Xavier is turning to Richard Pitino as its next head basketball coach, several outlets reported Tuesday night.

• Pitino, who spent the past four seasons at New Mexico, replaces Sean Miller, who left for the Texas job earlier this week.

  It also means Pitino will coach two games against his father, Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, in the Big East next season when the Musketeers face St. John's.

  The younger Pitino, 42, was at Florida International for the 2012-13 season and coached Minnesota for the eight seasons after that. He has amassed a 247-186 record with four NCAA Tournament appearances, two at Minnesota and each of the past two years at New Mexico.

  Richard Pitino guided the Lobos to a 27-8 record and a regular-season Mountain West championship this past season. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 10th-seeded New Mexico upset Big East member Marquette 75-66 before losing 71-63 to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the second round Sunday .

  --Field Level Media

The lack of upsets during the first week of the NCAA Tournament led to discourse about whether NIL and the transfer portal are hurting the sport in the long run.

• None of that stopped the tournament from hitting some record numbers for viewership.

  The first two rounds of the tournament averaged 9.4 million viewers per game across CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV -- the highest average audience for the first week since 1993, according to Nielsen on Tuesday. That was up by 4 percent on last year's mark of 9.04 million.

  The tournament set an opening-day record Thursday by averaging 9.1 million viewers, per Nielsen. The momentum continued into the Round of 32 with an average viewership of 10.2 million over the weekend, making it the most-watched Round of 32 since 2017.

  Part of the equation: In 2020, Nielsen began counting out-of-home viewership at establishments such as restaurants and sports bars. The number of high-profile programs playing -- including Duke, Kentucky, UCLA and UConn -- may also have contributed along with a high-interest matchup Saturday between Rick Pitino's St. John's squad and John Calipari's victorious Arkansas Razorbacks.

  Kentucky's second-round win over Illinois on Sunday drew an average of 15.3 million viewers, Nielsen found.

  The First Four round (the quartet of play-in games on Tuesday and Wednesday) also did a record 7.4 million viewers on TruTV.

  --Field Level Media

North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau, a former five-star high school recruit, is entering the transfer portal, according to several reports Tuesday.

• Cadeau averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 37 games (all starts) for the Tar Heels in his sophomore season. He also gave up 3.1 turnovers per contest.

  Cadeau was a 33.7 percent shooter from 3-point range as he helped North Carolina reach the NCAA Tournament, where it defeated San Diego State in the First Four before falling to No. 6 seed Ole Miss. Cadeau had 12 assists against the Aztecs and eight against the Rebels.

  In 74 games (68 starts) across two seasons in Chapel Hill, Cadeau has averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

  --Field Level Media

New Mexico standout point guard Donovan Dent is entering the transfer portal Tuesday after leading the Lobos to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, according to multiple reports.

• Dent averaged 20.4 points and 6.4 assists and shot 40.9 percent from 3-point range in 35 games this season and won Mountain West Player of the Year honors. His 224 assists are second most in a season by a New Mexico player.

  Dent has 1,400 points, 493 assists and 131 steals in 104 games over three seasons. His assist total is seventh-best in program history.

  He reportedly will consider a return to New Mexico.

  However, a return probably is a long shot for a multi-faceted point guard who scores and passes at an elite level. Schools in power conferences will come calling with large offers for Dent, who will be one of the more sought-after talents in the portal.

  Dent led the Lobos to a 27-8 record -- the school's most wins since a 29-6 mark in 2012-13. New Mexico recorded a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Marquette before losing to Michigan State in the second round.

  Lobos guard Tru Washington also entered the portal, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Washington averaged 11.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 34 games (33 starts) this season, his second with the Lobos.

  --Field Level Media

South Florida hired Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson to lead the Bulls' program.

• Hodgson, 37, was 45-28 in two seasons at Arkansas State. The Red Wolves finished 25-11 this season, winning the Sun Belt regular season championship before falling in the NIT second round.

  Hodgson previously was an assistant coach at Alabama (2019-23) and Buffalo (2015-19).

  "We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Hodgson as the next head coach of USF men's basketball," vice president for athletics Michael Kelly said in a news release on Monday. "Bryan has been a part of winning programs at every level, demonstrating a remarkable ability to recruit top talent, develop players, and build championship-caliber teams. His passion, energy, and vision for USF basketball align perfectly with our commitment to excellence."

  USF finished 13-19 this season (6-12 American Athletic Conference) under interim coach Ben Fletcher, who took over following the death of head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, 43, on Oct. 24.

