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March Madness Day 2 recap

March Madness court
Denis Poroy
March Madness court
SOURCE: Denis Poroy
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March Madness Day 2 recap

Day 2 of the NCAA Men's Tournament is underway. Here are updates on all of Friday's games.

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Colorado guard KJ Simpson (2) shoots over Florida guard Zyon Pullin (0) at the end of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Conroy
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(10) Colorado 102, (7) Florida 100

KJ Simpson rattled in a tiebreaking jumper from the baseline with 2 seconds left, and 10th-seeded Colorado beat seventh-seeded Florida in a 102-100 thriller in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Simpson finished with 23 points as the Buffaloes and Gators put on the most impressive offensive display of this year’s March Madness.

Colorado extended its single-season school record for wins two days after beating Boise State in the First Four.

Walter Clayton Jr. scored the last 16 points for Florida, including a 3-pointer to tie the game at 100-all with 9 seconds left. He finished with a career-high 33 points.

Auburn guard K.D. Johnson, center, drives while pressured by Yale forward Matt Knowling (22) and guard August Mahoney (3) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Young Kwak
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(13) Yale 78, (4) Auburn 76

John Poulakidas scored 28 points, Samson Aletan made a key block during a wild scramble in the final seconds, and 13th-seeded Yale rallied in the final five minutes to take down No. 4 seed Auburn 78-76 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

For the second straight year, the Ivy League Tournament champion took down one of the pre-tournament favorites — busting plenty of March Madness brackets once again.

Last year, it was Princeton toppling Arizona. This time, it was Yale's turn.

The Bulldogs won an NCAA Tournament game for just the second time in school history, rallying from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half.

After the final seconds ticked off, the players celebrated on the scorer's table in front of their fans.

Poulakidas hit big shot after big shot. His step-back 3-pointer with 2:10 left gave the Bulldogs a 73-72 lead. Yale never trailed again, despite a chaotic final stretch that included Auburn getting off two shots in the closing seconds following a missed free throw, one of which was rejected by Aletan.

Auburn’s K.D. Johnson had a contested look for a winning 3-pointer at the buzzer that was offline.

New Mexico center Nelly Junior Joseph (23) and Clemson forward RJ Godfrey (10) chase a loose ball during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
George Walker IV
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(6) Clemson 77, (11) New Mexico 56

Chase Hunter scored 21 points and sixth-seeded Clemson ended No. 11 seed New Mexico’s hopes of repeating the Mountain West’s run in the NCAA Tournament, beating the Lobos 77-56.

The Lobos came in as the Mountain West Tournament champs, a popular pick to be this tournament’s version of San Diego State a year ago. New Mexico was favored by 2 1/2 points in this game, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. But Clemson dominated on both ends, leading by 19 points in the first half and 23 in the second.

Nelly Junior Joseph had 14 points and 12 rebounds for New Mexico.

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UConn's Jaylin Stewart (3) protects the ball from Stetson's Aubin Gateretse (21) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Frank Franklin II
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(1) UConn 91, (16) Stetson 52

Donovan Clingan scored 19 points and Cam Spencer had 15 as top-seeded UConn began defense of its national championship by cruising past 16th-seeded Stetson 91-52 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Stephan Swenson scored 20 points for the Hatters, the ASun champions who were making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

UConn recorded its most lopsided NCAA victory since beating Chattanooga by 56 in the first round of the 2009 tournament.

At the half, it was 52-19. The Huskies had shot 68.8%., committed only three turnovers and outrebounded the Hatters 18-11 for good measure.

Marquette guard Kam Jones (1) drives to the basket past Western Kentucky guard Khristian Lander, left, in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Conroy
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(2) Marquette 87, (15) Western Kentucky 69

Kam Jones scored 28 points and Tyler Kolek made a successful return from an oblique injury, helping No. 2 seed Marquette rally for an 87-69 victory over No. 15 seed Western Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Eagles trailed 43-36 at halftime, but they overwhelmed the Hilltoppers in the second half. Kolek finished with 18 points and 11 assists in his first game since Feb. 28.

Tyrone Marshall scored a career-high 21 points for WKU.

UAB guard Efrem Johnson, left, and San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) go after the ball during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Young Kwak
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(5) San Diego State 69, (12) UAB 65

Jaedon LeDee dominated inside on the way to 32 points, Lamont Butler added 15 and San Diego State held off 12th-seeded UAB 69-65 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

A year after marching to the national title game, also as a No. 5 seed, the Aztecs saw a 12-point second-half lead disappear before putting together a late surge on the strength of their star 6-foot-9 forward. That ensured San Diego State avoided a March Madness surprise in the East Region.

Efrem Johnson scored 19 points to lead UAB. He had a chance at a tying 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, but it rimmed off.

