Oregon advances after VCU is pulled for COVID19 protocols

Virginia Commonwealth was pulled from the NCAA Tournament because of COVID19 protocols, with the NCAA on Saturday declaring the 10thseeded Rams’ firstround West Region game against Oregon a nocontest.

The seventhseeded Ducks will advance to the second round without playing, meeting Iowa on Monday.

The announcement came about three hours before the teams were to play in Indianapolis. The decision came after consultation with the Marion County (Ind.) Public Health Department.

“We’ve been tested every day for the past three weeks, but within the past 48 hours we’ve received multiple positive tests,” VCU coach Mike Rhoades said in a statement. “We are devastated for our players and coaches.” SATURDAY’S GAMES

Buffaloes use 3s to crush Hoyas

Chances are, you can fit Colorado’s entire NCAA Tournament history on the back of an old Patrick Ewing jersey. Now, Ewing is part of that history, too.

The Buffaloes used an early 3point barrage to beat one of the biggest names in the game. It was a 9673 thumping of Georgetown, the program Ewing starred for in the 1980s and now coaches.

Led by Jabari Walker’s 5for5 shooting clinic from 3point range, the fifthseeded Buffs (238) made 16 3pointers and shot 64% from long range in the East Region game in Indianapolis. Walker missed only one of his 10 shots on his way to 24 points.

The Hoyas (1313) won four games in four days to take the Big East tournament title.

In other East Region games: Florida State 64, UNC Greensboro 54: In Indianapolis, Raiquan Gray scored 17 points and the No. 4 seed Seminoles (17-6) held off the 13thseeded Spartans (21-9), who closed within 51-50 with 4:52 remaining.

Michigan 82, Texas Southern 66: Juwan Howard got the win in his first NCAA Tournament game since taking over at his alma mater as Mike Smith (18 points) and the top-seeded Wolverines (21-4) coasted past the 16th-seeded Tigers (17-9) in West Lafayette, Ind.

LSU 76, St. Bonaventure 61: Freshman Cameron Thomas scored 27 points and the eighth-seeded Tigers (19-9) powered past the ninth-seeded Bonnies (16-5) in Bloomington, Ind.

UCLA 73, BYU 62: Johnny Juzang scored 27 points as the 11th-seeded Bruins (19-9) beat the sixth-seeded Cougars (20-7) in Indianapolis.

Abilene Christian 53, Texas 52: Joe Pleasant hit the tying and winning free throws with two seconds left as the 14th-seeded Wildcats (24-4) surprised the No. 3 seed Longhorns (19-8) in Indianapolis.

Maryland 63, UConn 54: Eric Ayala scored 23 points and the 10th-seeded Terrapins (17-13) beat the No. 7 seed Huskies (15-8) in West Layafette.

Alabama 68, Iona 55: A blitz of baskets pried open a tight game and gave the second-seeded Crimson Tide (25-6) a win over the No. 15 seed Gaels (12-6) in Indianapolis. Herb Jones led Alabama with 20 points,

West Region

Gonzaga 98, Norfolk State 55: Corey Kispert scored 15 of his 23 points by halftime and the top overall-seeded Bulldogs (27-0) rolled over the 16th-seeded Spartans (17-8) in Indianapolis.

Oklahoma 72, Missouri 68: Austin Reaves scored 23 points, Brady Manek added 19 and the eighth-seeded Sooners (16-10) slipped by the ninthseeded Tigers (16-10) in Indianapolis.

Creighton 63, UC Santa Barbara 62: In a nail-biter in Indianapolis, Christian Bishop made both ends of a one-and-one with 16 seconds left to give the fifth-seeded Bluejays (21-8) the lead, and Creighton held on to beat the 12th-seeded Gauchos (22-5) after Amadou Sow missed a layup at the end.

Ohio 62, Virginia 58: The fourthseeded Cavaliers’ unusual title defense ended. Last year’s NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the pandemic, making Virginia (18-7), the 2019 champions, the last team to win a title. But Jason Preston scored 17 points and the 13th-seeded Bobcats (17-7) ended dreams of a repeat in Bloomington, Ind.

USC 72, Drake 56: Evan Mobley had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the No. 6 seed Trojans (23-7) used smothering defense to beat the Bulldogs (26-5) in Indianapolis.

Kansas 93, Eastern Washington 84: David McCormack returned from his virus-caused hiatus, scoring 22 points and adding nine rebounds a day after rejoining the third-seeded Jayhawks (21-8) in Indianapolis. Kansas rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the No. 14 seed Eagles (16-8).

Iowa 86, Grand Canyon 74: The Hawkeyes (22-8) got 24 points from Luka Garza against the Antelopes (17-7) in Indianapolis.

Michael Conroy / Associated Press Colorado forward Jabari Walker celebrates one of his five 3pointers against Georgetown. Walker had 24 points.