#7 Missouri beats #10 Utah State 76-65
Missouri handled business in the second half of their 11 point victory.
Utah State, one of the best three point shooting teams in the country, was held to 4-24 shooting from range. First team All-Mountain West Conference player Steven Ashworth was kept quiet with only four points in the first half and 2-10 from distance.
Missouri smothered the Aggies on the perimeter and didn’t allow a three on 11 attempts in the first half.
After carrying a four point lead into the second half, Mizzou hit another gear in the second. A big part of that was Kobe Brown, who was in foul trouble in the first half but took over down the stretch.
“He is our SEC Player of the Year, not just Student-Athlete of the Year,” first-year Head Coach Dennis Gates said postgame. “But more importantly, he plays the game the right way.”
Because Brown was in foul trouble, D’Moi Hodge made the greatest sustained impact on the game. He finished with 23 points and made his presence known on both ends of the floor, adding four steals.
Being the first game of the day, the Tigers got to sit back and await their opponent.
#15 Princeton stuns #2 Arizona 59-55
Odds are, your bracket is in shambles because of this game.
Princeton, coming off an Ivy League Tournament win to get themselves into the dance, closed out Arizona on a 9-0 run to end the game. The Tigers took their first lead of the game with just 2:03 remaining on a mid range jumper by Ryan Langborg.
“This group did something special for the university, the fans, for the former players and for one another,” said Head Coach Mitch Henderson.
Tosan Evbuomwan led the way for the Tigers in scoring with 15, and added seven rebounds.
Arizona came into the tournament as the #8 team in the nation according to the most recent AP Poll. Their second season under Tommy Lloyd comes to an abrupt end after looking like one of the strongest teams in the nation.
Princeton will meet Missouri on Saturday.
#7 Northwestern defeats #10 Boise State 75-67
In the scrappiest, most physical game of the day, Northwestern pulled out a gritty eight point win. The Wildcats played in front of a very friendly crowd in Sacramento.
Northwestern was able to get stops when they needed them most, smothering the Broncos offense in the final minutes. Senior guard Boo Buie finished with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists and Chase Audige contributed 20 points and six rebounds.
“Their guards made plays all year long for them,” said Boise State Head Coach Leon Rice postgame. “They were able to make some big, big shots for them.”
Boise State’s Max Rice was effective, putting up 17 points. They brought down 20 offensive rebounds as a team in the losing effort.
#2 UCLA stomps #15 UNC Asheville
There is not too much to unpack here. The Bruins brought more energy and did not let their foot off the gas.
Superstar Freshman Amari Bailey was phenomenal, pushing the pace and forcing the issue. Bailey also had six assists.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a big game as well, scoring 17 points.
“We spell fun: W-I-N,” said Head Coach Mick Cronin.
The Bruins will face Northwestern on Saturday in a fascinating matchup.