Oral Roberts became just the ninth 15 seed to win an NCAA tournament game, a 12 beat a 5 again, and 13-seeded North Texas picked up their first NCAA Tournament win in school history, as the first full day of the Tournament reminded us just what we missed out on when it was canceled one year ago.
Kevin Obanor poured in 30 points and Max Abmas scored 29 of his own in the Golden Eagles’ thrilling 75-72 OT upset over Ohio State.
#BracketBuster alert!!! (15) @ORUMBB stuns (2) @ohiostatehoops with a 75-72 overtime win! Golden Eagles secure their 1st @marchmadness win since 1974, in the 9th-ever victory for a 15-seed over a 2-seed! @johnsadak and @jordancornette had the call. pic.twitter.com/JbXbpq3xht
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
The famous 12-5 upset didn’t wait long as Oregon State led from start to finish against Tennessee.
For the first time since 1982, @BeaverMBB has advanced in the NCAA Tournament!@kevinkugler and PJ Carlesimo called the action on @westwood1sports as (12) Oregon State took down (5) Tennessee, 70-56. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/AB9jDSi5un
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Conference USA Tournament Champions North Texas handed the Big Ten its second major upset of the day, as the Mean Green overcame the Purdue Boilermakers in OT.
That's game! (13) @MeanGreenMBB get their first NCAA tournament victory with a 78-69 OT win against (4) @BoilerBall thanks to 24 points from Javoin Hamlet.@jasonbenetti & @RobbieHummel had the historic call for North Texas as they opened OT with a 7-0 run: pic.twitter.com/PUTXQcx8iM
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Florida and Virginia Tech set the First Round tone, leading off the Friday slate with an OT thriller.
(7) @GatorsMBK survives a collapse late in regulation to get past (10) @HokiesMBB in overtime, 75-70! @tre2mann3 buries a dagger three with under 30 seconds left in OT to propel the Gators to the victory. Ryan Radtke & @AustinCroshere had the call. pic.twitter.com/UTFzAGyYi9
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Colgate led by as many as 14 late in the first half before the Razorbacks finally kicked into gear, and eventually Arkansas pulled away from the upset-minded Patriot League champs.
FINAL from @TheFieldhouse … @RazorbackMBB uses a 31-point turnaround to come from 14 down and beat @ColgateMBB 85-68.
Take a listen to the @jdnotae 3-pointer that helped third-seeded Arkansas begin to pull away. Call by @kevinkugler & PJ Carlesimo on @westwood1sports. pic.twitter.com/ztOviV2Zpv
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Loyola Chicago pulled away late, defeating Georgia Tech and setting up a Sunday showdown with in-state neighbor and #1-seed Illinois.
You bet @SisterJean98 is smiling! Her (8) @RamblersMBB earn a 71-60 victory over (9) @GTMBB at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Lucas Williamson picked a good game for a season-high 21 points! Ryan Radtke & @AustinCroshere had the call, including this dagger three by @NorrisBraden. pic.twitter.com/4X0kzb2JPO
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Tenth-seeded Rutgers outlasted Clemson in a slug-fest, securing the Scarlet Knights an elusive NCAA Tournament win.
The 38-year wait is over!!! (10) @RutgersMBB wins their first @marchmadness game since 1983 with a 60-56 triumph over (7) @ClemsonMBB. Gio Baker, @caleb_mcco, and @Jybackk pace the Scarlet Knights with 13 points apiece. @kevinkugler & PJ Carlesimo had the call #jerseystrong pic.twitter.com/PSLXGoB32S
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Texas Tech found its groove in the second half, shaking off a cold late-season stretch–and a shaky first half–to defeat 11-seeded Utah State.
Red Raiders take a COMMANDING lead over the Aggies on a dunk by @mjpv5! #MarchMadness@TexasTechMBB now leads @USUBasketball 58-45 at 4:00 timeout.
LISTEN LIVE with @tedemrich & @KyleMacy4
🖥️: https://t.co/lXrhBqmJ8C
📱: @tunein (Westwood One Sports G)
📡: Sirius 134 / XM 201 pic.twitter.com/IPxHFTT2L9— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Oklahoma State got everything they could handle from 13-seeded Liberty, before freshman phenom Cade Cunningham did what he does best: take over in the second half.
HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS?!? (4) @OSUMBB survives a tough-as-nails (13) @LibertyMBB_ squad for a 69-60 victory. @CadeCunningham_ shakes off a tough shooting night to bury a dagger three late in regulation. @craigway1 & Donny Marshall had the call from Farmers Coliseum. pic.twitter.com/c1h0SSaYof
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Seems like (5) @NovaMBB knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity during @marchmadness. The 2016 and '18 National Champs pull away from (12) @Winthrop_MBB for a 73-63 victory. @JCREarl posted 22 points, 11 boards, and 5 dimes! @craigway1 & Donny Marshall had the call. pic.twitter.com/xo0iUrMe7g
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Wisconsin demonstrated just how tough they can be to beat when they find a scoring touch, and UNC could find no answers for Brad Davison and the Badger offense on Friday.
Brad Davison's 29 points were just one shy of his career-high, as he was in the zone all night against @UNC_Basketball, and @BadgerMBB handed Roy Williams a First Round defeat for the first time in his career as a head coach.@johnsadak & @jordancornette were on the call. https://t.co/Z4EgFv8g5F pic.twitter.com/SsBlkSrRpa
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Miles McBride carried the Mountaineers with 30 points, as West Virginia held off Morehead State and captured Bob Huggins his 900th career win as a head coach.
@WVUhoops currently on track to get Bob Huggins' 900th career win with a 38-31 lead at the break but @MSUEaglesMBB are hanging around.
Put on the coffee and join @RosinskiBill & @Will_Perdue32 for the second half!➡️🖥️: https://t.co/qXukgMNBfR pic.twitter.com/WQQIVXOY8p
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Buddy Boeheim poured in 30 points, shooting 11-for-15 from the field (including a lights-out 7-of-10 from beyond the arc), as @Cuse_MBB cruised to a 78-62 victory over @Aztec_MBB.
Ryan Radtke & @AustinCroshere called the action. https://t.co/mRqKVM5YbZ pic.twitter.com/lb78NzJWdz
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Final from Farmers Coliseum as (1) @IlliniMBB breezes past (16) @DrexelMBB, 78-49. @kxng_alpha led the way for the Illini with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Ayo Dosunmu threw down a big dunk in the 2nd half, here's @craigway1 & Donny Marshall with the call. pic.twitter.com/56eMAN6oUg
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
A dominant 2nd half lifts (2) @UHCougarMBK past (15) @CSU_Mbasketball 87-56 from Assembly Hall. @qdotgrimes leads SIX Cougars in double-figures with 18 points. @tedemrich & @KyleMacy4 had the call. pic.twitter.com/yrKl4lOQVi
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 20, 2021
Top-seed @BaylorMBB takes care of business, coasting past 16-seed @HartfordMBB, 79-55, behind 22 points from @_MrDoWork.
Final call from @RosinskiBill and @Will_Perdue32 from Unity Court at @LucasOilStadium. pic.twitter.com/yz6daRAaGV
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
