Edey rings up 30 points, 21 rebounds
Zach Edey had the first 30-point, 20-rebound game in the NCAA Tournament since 1995, delivering on his promise to end the discussion about first-round March Madness exits by leading top-seeded Purdue past 16th-seeded Grambling State 78-50 on Friday night in Indianapolis.
The greatest scorer and rebounder in school history finished with 30 points and 21 rebounds in 30 minutes, going 11-for-17 from the field. When he did miss, he often scored on putbacks or drew fouls.
How good was the 7-4 Edey? The last player with a 30-20 game in the tournament was Joe Smith of Maryland on March 18, 1995.
“You say this was a big stage but it’s just basketball,” Edey said. “I kind of came out, tried to set the tone, tried to play as hard as I could, tried to send a message to the team that we’re here, we’re ready, we’re good, and mentally we’re good. Send a message to the country that we’re good.”
Braden Smith added 11 points and 10 assists for the Boilermakers (30-4), who tied the school’s single-season record for victories. Purdue had a 48-23 rebounding advantage.
Tra’Michael Moton scored 21 points for the Tigers (21-15), the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament champs.
James Madison 72, Wisconsin 61
The 12th-seeded Dukes (32-3) out of the Sun Belt Conference limited the No. 5 seed Badgers (22-14) to 37.3% shooting and forced 19 turnovers in pulling off the upset in the nightcap in New York. Terrence Edwards Jr. led four in double figures with 14 points. Max Klesmit scored 18 for Wisconsin.
Yale 78, Auburn 76
John Poulakidas scored 28 points, Samson Aletan made a key block during a wild scramble in the final seconds, and the 13thseeded Bulldogs (23-9) rallied in the final five minutes to take down the No. 4 seed Tigers (27-8) in Spokane, Washington.
For the second consecutive year, the Ivy League Tournament champion took down one of the pre-tournament favorites. Last year, Princeton toppled 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.
Poulakidas, who played at Neuqua Valley, hit big shot after big shot. His step-back three 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.
Marquette 87, Western Kentucky 69
Kam Jones scored 28 and Tyler Kolek made a successful return from an oblique injury, helping the No. 2 seed Golden Eagles (26-9) rally over the No. 15 seed Hilltoppers (22-12) in Indianapolis.
Marquette trailed 43-36 at halftime, but it used a 15-2 surge to open an 87-67 cushion.
The Golden Eagles shot 20-for-36 in the final 20 minutes. Kolek had 18 points and 11 assists — matching Dwyane Wade’s school record for assists in an NCAA Tournament game — in his first game since Feb. 28.
Texas A&M 98, Nebraska 83
Wade Taylor IV scored 25 and the No. 9 seed Aggies (21-14) sent the eighth-seeded Cornhuskers (23-11) home from Memphis, Tennessee, still looking for its first NCAA Tournament victory. Brice Williams led Nebraska with 24 points and Keisei Tominaga had 21.
UConn 91, Stetson 52
Donovan Clingan scored 19 points and Cam Spencer had 15 as the top-seeded and top-ranked Huskies (32-3) began defense of its national championship by cruising past the 16th-seeded Hatters (22-13) in New York. UConn will face Northwestern on Sunday.
Duke 64, Vermont 47
Jared McCain and Mark Mitchell each had 15, and the No. 4 seed Blue Devils (258) survived against the 13th-seeded Catamounts (28-7) in New York. ✶