After 710 long days, March Madness finally returned on Thursday night at Assembly Hall and Mackey Arena. Wins for Texas Southern, Drake, Norfolk State and UCLA have set the table for a full day of action in Indiana on Friday.
UCLA trailed by as many 14 points in the first half but rallied all the way back to force overtime before defeating Michigan State 87-80 in a marquee matchup to cap the First Four on Thursday night.
Our last winner on #FirstFour Thursday: @UCLAMBB
The Bruins win it in overtime 86-80.
Hear this thunderous overtime jam that helped pushed the Pac-12 program to the win ⤵️
🗣️: @JohnSadak pic.twitter.com/GgPapyySag
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Texas Southern got the tournament started with a 60-52 win over Mount St. Mary’s. The Tigers will face top-seeded Michigan in the First Round on Saturday.
The best from Game1⃣with @TSUMensHoops advancing ⤵️:
Joirdon Karl Nicholas stuffed this one down late in the second half to put the Tigers up 54-50 in #FirstFour action@TedEmrich had the call as the Tigers are on to face Michigan on Saturday pic.twitter.com/wXGCpJQt4X
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 18, 2021
The @DrakeBulldogsMB mounted comebacks down double-digits in both halves, then held on late to survive a buzzer-beater attempt from the@GoShockersMBB's Alterique Gilbert.
Here's @johnsadak & @jordancornette with the final call of this 53-52 #FirstFourThriller from Mackey Arena! pic.twitter.com/TGr9mAwUvq
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021
Norfolk State defeated Appalachian State 54-53 despite letting a 19-point lead nearly slip away to earn a trip up the road to Indianapolis to face top overall seed Gonzaga on Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Final Call 🚨 : @NSU_BBALL hangs on to defeat Appalachian State 54-53 in #FirstFour action in Bloomington.
🗣️: @TedEmrich pic.twitter.com/LBeDOBDslK
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 19, 2021