NCAA men’s roundup

WEST REGION

• Gonzaga continued to roll behind a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds from Drew Timme as the top-seeded Bulldogs beat No. 8 seed Oklahoma, 87-71, on March 22 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga (28-0) won its 32nd straight game dating to last season, passing its first real test of the NCAAs in the Bulldogs’ quest to be the first undefeated champion since Indiana 45 years ago.

The Bulldogs easily dispatched Norfolk State in the first round, but the Sooners were the first power conference opponent for Gonzaga since it embarrassed Virginia in late December. It didn’t matter all that much. Oklahoma became the 25th straight team the Bulldogs beat by double digits — although the Sooners fought valiantly to keep it from becoming a blowout. The Zags advanced to their sixth straight Sweet 16and will next face Creighton in the West Region. Austin Reaves scored 27 points for Oklahoma (16-11). Timme, sporting a handlebar mustache, was 9of 12 shooting and 12 of 14 at the free-throw line. Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs added 16 points each for Gonzaga.

• Chris Duarte scored 23 points and Oregon showed no signs of rust after a long layoff, beating No. 2 seed Iowa, 95-80, to reach the Sweet 16for the fourth time in the past five NCAA Tournaments.

The seventh-seeded Ducks (21-6) were put in an unprecedented spot, advancing to the West Region’s second round without playing a game. Virginia Commonwealth’s multiple positive COVID-19tests took care of that, leaving Oregon with a nine-day break since losing in the Pac-12 Tournament title game. Oregon’s offense hummed like it was fresh off the line once the ball went up. The Ducks shot 56% and hit 11 3-pointers. LJ Figueroa made five 3s while scoring 21 points and Will Richardson added 19 points.

The Hawkeyes (22-9) fell one game short of the Sweet 16for the fourth time under Fran McCaffrey. Luka Garza played like a twotime All-American, capping his stellar college career with 36 points and nine rebounds. Joe Wieskamp added 17 points.

EAST REGION

• Johnny Juzang scored 17 points and 11th-seeded UCLA carefully brushed off pesky Abilene Christian, 67-47, to become the fifth team to go from First Four to Sweet 16in the NCAA

Tournament.

The Bruins (20-9) meet the winner of Maryland-Alabama in their first regional semifinal appearance since 2017— and their first with second-year coach Mick Cronin.

UCLA started its tournament March 18 by rallying to beat Michigan State in overtime and is the first team to rise from First Four to the round of 16 since Syracuse in 2018. VCU in 2011 is the only First Four team to advanced past the regional semifinals, when the Rams went to the Final Four. The Bruins were far from spectacular, but their size and athleticism combined with solid execution were more than enough to keep the 14th-seeded Wildcats from springing another upset.

• Top-seeded Michigan salvaged the Big Ten’s best hope for NCAA Tournament glory, getting 21points each from Chaundee Brown and Eli Brooks in a roller-coaster 86-78victory over talentrich LSU.

In a game full of big runs, the Wolverines (22-4) used the biggest — 14-1over the decisive stretch midway through the second half — to pull away and preserve a glimmer of hope for a conference that has mostly tanked these four days in Indianapolis.

After the win, Michigan and Maryland — which played later — were the only teams left for the Big Ten after it placed a nation-leading nine in the bracket. Michigan moved on to its fourth straight Sweet 16, where it will play Colorado or Florida State next weekend. The Wolverines will be the best hope for a conference that has already seen another 1 seed (Illinois), a 2 (Ohio State) and a 4 (Purdue) hit the highway.