  "I am incredibly honored and excited to be the head coach at the University of South Florida," Hodgson said. "From my first conversations with Michael Kelly and the USF leadership, it was clear that this place is strongly committed to building a winning culture.

  "... We will play with energy, toughness, and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level. I can't wait to get started!"

  --Field Level Media

Drake's leading scorer, Bennett Stirtz, is transferring to Iowa.

• With the move, Stirtz follows head coach Ben McCollum, who accepted the top job with the Hawkeyes on Monday.

  Stirtz was named Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference and was an honorable mention All-American after averaging a league-leading 19.2 points, a team-leading 5.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.

  A 6-foot-4 guard, Stirtz played just one season at Drake after transferring from Northwest Missouri State, where he played two seasons under McCollum.

  Stirtz scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting in Drake's first-round, 67-57 upset of Missouri last Thursday in the NCAA Tournament. He also scored 21 in the Bulldogs' second-round loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.

  He joined Larry Bird as only players in conference history to reach 600 points (673), 180 assists (200) and 70 steals (72) in a season.

  McCollum needs to bolster his Iowa roster.

  Following the dismissal of longtime coach Fran McCaffery earlier this month, several players said they planned to leave the Hawkeyes. The transfer portal opened Monday and already consists of six Iowa players intending to leave, according to the listing by 247Sports.

  --Field Level Media

Saint Francis (Pa.) announced it is moving from NCAA Division I to Division III, just a week after the school's heartbreaking loss in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

• The move, directed by the university board of trustees, is planned to take effect with the 2026-27 academic year.

  The Red Flash, who participate in the Northeast Conference, will move to the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The switch impacts all school sports.

  "This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees," said the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, the board chair. "The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution, and our community's expectations."

  Saint Francis lost to Alabama State 70-68 in the First Four contest of 16 seeds on March 18 in Dayton, Ohio. It was the second NCAA Tournament appearance for the Red Flash and first since it lost to Arizona 93-80 on March 14, 1991.

  The Presidents' Athletic Conference currently consists of 13 schools in the Ohio-Pennsylvania-West Virginia footprint. That's a benefit for Saint Francis, said the Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, president of the board of trustees.

  "The Board and I have been concerned about the student-athlete experience for many years," he said. "The geography of our conference is huge. Our students travel either to Chicago or to Boston or to points in between. That's a lot of time not spent on campus, developing friendships or in the classroom. This change allows our students to be present on campus and lets their friends attend more of their home and away games. This decision is about creating and maintaining community and allowing our student-athletes to thrive in the classroom and their chosen sport."

  The move is not without precedence.

  In 2021, less than two months after its first NCAA Tournament appearance, Hartford announced its move from Division I to Division III, which is expected to completed this fall.

  --Field Level Media

UNLV hired Josh Pastner as its basketball coach on Tuesday.

• Pastner, 47, has a 276-187 record over 14 seasons at Memphis (2009-16) and Georgia Tech (2016-23).

  Contract terms were not announced.

  He has worked as a television analyst since his firing by Georgia Tech after two consecutive losing seasons.

  Pastner played on Arizona's 1997 national championship team and later was an assistant there under Lute Olson (2002-08) and at Memphis under John Calipari (2008-09). He was promoted when Calipari left Memphis to take the head coaching job at Kentucky.

  Between Memphis and Georgia Tech, Pastner led his teams to four conference tournament championships, two conference regular-season championships and seven postseason appearances (five NCAA Tournaments, two NIT). He was named the 2013 Conference USA Coach of the Year and the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year.

  UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said Pastner was the right person to replace Kevin Kruger, who was fired earlier this month after four seasons and a record of 76-55 but no NCAA Tournament appearances.

  "He is a fearless and relentless recruiter with success as a head coach, and is also an exceptional communicator, deeply committed to engaging with the Las Vegas community," Harper said. "Furthermore, Josh is committed to connecting with Runnin' Rebel alumni, ensuring that everyone feels involved in the program's success. We are confident that he will lead us to win championships and return the Runnin' Rebels to the NCAA Tournament."

  UNLV last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2013. The school made four Final Four appearances under legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian and won the NCAA title in 1990.

  --Field Level Media

Utah State is working to finalize a new contract with coach Jerrod Calhoun as rumors swirl about interest in him from other schools.

• CBS Sports reported Tuesday that the deal would make Calhoun, 43, No. 2 in salary in the Mountain West Conference behind Brian Dutcher of San Diego State, who took his team to the NCAA championship game in 2023.

  According to the USA Today salary database for college basketball coaches, Dutcher made $2.4 million in the 2024-25 season, with Calhoun earning $1 million.

  In his first season in Logan, Calhoun led the Aggies to a 26-8 record, which includes a first-round loss to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.

  Calhoun had been rumored as a strong candidate for the vacant job at West Virginia, where he was on the staff under former coach Bob Huggins from 2008-12.

  Utah State has become a steppingstone job for coaches, and Aggies leadership clearly didn't want to transition to a new coach again. Calhoun was their fourth coach in five seasons.

  Craig Smith held the job for three seasons (2018-21) before departing for Utah. Newly hired Virginia coach Ryan Odom followed him for the next two seasons before leaving for VCU. And Danny Sprinkle spent one season in Logan (2023-24) before taking over at Washington.

  --Field Level Media

Former Georgia Tech and Memphis basketball coach Josh Pastner is set to be hired as the new head coach at UNLV, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.

• According to ESPN, Pastner accepted a five-year contract offer.

  Fired by Georgia Tech in March 2023 after the Yellow Jackets' second consecutive losing season, Pastner spent the past two seasons as a basketball analyst on TV.

  "I've loved doing the television, but I do want to coach again," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week. "But I want to make sure it's the right opportunity for me and the school feels it's the right opportunity for them. I hope there comes an opportunity."

  Pastner, 47, compiled a 109-114 record in seven seasons at Georgia Tech, starting in 2016-17. He led the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Tournament just once, when they fell in the first round in 2021.

  Prior to that, Pastner logged a 167-73 mark at Memphis from 2009-10 to 2015-16. The Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament four times during his tenure, losing twice in the first round and twice in the second round.

  He also had stints as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Arizona, and at Memphis. As a walk-on freshman, Pastner was part of Arizona's NCAA-winning side in 1997.

  UNLV fired coach Kevin Kruger on March 15 at the conclusion of an 18-15 season that finished with a defeat in the Mountain West tournament quarterfinals. Kruger was on the job for four seasons, logging a 76-55 record.

  --Field Level Media

Mike Bibby, who spent the bulk of his prolific NBA career with the Sacramento Kings, is returning to the city to take over as the head coach of Sacramento State, ESPN reported Monday.

• Sacramento State was in need of a new coach after David Patrick left the post in 2024 to accept a job as the associate head coach at LSU. Last season, the Hornets went 7-25 under interim head coach Michael Czepil. They had a 3-15 record in the Big Sky, finishing last in the conference.

  Bibby hasn't coached since 2019, and his experience is limited to the high school level. But Sacramento State went for the recognizable name as it continues trying to increase its athletics profile. The athletic department pursued Michael Vick to become its football coach this offseason before hiring Brennan Marion, and it has said it wants to move up from FCS football to FBS.

  Bibby, 46, was drafted second overall in 1998 by the Vancouver Grizzlies before joining the Kings in 2001-02. He averaged 17.6 points per game in six-plus seasons in Sacramento, along with 17.9 points per game in 51 playoff appearances for the franchise.

  He had career marks of 14.7 points, 5.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Grizzlies (1998-01), Kings (2001-08), Atlanta Hawks (2008-11), Washington Wizards (2011), Miami Heat (2011) and New York Knicks (2011-12).

  --Field Level Media

Dailyn Swain was one of three Xavier players to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

• The portal opened for men's college basketball players the same day that coach Sean Miller left Xavier for the job at Texas. Teammates Trey Green and Cam'Ron Fletcher reportedly joined Swain in the portal.

  Swain, a guard, was the Musketeers' third-leading scorer as a sophomore at 11.0 points per game, a sharp uptick from his 4.6 average the year before. Swain started 33 of the 34 games he played in 2024-25 and also added 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals per contest.

  Green was limited to nine games before stepping away due to a health issue. He scored 5.0 ppg, while Fletcher averaged 1.3 in 11 appearances.

  --Seton Hall is losing leading scorer Isaiah Coleman to the portal.

  Coleman became the No. 1 option for the Pirates in 2024-25 and averaged 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Pirates went a dismal 7-25 (2-18 Big East).

  A former four-star recruit, Coleman has career averages of 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 63 games (32 starts).

  --Baylor guard Langston Love entered the portal, not long after the Bears lost to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

  Love played three seasons at Baylor and averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 74 games (14 starts). He had a career-best 11.0 points per game off the bench in 2023-24, and he started 12 of his 20 games as a junior in 2024-25, averaging 8.9 ppg.

  --Quinnipiac forward Amarri Monroe, the MAAC Player of the Year, is in the portal.

  Monroe put up 18.1 points, a conference-high 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game for the Bobcats this season in 32 games (31 starts). Those were all career highs, along with his 82.6 percent shooting at the foul line and 1.6 assists per game.

  --Blake Harper, who won MEAC Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors, will transfer from Howard.

  The guard averaged a whopping 19.5 points per game as a freshman to go with 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 32 games, all starts.

  --South Dakota State forward Oscar Cluff is in the portal after winning Summit League Newcomer of the Year and being named first-team all-conference.

  Cluff transferred to South Dakota State after one season at Washington State. With the Jackrabbits, the Australian put up 17.6 points and a league-leading 12.3 rebounds per game, shooting 63.4 percent from the field.

  --CAA Rookie of the Year Izaiah Pasha will look to transfer out of Delaware.

  Pasha tallied 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the Blue Hens this season in 34 games (33 starts).

  --Field Level Media

Indiana wing Mackenzie Mgbako announced Monday that he is entering the transfer portal while also considering entering the NBA draft.

• The portal opened for men's basketball players Monday and will close on April 22.

  Mgbako played two seasons for Mike Woodson at Indiana, but Woodson stepped down at the end of the season and the Hoosiers hired Darian DeVries from West Virginia.

  "Given recent changes in the coaching staff, I have decided in consultation with my family that testing the waters of the NBA is the best course of action," Mgbako wrote in a post on Instagram. "In choosing this path, I am able to retain my eligibility in the transfer portal while also keeping an eye on developments within the Indiana program."

  Mgbako averaged 12.2 points per game in each of his two seasons in Bloomington. He also recorded 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his 65 appearances (64 starts) for the Hoosiers.

  Mgbako was considered a top-10 recruit out of high school in the Class of 2023.

  --Field Level Media

Sean Miller is leaving Xavier to take over as head coach at Texas.

• Miller, 56, was in his second stint at Xavier and took the Musketeers to the NCAA Tournament this season. After winning its First Four game against the Longhorns, 86-80, 11th-seeded Xavier seed lost 86-73 to No. 6 Illinois in the first round.

  While Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte was tending to other sports business midday Monday -- the women's basketball team played a second-round NCAA Tournament game at Moody Center against Illinois -- Xavier athletic director Greg Christopher issued a statement to wish Miller well and thanked him for "getting Musketeer basketball back on track, leading us to a Sweet 16 run and another NCAA Tournament victory this year."

  Christopher said the "search for our next head coach has already begun, and we are moving quickly to find the right leader for our program."

  Over his eight seasons at Xavier (2004-09, 2022-25) and 12 seasons at Arizona (2009-21), Miller has a 487-196 career record.

  His teams have made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances with a 22-13 record.

  He would replace Rodney Terry, who was fired Sunday after a 62-37 record and three NCAA tourneys in three seasons since taking over from Chris Beard on an interim basis in 2022. He led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in 2023, but they could not duplicate the success.

  Texas finished the season 19-16 overall, 6-12 and in 13th place in its first season in the Southeastern Conference.

  The Musketeers were 22-12 (13-7 Big East).

  Miller was fired from Arizona after the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and amid an investigation into the program. Arizona was accused of five Level I rules violations.

  As an assistant coach, Miller worked at Miami (Ohio), Pitt, North Carolina State and Xavier before being named to coach the Musketeers following the departure of Thad Matta.

  --Field Level Media

While Kentucky was busy earning its way into the Sweet 16, head coach Mark Pope was adding another year onto his Wildcats contract, as well as earning a hefty bonus at the same time.

• Pope has turned his first season at Kentucky into a successful one by advancing to the second week of the NCAA Tournament following an 84-75 victory over Illinois on Sunday.

  Hired to replace John Calipari on a five-year, $27.5-million contract, the Wildcats' Sweet 16 spot has earned Pope a sixth season on the deal worth $5.25 million that will keep in him Lexington, Ky., through the 2029-30 season, according to Sportico.

  He also earned a $50,000 bonus after the team won its first two games of this NCAA Tournament.

  No. 3 seed Kentucky will now face No. 2 seed Tennessee on Friday at Indianapolis.

  Pope is in line to earn a $100,000 bonus with a victory over Tennessee, a $250,000 bonus for a spot in the Final Four, and an additional $500,000 for winning the national championship.

  The former Utah Valley and BYU coach has guided Kentucky to a 24-11 record this season.

  The Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 4 in this season's Associated Press Top 25 poll, finished tied for sixth in the SEC regular-season standings and advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament.

  --Field Level Media

Columbia is bringing back Florida assistant Kevin Hovde as its new head basketball coach.

• He will continue with the Gators, who are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, until the end of their season.

  Hovde was an assistant coach at the Ivy League program for five seasons from 2012-16, including two seasons alongside current Gators head coach Todd Golden.

  "We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Hovde back to the Columbia family," athletic director Peter Pilling said in a news release. "Our goal for our men's basketball program is to win Ivy League Championships, and we believe he is the right person to lead us there. Kevin has a passion for the game, is committed to student-athlete development, and has a strategic approach to coaching and recruiting with a proven track record of success."

  Hovde replaces Jim Engles, who stepped down on March 10 after compiling a 71-150 record over eight seasons.

  Columbia started 11-1 this season before stumbling to a 1-13 conference record and a 12-15 finish.

  Hoyde said he is happy to be headed back to New York.

  "Columbia is truly a special place for my family and me, and we are thrilled to be back," he said. "It's humbling to have the opportunity to develop young men into leaders on and off the court at one of the top universities in the world. I am eager to get to work and build a program our alumni and community can be proud of.

  After his stint at Columbia, Hovde was an assistant coach at San Francisco (2016-21) and his alma mater Richmond (2021-22) before rejoining Golden at Florida ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. Golden was the head coach at San Francisco from 2019-22.

  Hovde is the second Florida assistant coach to land a head coaching job this month. Campbell hired John Andrzejek last week.

  The No. 1-seeded Gators (32-4) will take on No. 4 seed Maryland on Thursday in the West Region in San Francisco.

  --Field Level Media

Iowa named Drake's Ben McCollum as its basketball coach on Monday, returning him to his native state.

• He replaces Fran McCaffery, who was fired by the Hawkeyes on March 14 after 15 seasons with the program.

  McCollum, who turns 44 next month, was born in Iowa City and raised in Storm Lake, Iowa.

  "Returning to Iowa City as the head coach of the Hawkeyes is a dream come true for me and my family," he said. "The passion of Hawkeye fans is unmatched, and I am incredibly excited to get started on this new journey together."

  He comes to Iowa after one season at Drake, which he led to the NCAA Tournament after guiding the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles in his first year with the program. Drake finished with a 31-4 record after dropping a 77-64 setback to Texas Tech in the second round of the tournament on Saturday.

  A No. 11 seed, Drake upset No. 6 Missouri 67-57 in the first round on Thursday.

  He previously spent 15 seasons with NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State University, helping his alma mater capture four national championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).

  During his 16-year coaching career, McCollum has amassed a record of 426-95 (.818).

  "We are excited to welcome Coach McCollum and his family back to Iowa City," Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said. "Ben has a track record of success both on and off the court. His talent for developing student-athletes and fostering a strong team culture has been evident throughout his career.

  "I am confident that Hawkeye fans will enthusiastically support the McCollum family as we embark on the next chapter of Iowa men's basketball."

  McCollum's hiring leaves Drake looking for a new coach for the second year in a row. He replaced Darian DeVries, who led the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons and departed to become the head coach at West Virginia.

  Last week, DeVries accepted the job as head coach at Indiana.

  --Field Level Media

Minnesota hired Colorado State's Niko Medved to be the next coach of the Golden Gophers on Monday.

• His contract is for six years and requires approval of university regents before his hiring can become official. Financial terms were not disclosed.

  Medved, 51, is a Minneapolis native and Minnesota alumnus who worked as an assistant coach for the program in 2006-07.

  His connection to the program runs deep.

  "I loved my time at Colorado State, and I worked with tremendous people who made a lasting impact on my life. Those are memories that I will cherish forever," Medved said in a school news release.

  "This job was too special to pass up and when the opportunity presented itself, I had to take it. I grew up a Gopher about 15 minutes away from The Barn. I went to school here, was a student manager here and coached here. This is a special place, it's home, and I cannot wait to get started."

  He guided Colorado State to a 26-10 record this season and a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where the Rams defeated No. 5 Memphis in the West Region first round before falling 72-71 to No. 4 Maryland on Sunday on a buzzer-beater.

