Duke rolls in Scheyer’s tourney debut as coach
Jeremy Roach matched his career high with 23 points as No. 5 seed Duke beat Oral Roberts 74-51 in Orlando, Florida, in the Blue Devils’ first NCAA Tournament game since Jon Scheyer took over as their coach.
Dariq Whitehead added 13 points for the Blue Devils (27-8), the ACC Tournament champions. Roach also scored 23 in the ACC title game victory over Virginia.
In his first NCAA Tournament game as Krzyzewski’s replacement, Scheyer led Duke to a 10th consecutive win and a secondround matchup this afternoon against fourth-seeded Tennessee.
Oral Roberts (30-5), a 12 seed, entered the tournament on a nation-leading 17-game winning streak, but was unable to replicate its success of two years ago, when the Golden Eagles upset Ohio State and Florida during a surprising run to the Sweet 16. Summit League Player of the Year Max Abmas was limited to 12 points on 4-for15 shooting.
Tennessee 58, Louisiana 55:
Tyreke Key scored 12 points, Jahmai Mashack added 11 and fourth-seeded Tennessee survived a late scare from the Sun Belt Tournament champions.
The 13th-seeded Ragin’ Cajuns (26-8) whittled an 18-point deficit to three in the final minute — creating some tense moments and two technical fouls — but the Volunteers (24-10) closed it out by forcing tough shots and making just enough free throws.
Tennessee, which lost six of 10 heading into the tournament, advanced to face fifth-seeded Duke.
Jordan Brown led Louisiana with 16 points.
Northwestern 75, Boise State 67:
Boo Buie scored 22 points and former William & Mary guard Chase Audige added 20 to lead Northwestern in Sacramento, California, the Wildcats’ second appearance ever in the NCAA Tournament.
The seventh-seeded Wildcats (22-11) previously made it to the Big Dance in 2017, and just like that time, they made sure they wouldn’t be one-and-done.
Northwestern never trailed as it advanced to play No. 2 seed UCLA.
The 10th-seeded Broncos (24-10) are 0-9 all-time in NCAA Tournaments.
UCLA 86, UNC Asheville 53:
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 17 points, and UCLA raced out to a fast start in Sacramento and never looked back.
The Bruins (30-5) scored the first 14 points of the game. Amari Bailey had 17 points and David Singleton had 11.
Drew Pember scored 13 points for the 15th-seeded Bulldogs (27-8), who won the Big South regular-season and tournament titles.
Houston 63, Northern Kentucky 52: With All-American Marcus Sasser watching from the bench, top-seeded Houston advanced.
Chants of “NKU!” and “Overrated!” filled Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, as the 16th-seeded Norse trailed by only three at halftime and made it 36-all with less than 16 minutes to go against the Cougars (32-3).
But Houston pulled away behind 16 points from Jarace Walker, advancing to face ninthseeded Auburn tonight.
Sasser suffered a groin injury last weekend in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. He got the start and knocked down an early 3-pointer, but the school said he aggravated the injury, forcing him to sit out the rest of the game.
Auburn 83, Iowa 75: Johni Broome had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks for the ninthseeded Tigers (21-12), who made 11 of 12 free throws over the final four minutes to lock up a secondround matchup with Houston.
The eighth-seeded Hawkeyes (19-14) twice got within four points in the second half, but came no closer.
Auburn had five players score in double figures. Wendell Green Jr. had 15 points, and Tre Donaldson and KD Johnson each finished with 11. Allen Flanigan scored 10.
Texas 81, Colgate 61: Sir’Jabari Rice scored 23 points and No. 2 seed Texas (27-8) shut down sharpshooting Colgate in Des Moines, Iowa.
Rice made five of his seven 3-pointers in the first half, helping the Longhorns get off to a fast start. Marcus Carr finished with 17 points and Dylan Disu had 17 points and nine rebounds.
Texas shot 13 for 23 from 3-point range while advancing to a second-round matchup against Penn State.
Keegan Records and Ryan Moffatt each scored 13 points for the 15th-seeded Raiders (26-9).
Penn State 76, Texas A&M 59: Andrew Funk made 8 of 10 3-pointers and scored 27 points in Des Moines as Penn State registered its first NCAA Tournament victory in 22 years.
Funk, in his first year at Penn State after transferring from Bucknell, led the Nittany Lions to their ninth win in their past 11 games.
Jalen Pickett, the biggest star for Penn State (23-13), played another strong all-around game with 19 points, eight assists, no turnovers and seven rebounds. Guard Kanye Clary, a former Princess Anne High star, had two points and one rebound in seven minutes off the Lions’ bench.
Dexter Dennis scored 19 points to lead Texas A&M (25-10), guided by former Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams.