March Madness Day 1
Morehead State vs Louisville
Almost everyone thought Louisville's pool of 4 teams would be so easy. They crush Morehead State then dominated Vanderbilt or Richmond. Well, it didn't really work that way.
Demonte Harper drained a 3 with 4.2 seconds left to give Morehead State a shocking 62-61 win over Louisville for the first major tourney upset. Although Harper only had 8 and Terrence Hill scored 23 to carry the load, it was Harper who sent the Eagles to the next round.
Morehead State jumped out to a 15-2 lead early, only to watch Louisville go on a 46-26 run and take a 48-41 lead with 10:44 left. However, 3's by Ty Proffit and Terrence Hill made it a one point game, and 2 foul shots from Hill gave the Eagles the lead back. After Louisville went up 50-49, Hill knocked down another 3.
Another trey from hill gave Morehead State a 57-52 lead, but Louisville wasn't done. Terrence Jennings scored 4 points to make it a one point game, and Elisha Justice gave Louisville the lead back with a 3. 1 dunk later and the Cardinals had a 2 possession lead.
But the Eagles got the dunk right back with 2 free throws, and the ball back after Elisha Justice missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Demonte Harper took it up, and he started to dribble in the backcourt, trying to get a free basket. Instead, he stepped back and launched up a shot.....
It made it! With 4.2 seconds left the Eagles had taken the lead. Louisville got a last shot...but it was blocked! Morehead State had won! They will play Richmond at 2:15 PM PT Saturday.
Michigan State vs UCLA
23 point lead. 8:20 to go. Things are looking very good for UCLA. Until all of the sudden, they can't make a free throw. Michigan State can't miss a 3. It is just like the Gonzaga-UCLA game 5 years ago.
Except, with a different ending.
UCLA held off the furious comeback as a traveling call at the buzzer saved UCLA and sent them to the second round, where they will face Florida. Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee each scored 16 for UCLA.
The Bruins took a 42-24 halftime lead, but Michigan State opened the half on a 15-7 run, cutting the score to 49-39. But then the Bruins played like they did in the first half; for a little bit.
Tyler Honeycutt made a layup, then he took a handoff at the wing and drained a 3. Josh Smith added on a with a layup and 2 free throws, then Malcolm Lee knocked the ball out of Kalin Lucas' hands and finished with a dunk. Michigan State got a layup, but Brendan Lane got those 2 back with a jumper. On UCLA's next possession Brendan Lane drained a fadeaway from the corner, which seemed to lock the game up.
But Michigan State never gave up. They went on a 15-2 run to make it a 66-56 game, and then a 3 and a long jumper made it a 69-61 game. However, Malcolm Lee, Lazeric Jones and Tyler Honeycutt each made 2 free throws to give UCLA a 75-66 lead. Another free throw from Reeves Nelson made it a 76-66 game.
With 1:05 left and UCLA up by 10, it looked like the magic had worn away. But Kalin Lucas made a 3, then a turnover gave the ball back to Sparty. Keith Appeling made a 3 4 seconds later, and it was a 76-72 game.
1 free throw per team made it a 77-73 game with 40 seconds left, and Michigan State got the ball back. Draymond Green launched up a 3, but he was off the mark. Tyler Honeycutt was fouled with 14 seconds left following Green's miss, but Honeycutt missed both free throws. Keith Appeling made a 3 with 4 seconds left, and it was a 1 point game.
However, Malcolm Lee made a free throw to make it a 2 point game, but Kalin Lucas got the ball back for the Spartans. He launched up a 3...but it didn't matter if it went in or not. Lucas traveled! The game was over! UCLA advanced to play Florida.
Penn State vs Temple
Maybe the most amazing game-winner of the day came from "One and Dunphy's team".
Fran Dunphy and Temple, who have lost 11 straight tournament games, finally picked up a win as Juan Fernandez made the game winning shot with 0.4 seconds left as Temple stunned Penn State 66-64 and picked up a bid to play San Diego State in the second round.
A 3 by Talor Battle gave Penn State a 20-11 lead, but Temple cut that lead to 29-27. Juan Fernandez made a 3 to give Temple the lead, and a 3 point play by Rahlir Jefferson gave Temple the halftime lead.
The game was 49-48 in favor of Temple when Ramone Moore took over. He made 3 layups to help Temple keep pace, then he drained a 3 to give Temple the lead. With less than 30 seconds left Temple led 64-61.
However, Talor Battle wasn't ready to give up. He drained a 3 to tie the game, then the Nittany Lions forced Juan Fernandez to pick up his dribble. It looked poised for OT.
But Fernandez though different. Somehow, he stepped in front of his defender and drained the 18 footer to give Temple the 66-64 win. They will play San Diego State at 3:10 PM PT Saturday for a bid to the Sweet 16.
Other Headlines
Amazing putback by Matt Howard helps Butler beat Old Dominion 60-58 and advance to play Pitt.
Brandon Knight's layup gave Kentucky a 59-57 win over Princeton to help them advance.
Unbelievable fadeaway jumper by Kevin Anderson helps Richmond survive Vanderbilt 69-66.
19 from Darryl Bryant help West Virginia rally from down 10 to beat Clemson and move on.
18 from Yancy Gates helps Cincinnati beat Missouri 78-63.
85 percent free throw shooting and 22 from Jacob Pullen help Kansas State survive Utah State.
