra. Heart Nate Bittle completed with a double-double, logging 14 factors and 10 rebounds.
Zach Cleveland led Liberty with 10 factors. He was the one Flame to submit double-digit scoring numbers within the sport.
Oregon dominated in each class, capturing 54.4% from the sphere and 47.6% from past the arc. Their protection held a fast-paced Liberty offense to 32.8% capturing from the sphere and 21.6% from past the arc. Oregon additionally pressured 12 turnovers, which became 17 Oregon factors.
Oregon led all the sport, opening up the primary half on an 18-2 run. Liberty was unable to chop the lead right down to single-digits at any level afterwards.
The Geese carried a 44-20 halftime lead, and later outscored the Flames 37-32 within the second half to safe the win.
Oregon will now play former Pac-12 rival Arizona within the spherical of 32.
