Oregon’s unlikely run rolls on with easy win over Iowa
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 in Indianapolis. 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 (22-9) 95-80 on Monday to reach the Sweet 16 in the West Region for 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-19 tests took care of that, leaving Oregon with a nine-day break since losing in the Pac-12 Tournament title game.
Oregon moves on to face either Kansas or Southern Cal in the Sweet 16.
Luka Garza capped his stellar college career by tying the Iowa NCAA Tournament record with 36 points and grabbing nine rebounds before receiving a nice ovation from the crowd in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
GONZAGA 87, OKLAHOMA 71
>> 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.
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.
Austin Reaves scored 27 points for Oklahoma (16-11).
The Bulldogs advanced to their sixth straight Sweet 16 and will next face Creighton.
CREIGHTON 72, OHIO 58 >> 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.
East Region
UCLA 67, ABILIENE CHRISTIAN 47 >> Johnny Juzang scored 17 points and 11thseeded UCLA carefully brushed off pesky Abilene Christian 67-47 Monday to become the fifth team to go from First Four to Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins (20-9) will face Alabama in their first regional semifinal appearance since 2017 .
Abilene Christian (245) pulled off one of the most surprising victories in a tournament filled with them, beating third-seeded Texas for the school’s first Division I NCAA victory Saturday.
MICHIGAN 86, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY 78 >> Topseeded Michigan salvaged the Big Ten’s best hope for NCAA Tournament glory Monday, getting 21 points each from Chaundee Brown and Eli Brooks in a a rollercoaster victory over talentrich LSU.
In a game full of big runs, the Wolverines (22-4) used the biggest — 14-1 over the decisive stretch midway through the second half — to pull away from the Tigers (19-10) and preserve a glimmer of hope for a conference.
FLORIDA STATE 71, COLORADO 53 >> Anthony Polite scored a career-high 22 points and No. 4 seed Florida State (18-6) pulled away in the second half to beat Colorado (23-9) and advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight NCAA Tournament. Polite had never scored more than 15 points in a game, but the junior made 8 of 12 shots, including 4 of 7 3-pointers.
ALABAMA 96, MARYLAND 77>> Jaden Shakelford had 21 points as Alabama put away Maryland to reach the Sweet Sixteen.