Almost everyone thought Louisville's pool of 4 teams would be so easy. They crush Morehead State then dominated Vanderbilt or Richmond. Well, it didn't really work that way.
Demonte Harper drained a 3 with 4.2 seconds left to give Morehead State a shocking 62-61 win over Louisville for the first major tourney upset. Although Harper only had 8 and Terrence Hill scored 23 to carry the load, it was Harper who sent the Eagles to the next round.
Morehead State jumped out to a 15-2 lead early, only to watch Louisville go on a 46-26 run and take a 48-41 lead with 10:44 left. However, 3's by Ty Proffit and Terrence Hill made it a one point game, and 2 foul shots from Hill gave the Eagles the lead back. After Louisville went up 50-49, Hill knocked down another 3.
Another trey from hill gave Morehead State a 57-52 lead, but Louisville wasn't done. Terrence Jennings scored 4 points to make it a one point game, and Elisha Justice gave Louisville the lead back with a 3. 1 dunk later and the Cardinals had a 2 possession lead.
But the Eagles got the dunk right back with 2 free throws, and the ball back after Elisha Justice missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Demonte Harper took it up, and he started to dribble in the backcourt, trying to get a free basket. Instead, he stepped back and launched up a shot.....
It made it! With 4.2 seconds left the Eagles had taken the lead. Louisville got a last shot...but it was blocked! Morehead State had won! They will play Richmond at 2:15 PM PT Saturday.
Michigan State vs UCLA
23 point lead. 8:20 to go. Things are looking very good for UCLA. Until all of the sudden, they can't make a free throw. Michigan State can't miss a 3. It is just like the Gonzaga-UCLA game 5 years ago.
Except, with a different ending.
UCLA held off the furious comeback as a traveling call at the buzzer saved UCLA and sent them to the second round, where they will face Florida. Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee each scored 16 for UCLA.
The Bruins took a 42-24 halftime lead, but Michigan State opened the half on a 15-7 run, cutting the score to 49-39. But then the Bruins played like they did in the first half; for a little bit.
Tyler Honeycutt made a layup, then he took a handoff at the wing and drained a 3. Josh Smith added on a with a layup and 2 free throws, then Malcolm Lee knocked the ball out of Kalin Lucas' hands and finished with a dunk. Michigan State got a layup, but Brendan Lane got those 2 back with a jumper. On UCLA's next possession Brendan Lane drained a fadeaway from the corner, which seemed to lock the game up.
But Michigan State never gave up. They went on a 15-2 run to make it a 66-56 game, and then a 3 and a long jumper made it a 69-61 game. However, Malcolm Lee, Lazeric Jones and Tyler Honeycutt each made 2 free throws to give UCLA a 75-66 lead. Another free throw from Reeves Nelson made it a 76-66 game.
With 1:05 left and UCLA up by 10, it looked like the magic had worn away. But Kalin Lucas made a 3, then a turnover gave the ball back to Sparty. Keith Appeling made a 3 4 seconds later, and it was a 76-72 game.
1 free throw per team made it a 77-73 game with 40 seconds left, and Michigan State got the ball back. Draymond Green launched up a 3, but he was off the mark. Tyler Honeycutt was fouled with 14 seconds left following Green's miss, but Honeycutt missed both free throws. Keith Appeling made a 3 with 4 seconds left, and it was a 1 point game.
However, Malcolm Lee made a free throw to make it a 2 point game, but Kalin Lucas got the ball back for the Spartans. He launched up a 3...but it didn't matter if it went in or not. Lucas traveled! The game was over! UCLA advanced to play Florida.
Penn State vs Temple
Maybe the most amazing game-winner of the day came from "One and Dunphy's team".
Fran Dunphy and Temple, who have lost 11 straight tournament games, finally picked up a win as Juan Fernandez made the game winning shot with 0.4 seconds left as Temple stunned Penn State 66-64 and picked up a bid to play San Diego State in the second round.
A 3 by Talor Battle gave Penn State a 20-11 lead, but Temple cut that lead to 29-27. Juan Fernandez made a 3 to give Temple the lead, and a 3 point play by Rahlir Jefferson gave Temple the halftime lead.
The game was 49-48 in favor of Temple when Ramone Moore took over. He made 3 layups to help Temple keep pace, then he drained a 3 to give Temple the lead. With less than 30 seconds left Temple led 64-61.
However, Talor Battle wasn't ready to give up. He drained a 3 to tie the game, then the Nittany Lions forced Juan Fernandez to pick up his dribble. It looked poised for OT.
But Fernandez though different. Somehow, he stepped in front of his defender and drained the 18 footer to give Temple the 66-64 win. They will play San Diego State at 3:10 PM PT Saturday for a bid to the Sweet 16.
Other Headlines
Amazing putback by Matt Howard helps Butler beat Old Dominion 60-58 and advance to play Pitt.
Brandon Knight's layup gave Kentucky a 59-57 win over Princeton to help them advance.
Unbelievable fadeaway jumper by Kevin Anderson helps Richmond survive Vanderbilt 69-66.
19 from Darryl Bryant help West Virginia rally from down 10 to beat Clemson and move on.
18 from Yancy Gates helps Cincinnati beat Missouri 78-63.
85 percent free throw shooting and 22 from Jacob Pullen help Kansas State survive Utah State.
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