Oregon ousts No. 2 seed Iowa
INDIANAPOLIS — Oregon wove its way through a pandemic-altered season filled with injuries, pauses and uncertainty to win a conference title.
When another kink surfaced in the NCAA Tournament, the resilient, adaptable Ducks shook it off and soared.
Off to another Sweet 16.
Chris Duarte scored 23 points and Oregon showed no signs of rust after a long layoff, beating No. 2 seed Iowa 95-80 on Monday to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the past five NCAA Tournaments.
“The guys fought through it, they stayed together,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said. “I’m proud of the way they responded.”
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-19 tests 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, kicking off the NCAA Tournament’s first Monday of second-round games with a masterpiece.
GONZAGA 87, OKLAHOMA 71
INDIANAPOLIS — Undefeated 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 in the second round.
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 its victory over Virginia in late December.
UCLA 67, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 47
INDIANAPOLIS — Johnny Juzang scored 17 points and 11th-seeded UCLA carefully brushed off pesky Abilene Christian to become the fifth team to go from First Four to Sweet 16 in 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.
CREIGHTON 72, OHIO 58
INDIANAPOLIS — Marcus Zegarowski scored 20 points to help Creighton beat Ohio, securing the program's first trip to the round of 16 in 47 years.
Damien Jefferson added 15 points for the Bluejays (22-8), the fifth seed in the West Region. They had a cold opening few minutes before the offense — and Zegarowski in particular — got rolling with a strong performance that built a double-digit lead by halftime against an upstart trying to spring a second straight tournament upset.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WRIGHT STATE 66, ARKANSAS 62
AUSTIN, Texas — Angel Baker made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 29.1 seconds left, and No. 13 Wright State beat No. 4 Arkansas in the biggest upset so far in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Jada Roberson made two free throws with 8.1 seconds left to seal the victory for the Horizon League Tournament champions.
BELMONT 64, GONZAGA 59
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Belmont freshman Destinee Wells had 25 points and seven assists, and the 12th-seeded Bruins earned their first victory ever in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
BYU 69, RUTGERS 66
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Paisley Johnson Harding scored 28 points, leading 11th-seeded BYU to the win against No. 6 seed Rutgers.
ALABAMA 80, NORTH CAROLINA 71
SAN ANTONIO — Jordan Lewis had 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, helping Alabama to the victory.
NORTHWESTERN 62, UCF 51
SAN ANTONIO — Lindsey Pulliam scored 25 points to lead seventh-seeded Northwestern to the school’s first women’s NCAA Tournament victory in 28 years.
MARYLAND 98, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 45
SAN ANTONIO — Ashley Owusu had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, helping Maryland to the victory.
GEORGIA 67, DREXEL 53
SAN ANTONIO — Jenna Staiti scored each of her 19 points in the second half, helping Georgia overcome a slow start.
INDIANA 63, VCU 32
SAN ANTONIO — Grace Berger scored 13 of her 20 points in the first half, and No. 4 seed Indiana held 13th-seeded VCU to 22.8% shooting.
ARIZONA 79, STONY BROOK 44
SAN ANTONIO — Aari McDonald scored 20 points and Trinity Baptiste had 18, sending Arizona to the runaway win.