  Medved compiled a 143-85 record in seven seasons at Colorado State with three NCAA Tournament berths. The Rams were 16-4 in the Mountain West during the 2024-25 regular season before winning the league tournament.

  Medved is 222-173 overall, including head coaching stints at Drake (2017-18) and Furman (2013-17).

  He replaces Ben Johnson, who was fired last week after four seasons and a 56-71 record (22-57 Big Ten) at Minnesota.

  --Field Level Media

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points and sparked top-seeded Florida's late-game splurge to oust two-time defending champion UConn 77-75 in the West Region's second round on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

• The Gators looked disjointed at times on offense before racking up 18 points in the final three minutes. The eighth-seeded Huskies seemed poised to pull off an upset before their 13-game winning streak in NCAA Tournament games came to a close.

  Florida (32-4) will meet No. 4 Maryland in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in San Francisco. The Terrapins eked out a 72-71 win over Colorado State later Sunday. The Gators are advancing to the second weekend of the tournament for the first time since 2017.

  Liam McNeeley poured in 22 points, Alex Karaban had 14 and Samson Johnson added 10 to pace the Huskies (24-11), who had a late-game escape against Oklahoma two days earlier in the first round. McNeeley's final shot was a made 3-pointer before the buzzer, but it was too late for UConn to get another possession.

  No. 4 Maryland 72, No. 12 Colorado State 71

  Derik Queen drove for a short basket as time expired to give the Terrapins a dramatic victory over the Rams at Seattle.

  Colorado State's Jalen Lake swished a 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left to give the Rams a one-point edge before Queen's drive put the Terrapins (27-8) in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. Queen had 17 points and Rodney Rice added 16 for Maryland, which will play top-seeded Florida in San Francisco on Thursday.

  Nique Clifford registered 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Rams (26-10), who had an 11-game winning streak halted. Lake scored 13 points while Bowen Born and Kyan Evans scored 10.

  Midwest Region

  No. 3 Kentucky 84, No. 6 Illinois 75

  Kobe Brea had 23 points and Otega Oweh added 15 to pace the Wildcats' victory over the Fighting Illinois in Milwaukee.

  Kentucky (24-11) will face second-seeded Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis. The Wildcats hit their first five shots of the second half for a 10-0 run. Brea scored 10 consecutive points for Kentucky for a 70-54 lead with 9 1/2 minutes remaining.

  Kylan Boswell had 23 points, Tomislav Ivisic 19 and Kasparas Jakucionis 13 for the Fighting Illini (22-13). Kentucky scored 26 points off 14 Illinois turnovers and had 18 assists on its 32 field goals.

  South Region

  No. 2 Michigan State 71, No. 10 New Mexico 63

  Jaden Akins scored a team-high 16 points and the Spartans controlled the last seven minutes to eliminate the Lobos in Cleveland.

  Tre Holloman came off the bench to add 14 points and fellow reserve Frankie Fidler chipped in 10 points for the Spartans (29-6), who advance to the regional semifinals in Atlanta to play No. 6 Ole Miss on Friday.

  Nelly Junior Joseph scored 16 points for the Lobos (27-8) but was limited to 29 minutes due to foul trouble before fouling out at the 2:12 mark. Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Donovan Dent added 14 points and six assists, while Mustapha Amzil also tallied 14 points.

  No. 6 Ole Miss 91, No. 3 Iowa State 78

  Sean Pedulla had 20 points, eight assists and four steals and Jaemyn Brakefield added 19 points as the Rebels dominated the Cyclones in Milwaukee.

  Ole Miss (24-11) will face second-seeded Michigan State (29-6) in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Atlanta. Ole Miss shot 58.2 percent, including 57.9 percent (11 of 19) beyond the arc. The Rebels hit 19 of 28 shots in the second half for 67.9 percent, including 6 of 8 3-pointers. Malik Dia added 18 points and Matthew Murrell 15 for the Rebels, who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001.

  Curtis Jones had 26 points and Joshua Jefferson 16 with eight rebounds for Iowa State (25-10). Milan Momcilovic, who had 20 points in the Cyclones' 82-55 first-round win over Lipscomb, had just five points on 2-of-12 shooting.

  East Region

  No. 1 Duke 89, No. 9 Baylor 66

  Tyrese Proctor poured in 25 points and freshman sensation Cooper Flagg added 18 as the Blue Devils routed the Bears in Raleigh, N.C., for their second tournament blowout in three days.