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Colgate forward Ryan Moffatt (4) dribbles the ball past Baylor forward Jalen Bridges (11) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
George Walker IV
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(3) Baylor 92, (14) Colgate 67

Jalen Bridges scored 23 points, Ja’Kobe Walter added 19 and third-seeded Baylor coasted past 14th-seeded Colgate 92-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jayden Nunn added 15 points, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and RayJ Davis finished with 10 points and nine assists for coach Scott Drew’s Bears, who have won their past six first-round games in March Madness.

Keegan Records led Colgate with 14 points. Sam Thomson had 11 and Braeden Smith scored 10.

Baylor’s 3-point shooting helped the Bears build an early 22-point lead. Colgate made one of its first nine shots from deep.

Walter, the Big 12 freshman of the year, already had 15 points at the break as the Bears led 54-34.

Florida Atlantic's Johnell Davis, right, defends Northwestern's Boo Buie (0) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Frank Franklin II
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(9) Northwestern 77, (8) Florida Atlantic 65

Ryan Langborg scored 12 of his career-high 27 points in overtime, and ninth-seeded Northwestern finally put away No. 8 seed Florida Atlantic 77-65 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The injury-depleted Wildcats recovered after squandering a nine-point lead late in the second half. Brooks Barnhizer’s driving layup tied it with nine seconds left.

Vlad Goldin had 19 points for the Owls, who returned nearly their entire team from a surprising Final Four run last year but were unable to muster that same March magic this time.

Boo Buie, the leading scorer in school history, had 19 of his 22 points after a quiet first half. Barnhizer added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Northwestern, which advanced in the NCAAs for the second consecutive year despite playing without injured starters Ty Berry (knee) and 7-footer Matthew Nicholson (leg), who are both finished for the season.

Duke guard Jeremy Roach, right, shoots a 3-point basket over Vermont guard TJ Hurley during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament.
Mary Altaffer
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(4) Duke 64, (13) Vermont 47

Jared McCain and Mark Mitchell each had 15 points, and No. 4 seed Duke opened the NCAA Tournament with an uneven performance before finally pulling away from 13th-seeded Vermont for a 64-47 victory.

Jeremy Roach scored 14 for the Blue Devils.

Shamir Bogues had 18 points for Vermont, playing in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament as America East champions.

Shamir Bogues scored 18 points for No. 13 seed Vermont, playing in its third consecutive NCAA Tournament as America East champions. Aaron Deloney added 14 for the Catamounts, who had won 10 straight games.

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Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga (30) shoots the ball past Texas A&M forward Henry Coleman III (15) and guard Manny Obaseki (35) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
George Walker IV
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(9) Texas A&M 98, (8) Nebraska 83

Wade Taylor IV led five Aggies in double figures with 25 points as No. 9 seed Texas A&M sent eighth-seeded Nebraska home still looking for its first NCAA Tournament victory after beating the Huskers 98-83 Friday night in the South Region. The Aggies added insult to injury by beating Nebraska after unexpectedly hiring athletic director Trev Alberts away from his alma mater for the same job last week.

Manny Obaseki added 22 points for the Aggies, who put five players in double figures and scored a season high in points. Tyrece Radford finished with 20, making Texas A&M the first SEC team with a trio scoring at least 20 points in this tournament since 2007.

Jace Carter also had 13, and Henry Coleman III scored 10.

Brice Williams led the Huskers with 24 points.

Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) drives between Charleston guards Reyne Smith (2) and Bryce Butler (4) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament.
Ted S. Warren
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(4) Alabama 109, (13) Charleston 96

Mark Sears led the highest-scoring offense in the country with 30 points, and fourth-seeded Alabama had no problem making shots in its NCAA Tournament opener, racing past No. 13 seed Charleston 109-96.

Sears was the catalyst, turning a close game into a blowout with a pair of surges late in the first half and to begin the second. The second-team AP All-American hit the 30-point mark for the fourth time this season and helped get others involved. Sears made 9 of 13 shots, was 9 of 11 at the foul line and was equally troublesome for Charleston whether spotting up from deep or driving to the rim.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 17 points for Alabama despite missing a chunk of the first half after his nose collided with the back of the head of a Charleston player. Aaron Estrada scored 13.

Ben Burnham led Charleston with 19 points.

Grambling State guard Kintavious Dozier (00) drives past Purdue center Zach Edey (15) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Conroy
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(1) Purdue 78, (16) Grambling State 50

Zach Edey finished with 30 points and 21 rebounds to become the first player in 29 years in the NCAA Tournament with a 30-20 game, leading top-seeded Purdue to a 78-50 rout over 16th-seeded Grambling State. And he did it all in 30 minutes while going 11 of 17 from and helping the Boilermakers post a 48-23 rebounding advantage.

