On a day when almost all the favored teams took care of business to punch their tickets to the Sweet 16, in the game that started the day, and the one that finished it, the lower seeds scored convincing wins. In the opener, 7-seed Oregon topped second-seeded Iowa and in the nightcap, 3-seed Kansas suffered the worst NCAA Tournament loss in the program’s long, storied history as USC did everything right in dismantling the Jayhawks.
The Brothers Mobley combined for 27 points and 21 rebounds to lead USC wire-to-wire over Kansas, 85-51.
⌛FINAL SCORE ALERT⌛
Monday's program had been an "all-chalk" affair
–that was until the @USC_Hoops Trojans just completely ROCKED the 3-seed @KUHoops Jayhawks 85-51@jasonbenetti & @RobbieHummel called the eye-😮opening action from historic Hinkle, to close out the 2nd Round https://t.co/cIqPjxo4Ir pic.twitter.com/zHFd1DhIo6— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2021
In a thriller featuring back-and-forth runs, top-seed Michigan outlasted upset-minded LSU, 86-78. Chaundree Brown and Eli Brooks each scored 21 points, while combining to hit 8-of-15 shots from behind the ar.
🏀FINAL SCORE from Unity Court🏀@umichbball took a few body blows from @LSUBasketball, but they #SurviveAndAdvance to the #Sweet16 w/a thrilling 86-78 win
Highlight: Chaundree Brown drains a three to cap a 9-0 run & give Michigan a 67-63 lead
🗣️:@ScottWipeOut & @JonCrispinESPN https://t.co/ErOyhEiVdr pic.twitter.com/QHJGRlmjwr— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2021
Despite a game-high 36 points from Luka Garza, 2-seed Iowa couldn’t get much going in the second half, while red hot Oregon never let off of the gas pedal on their way to a 95-80 victory. Four Ducks starters scored in high double figures–led by Chris Duarte’s 23 points and a combined 8-of-13 perimeter shooting from LJ Figueroa and Will Richardson.
🚨It's gone final @ Bankers🚨@OregonMBB knocks off 2-seed @IowaHoops 95-80!
With the exception of Luka Garza's mammoth 36 points, the 2nd half was all Oregon.
Highlight: A steal leads to a Chris Duarte dunk, as the Ducks open up a 65-51 lead.
🗣️: @ScottWipeOut @JonCrispinESPN https://t.co/WBeOY6sjU9 pic.twitter.com/0qKDsqsFv1— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 22, 2021
Alabama shot a lights-out 16-of-33 from beyond the arc, while five players scored in double figures. Jaden Shackleford’s 21 and John Petty’s 20 points led the way for the Crimson Tide, who rolled past Maryland 96-77 and into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004.
Highlight: John Petty hits back-to-back threes, as @AlabamaMBB jumps out to a 59-42 lead over @TerrapinHoops.@BrandonGaudin & @dandickau21 had the call. https://t.co/wbf0igbbY7 pic.twitter.com/hHaCjaa3T3
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2021
All five Bluejay starters scored in double-figures, led by Marcus Zegarowki’s 20 points, as Creighton defeated Ohio, 72-58.
🏀FINAL SCORE ALERT🏀
(5)@BluejayMBB shoot their way into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1974 with a 72-58 victory against (13)@OhioMBasketball. @jasonbenetti & @RobbieHummel had the call as Creighton opened up a second-half lead they would never relinquish⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Xxaa6tlYA0— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2021
Drew Timme had 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs each chipped 16 points of their own, as top-seed Gonzaga overcame a hot start from Oklahoma to pull away 87-71.
⌛We've gone final at Hinkle⌛
Top-seed @ZagMBB holds off @OU_MBBall 87-71 to advance to the #Sweet16!
Highlight: Drew Timme gets the lay-in plus the foul, as Gonzaga extends its 2nd half lead to 68-55 w/ 8:20 to play.
🗣️: @DavePasch & @CoachDManning had the call. https://t.co/ShzRA9ywTI pic.twitter.com/ZOweU5GWNO— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 22, 2021
For the third straight time, Leondard Hamilton is taking his Seminoles to the Sweet Sixteen. Anthony Polite finished with 22 points, as Florida State handed the Pac-12 its first loss of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, defeating Colorado 71-53.
🏀Final score from Indiana Farmers Coliseum🏀@DavePasch & @CoachDManning had the final call as (4)@FSUHoops advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 71-53 win against the (5) @CUBuffsMBB ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/J7L7XEaVBR
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 23, 2021
Johnny Juzang scored 17 points, and Cody Riley added a double-double for the Bruins, as UCLA defeated Abilene Christian 67-47.
🏀FINAL SCORE from Bankers Life Fieldhouse🏀
The @pac12 stays undefeated, as @UCLAMBB handles @ACU_MBB 67-47.
Highlight: UCLA's Jaylen Clark hits a jumper to cap a 16-0 UCLA run, as the Bruins raced out to a 24-12 first half lead.@BrandonGaudin & @dandickau21 had the call. https://t.co/RKoI0z9ra2 pic.twitter.com/uOPqNlBncE
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 22, 2021