  Kon Knueppel racked up 12 points as part of the Blue Devils' rousing performance in front of a large contingent of their fans just about a half-hour drive from campus. Duke (33-3), which has a 13-game winning streak, faces Arizona in the Sweet 16 round Thursday night at Newark, N.J.

  VJ Edgecombe posted 16 points, Norchad Omier had 15 points and nine rebounds and Langston Love finished with 11 points for Baylor (20-15), which shot just 36.8 percent from the field.

  No. 2 Alabama 80, No. 7 Saint Mary's 66

  Six Alabama players scored in double figures and the Crimson Tide held the Gaels to 24-of-70 shooting from the floor in a win in Cleveland.

  The Crimson Tide (27-8) will move on to face No. 6 seed BYU in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. Aden Holloway, Mark Sears and Grant Nelson each scored 12 points. Chris Youngblood led Alabama with 13 points.

  Mitchell Saxen led all scorers with 15 points in the loss. Harry Wessels finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Gaels (29-6).

  No. 4 Arizona 87, No. 5 Oregon 83

  Caleb Love scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half and made several vital plays down the stretch to help the Wildcats put away the Ducks in Seattle.

  Love shot 6-for-7 with four 3-pointers in the second half and scored 10 straight Arizona points in crunch time to ensure the Wildcats (24-12) would beat their former Pac-12 rivals. They will face No. 1 Duke in the East Region semifinals on Thursday. Tobe Awaka collected 12 points and 14 rebounds for Arizona, which reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years under coach Tommy Lloyd.

  Jackson Shelstad led Oregon (25-10) with 25 points, TJ Bamba had 17 and Nate Bittle paired 16 points with 11 boards. The Ducks squandered a 19-4 head start, fell behind before halftime and could not land the final blow after making it a one-possession game again.

  --Field Level Media

Texas dismissed head basketball coach Rodney Terry on Sunday, with the Austin American-Statesman and other outlets reporting that the Longhorns will hire Xavier's Sean Miller as their next coach.

• Miller was three years into his second stint at Xavier and had twice brought the Musketeers to the NCAA Tournament. He previously left Xavier in 2009 to take over at Arizona for 12 seasons.

  The 56-year-old has a 487-196 record (.713 winning percentage) as a head coach at Xavier (2004-09, 2022-25) and Arizona (2009-21). He has coached in 13 NCAA Tournaments and reached the Elite Eight three times with Arizona, but the school was entangled in an FBI corruption investigation during his time there.

  Terry, who served as a Longhorns assistant from 2002-03 to 2010-11 and returned to the staff in 2021, got the top job on an interim basis when Chris Beard was suspended for an alleged domestic violence incident during the 2022-23 season. After Beard was fired, he was made the program's permanent coach in March 2023.

  Terry guided the Longhorns to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He then led Texas to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two campaigns.

  The Longhorns finished with a 19-16 record this season -- including 6-12 in the Southeastern Conference -- after squandering a 10-point second-half lead in an 86-80 setback to Miller's Xavier squad in the First Four on Wednesday.

  After the game, Terry, 56, was asked about his view of his job status.

  "I've been at Texas 13 years, and there's not a year I haven't made the NCAA Tournament or been part of the NCAA Tournament," Terry said. "I have a lot of pride in terms of being a Longhorn. I love being at Texas. I don't think anyone has been a part of Texas basketball that's been more successful than myself. I've been a part of the top-five seasons in this program's history."

  Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte called the firing a "very difficult decision" in a statement Sunday, saying his philosophy "has always been to wait until the end of the season and review every facet of our program" before coming to a final decision.

  "In looking at everything over the past three seasons, our first year in the SEC this past year and where we're headed in the future, Coach Terry and I have decided it is in the best interest of the University of Texas to move in a different direction," Del Conte wrote. "Coach Terry has led our program in a first-class manner, and we've accomplished some great things.

  "He did a tremendous job in his first season helping to manage a very difficult situation, and we're truly grateful for that."

  Terry went 62-37 as the boss in Austin. He was previously the head coach at Fresno State from 2011-12 to 2017-18, leading the Bulldogs to one NCAA Tournament appearance. He also led UTEP from 2018-19 to 2020-21.

  Overall, he owns a 225-193 record (.538 winning percentage) as a head coach.

  --Field Level Media

The hiring of coach Ryan Odom has led hometown point guard Chance Mallory back to Virginia.

• Mallory is the No. 9 point guard and the No. 55 overall prospect in the nation in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports composite. The four-star prospect originally committed to Virginia last Sept, 20, then decommitted five weeks later following the sudden retirement of coach Tony Bennett.

