Just 48 hours following Selection Sunday, the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament got underway with two nail biting games that each came down to the final possessions at the First Four in Dayton.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State kicked off the Tournament with a fast-paced game, in which SEMO had a chance to tie the game with a three pointer in the final five seconds. Jalen Jackson’s 22-points led the Islanders, who will now face 1-seed Alabama.
@Islanders_MBB is moving on after a thrilling 75-71 win over Southeast Missouri State.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Trevian Tennyson scored on this driving layup to put the Islanders up 72-69 with 0:30 to play.
️: @tedemrich#LutzGo pic.twitter.com/RsycUzL8oi
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 15, 2023
In a game that was nip and tuck throughout, Jamarius Burton’s jumper with 10 seconds to play was the difference as Pittsburgh edged Mississippi State, 60-59. A Bulldogs three pointer and tip attempt at the buzzer fell just short.
!@Pitt_MBB's Blake Hinson knocked down this monster deep three-pointer to put the Panthers up 58-52 late in the second half at the #FirstFour.
Hear the #H2P call from @tedemrich : pic.twitter.com/WFd29y0Lia
— Westwood One Sports (@westwood1sports) March 15, 2023
The NCAA Tournament continues with more First Four action on Wednesday evening in Dayton.