March Madness afternoon session: News, notes, scores, and highlights

The opening session of the NCAA Tournament came with a fresh reminder of why we call this March Madness. For some, it was a celebration of raw power. For others, it was the crushing weight of dreams dashed against the cold, unforgiving reality of an opening round loss. From Houston’s suffocating dominance to McNeese State’s stunning upset, here’s how the day unfolded—stats and all, but with the beating heart of the game front and center.

Houston 78, SIU Edwardsville 40: A 1-Seed Statement

The Houston Cougars came into this game with the swagger of a No. 1 seed, and from the moment the ball was tipped, they made it clear why. It was a relentless storm, a display of pure dominance that left the SIU Edwardsville Cougars struggling to find their footing on the court.

Houston sent a message, they are not to be played with. The Cougars shot 40.9% from the field, with Milos Uzan leading the charge with 16 points on a near-perfect 6-for-7 shooting. His confidence was contagious. L.J. Cryer chipped in 15 points, including four three-pointers, which cut through the net like knives.

But the real story lay beneath the numbers. It was the unrelenting pressure, the defensive suffocation that smothered SIU Edwardsville's every hope. Houston outrebounded them 50-27. Ja'Vier Francis was a beast on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds to go with his 13 points.

SIU Edwardsville’s leading scorers, Brian Taylor II and Ray’Sean Taylor, only managed 10 points apiece. The frustration was palpable. Every shot was contested, every drive met by a wall of Houston jerseys. And as the minutes ticked away, so did their dreams of a magical upset.

Auburn 83, Alabama State 63: A Scare, Then a Sprint

Alabama State’s battle against Auburn was one of resilience. Despite the final score, the Hornets made it a game, clawing their way back from an early deficit to cut the lead to a single point late in the first half. For a moment, hope was alive.

But Auburn wasn’t about to let Cinderella dance. Miles Kelly poured in 23 points, including a dazzling seven three-pointers that left the Hornets in the nest. The Tigers' rebounding effort, led by Johni Broome’s monstrous double-double of 14 points and 11 boards, was too much for Alabama State to handle.

The Hornets’ Amarr Knox was brilliant in his own right, dropping 18 points and doing everything he could to keep his team within striking distance. But basketball is a team game, and Alabama State’s 24% three-point shooting wasn’t enough to keep pace.

Wisconsin 85, Montana 66: Second-Half Surge Crushes Upset Hopes

The Wisconsin Badgers took care of business against the Montana Grizzlies with surgical precision. This wasn’t a blowout from the jump; it was a slow, steady dissection.

Led by John Blackwell’s 19 points and Steven Crowl’s 18, Wisconsin played with the confidence of a team that knows its strengths. They shot a blistering 53.1% from the field, moving the ball with grace and precision.

Montana’s Te’Jon Sawyer tried to will his team back into the game, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds. But every small run was met by a Wisconsin counterpunch. When John Tonje hit all nine of his free throws, it felt like the final nail in the coffin.

By the time the buzzer sounded, the Grizzlies were left with nothing but broken dreams and heavy hearts.

McNeese State 69, Clemson 67: The Upset That Almost Wasn’t

McNeese State stunned Clemson 69-67 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggests—until it was. The Cowboys obliterated Clemson in the first half, leading 31-13 behind a suffocating defense that held the Tigers to 13 points on 36.8% shooting. McNeese dominated the glass (43-36, including 18 offensive rebounds) and pounded Clemson inside with 44 paint points to their 24.

Brandon Murray led the charge with 21 points off the bench (10-for-18), while Quadir Copeland’s 16 points and five assists fueled the attack. McNeese’s 43.5% shooting wasn’t flashy, but their grit was undeniable. Clemson’s Chase Hunter (21 points) and Jaeden Zackery (24 points, 4-for-8 from three) mounted a furious comeback, trimming a 20-point deficit to two with seconds left. But it was too little, too late.

Clemson’s 13 turnovers and first-half collapse dug a hole too deep. McNeese, just the second lower seed to win today, marches on with swagger.

Creighton 89, Louisville 75: Bluejays Soar in Rupp

Creighton turned Rupp Arena into their playground, toppling Louisville 89-75 in a 9-over-8 upset that felt more like a coronation. A 12-0 first-half run, capped by four straight threes, put the Bluejays up 14, and they never let Louisville closer than 10 again. Jamiya Neal was unstoppable—29 points, 11-for-16 shooting, 12 rebounds—while Steven Ashworth’s 22 points (4-for-8 from three) and Ryan Kalkbrenner’s 14 points and four blocks overwhelmed the Cardinals.

Creighton shot 57.1% from the field and 45.8% from deep, their 17 assists a testament to their flow. Louisville’s Terrence Edwards Jr. (21 points) and Chucky Hepburn (22 points) fought hard, but 42.9% shooting and 6-for-29 from three couldn’t keep pace. The Cardinals haven’t won in Rupp since 2013, and Creighton made sure that streak continued with a performance that screamed “watch us.”

BYU 80, VCU 71: Cougars Run Away Late

BYU’s 80-71 win over VCU was a slow burn that erupted in the second half. The Rams hung around, with Zeb Jackson’s 23 points (9-for-14, 5-for-10 from three) and Jack Clark’s 12 points keeping it tight. VCU’s 15-for-38 from deep gave them life, but their 11 turnovers and 41.3% field goal shooting couldn’t sustain it.

Then BYU found their groove. Richie Saunders led with 16 points, Egor Demin added 15 (3-for-7 from three), and Fousseyni Traore’s 13 points off the bench powered a mid-second-half run that put VCU away. The Cougars shot 50% from the field, dominated the boards 40-31, and went 19-for-28 from the line. It’s their first tournament win since the Jimmer Fredette era, and the Provo faithful are rocking.

Georgia vs Gonzaga: Battle of the Bulldogs

Gonzaga closed out the opening session with a 89-68 thrashing of Georgia that was never in doubt. The 8-seed Bulldogs jumped out to a 27-3 lead, and Georgia’s 9-seed Bulldogs spent the rest of the game clawing at a deficit that only grew wider. Khalif Battle led the charge with 24 points (9-for-13, 4-for-7 from three) and eight rebounds, his every bucket a jolt of energy for a roaring crowd. Braden Huff and Nolan Hickman each added 18 points—Huff bullying inside (8-for-11), Hickman sniping from deep (5-for-6 from three).

Gonzaga shot a scorching 55% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc (12-for-20), their 23 assists showcasing a fluidity Georgia couldn’t touch. They owned the glass 38-31, turning 11 offensive rebounds into back-breaking second chances. Georgia’s Asa Newell fought valiantly with 20 points and eight rebounds (6-for-10), while Silas Demary Jr. chipped in 15, but their 35% shooting and 5-for-26 from three spelled doom. A late 7-for-9 free-throw flurry from Demary couldn’t mask the carnage.

This was domination, plain and simple. Gonzaga’s rolling into the next round with a snarl, and Georgia’s left picking up the pieces.

The Madness Marches On

The first day of the NCAA Tournament was a reminder of the beauty and brutality of March Madness. For Houston, Auburn, and Wisconsin, it was a day of celebration. For the vanquished, it was a lesson in just how unforgiving this sport can be.

As the tournament continues, so will the stories. The joy of victory. The agony of defeat. And the hope that, maybe, just maybe, magic is still out there waiting to be found. This is why we watch.