The Boilermakers tied the school's single-season record with their 30th win.

Braden Smith added 11 points and 10 assists for the Boilermakers. Purdue had a 48-23 rebounding advantage.

Purdue took a 36-27 halftime lead in front of a sellout crowd largely clad in their dominant black color, 60 miles from the school’s campus. Edey then proceeded to lead the Boilermakers on an 18-6 spurt to open the second half and never looked back.

Tra’Michael Moton led the Tigers with 21 points as their first tourney run ended.

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Wisconsin guard AJ Storr, left, goes to the basket against James Madison forward Raekwon Horton (2) during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament.
Mary Altaffer
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(12) JMU 72, (5) Wisconsin 61

Terrence Edwards Jr. scored 14 points and James Madison pulled off the first 12-5 upset of the NCAA Tournament by beating Wisconsin 72-61 on Friday night.

The Dukes, who had not been in the tournament since 2013, are into the second round for the first time since 1983 — bringing with them a 14-game winning streak that is the longest in the nation.

Max Klesmit kept fifth-seeded Wisconsin (22-14) within striking distance with 18 second-half points. The Badgers were a 5 1/2-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The 12-5 upset almost doesn't feel like an upset because it has happened so frequently in the NCAA Tournament in recent years — though not last year. Counting JMU, seven 12 seeds have won first-round games in the last five tournaments.

Klesmit cut the JMU lead to six with 8:54 left, but Noah Freidel answered with a 3-pointer about a minute later for JMU to make it 55-46.

The Badgers never got closer than seven again, and the chants of “J-M-U” echoed through Barclays Center in Brooklyn as if it was the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Houston guard L.J. Cryer (4) shoots the ball over Longwood forward Jesper Granlund, right, during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament,
George Walker IV
14

(1) Houston 86, (16) Longwood 46

LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn scored 17 points each as top-seeded Houston built an easy double-digit lead and pounded 16-seed Longwood 86-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.

Coach Kelvin Sampson's Cougars lived up to their reputation for smothering defense. They led 10-0 less than four minutes into the game and held the Lancers (21-14) to 16 points on 26.3% shooting in the first half.

Emanuel Sharp added 13 points and Jamal Shead finished with 11 points and nine assists for Houston.

Johnathan Massie led Longwood, the Big South Conference champion, with 10 points.

Utah State forward Kalifa Sakho (34) drives to the basket between TCU guard Avery Anderson III, left, and forward Emanuel Miller (2) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Conroy
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(8) Utah State 88, (9) TCU 72

Isaac Johnson scored 19 points, including 12 straight early in the second half, and eighth-seeded Utah State shot 55% percent to pull away and beat No. 9 seed TCU 88-72 on Friday night and end a 10-game NCAA Tournament losing streak.

The Aggies hadn't earned a March Madness victory since beating Ohio State 77-68 in overtime in 2001, and had endured opening-game losses four of the past six seasons. Players and coach Danny Sprinkle have heard more than their share of questions about their March futility and were determined to end the slide once and for all.

Ian Martinez scored 21 points to lead the Aggies.

TCU led most of the first half before the Aggies took the lead for good at 37-35 on Martinez’s 3-pointer with 3:22 left before halftime. Leading 43-37 at the break, the 7-foot Johnson took charge from there, making two 3-pointers along with two other baskets and a pair of free throws for a double-digit lead the Aggies steadily increased.

JaKobe Coles had 19 points and Emanuel Miller 13 for the Horned Frogs, who were trying for their third consecutive NCAA first-round win. TCU outrebounded Utah State 41-30 but shot just 36%, including just 29% in the second half.

The Aggies shot well throughout but made 16 of 28 after halftime (57%), including five of their 10 second-half 3s. They were 8 of 19 from behind the arc and converted 14 of 15 free throws.

Great Osobor added 13 points and seven rebounds.

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Saint Mary's guard Augustas Marciulionis (3) drives to the basket between Grand Canyon forwards Lok Wur (5) and Gabe McGlothan (30), during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament.
Ted S. Warren
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(12) Grand Canyon 75, (5) St. Mary's 66

Grand Canyon closes men's first round with one last upset.

This Grand Canyon was a sight to behold, too.

The private, Christian school in Phoenix knocked off fifth-seeded Saint Mary's 75-66 in the final game of the opening round for its first NCAA Tournament victory in three tries.

Tyon Grant-Foster led four scorers in double figures with 22. The Antelopes also blocked nine shots.

Saint Mary's became the second No. 5 seed knocked out of this tournament and the 14th to fall in the opening round since 2014.

The 5-12 matchup has seen at least one upset in 33 of the past 39 tournaments.