  Interim coach Ron Sanchez was dismissed March 12 after leading the Cavaliers to a 15-17 record, leading to the hiring of VCU's Odom.

  That was enough to change the mind of Mallory, a local product who plays at St. Anne's-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va.

  "What led me back to UVa was just the idea of being home," Mallory told 247Sports. "I've always lived in Charlottesville and I have the majority of my family still here. So being close to family was a major factor."

  The 5-foot-9 Mallory said he's "excited to be able to play for such a great coach who knows how to play with undersized guards." But he also is thrilled to fulfill a childhood wish.

  "It means everything to me," he told 247Sports. "Growing up watching games as a kid dreaming of the chance to be able to play on your hometown court means the world to me. Being able to play for your hometown team I think means a little bit more."

  --Field Level Media

Iowa is finalizing a deal to make Drake's Ben McCollum its next men's basketball coach, 247Sports reported Sunday.

• While McCollum coached the Bulldogs in the state's capital of Des Moines, his next stop (Iowa City) is where he was born. He was raised in Storm Lake, about 250 miles northwest of the Iowa campus.

  McCollum, 43, will replace Fran McCaffery, who was fired by the Hawkeyes on March 14 after 15 seasons with the program.

  The university's all-time leader in wins (297), McCaffery saw the Hawkeyes make seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Unfortunately for McCaffery's teams, they failed to reach the Sweet 16.

  McCollum led Drake to a spot in the NCAA Tournament after guiding the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles in his first year with the program. Drake finished with a 31-4 record after dropping a 77-64 setback to Texas Tech in the second round of the tournament on Saturday.

  A No. 11 seed, Drake upset No. 6 Missouri 67-57 in the first round on Thursday.

  He previously spent 15 seasons with NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State University, helping his alma mater capture four national championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022),

  Iowa finished with a 17-16 record this season after a 106-94 setback to Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten tournament. McCaffery was ejected in the second half of that game after being assessed two technical fouls for arguing with the officials, leading to Illinois making four free throws.

  --Field Level Media

Billy Richmond III scored nine of his 16 points in the second half, allowing 10th-seeded Arkansas to withstand a comeback from second-seeded St. John's and earn a 75-66 victory in Saturday afternoon's West Region second-round action in Providence, R.I.

• The Razorbacks (22-13), who are 5-1 in their last six games, advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years despite shooting just 2-of-19 from 3-point range and four players getting into foul trouble.

  In a legendary coaching matchup with Rick Pitino of St. John's (31-5), John Calipari earned his 59th all-time NCAA Tournament win -- the most among active coaches.

  Karter Knox (15 points) and Johnell Davis (13 points) were also double-figure scorers for Arkansas, which had a 13-point lead whittled down to two with 4:11 left in regulation.

  The Razorbacks will face No. 3 Texas Tech, which defeated No. 11 Drake on Saturday, in the Sweet 16.

  No. 3 Texas Tech 77, No. 11 Drake 64

  Darrion Williams scored a season-high 28 points and JT Toppin added 25 points and 12 rebounds to help the Red Raiders down the Bulldogs in West Region second-round play at Wichita, Kan.

  Elijah Hawkins had 16 points and seven assists for Texas Tech (27-8), which advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the past seven NCAA Tournaments. Toppin made 11 of 13 field-goal attempts and Williams hit 11 of 18 shots. Texas Tech will face 10th-seeded Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

  Bennett Stirtz recorded 21 points and eight assists and Daniel Abreu scored 15 points on five 3-pointers for Drake (31-4). Kael Combs added 13 points and Tavion Banks had 11 for the Bulldogs, who set a school record for victories.

  South Region

  No. 1 Auburn 82, No. 9 Creighton 70

  Tahaad Pettiford scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half while Johni Broome scored eight and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the Tigers hold off the Bluejays in Lexington, Ky.

  Auburn (30-5), the top overall seed in the tournament, advances to the Sweet 16 and will face No. 5 Michigan, a 91-79 winner over Texas A&M, in the regional semifinal next Friday in Atlanta.

  Ryan Kalkbrenner had 18 points and seven boards while Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal had 13 points apiece for Creighton (25-11). The Bluejays' bench was outscored 31-10 by Auburn reserves.

  No. 5 Michigan 91, No. 4 Texas A&M 79

  Reserve Roddy Gayle Jr. scored five of his season-high 26 points in a momentum-turning run in the second half, and the Wolverines rallied from down 10 to beat the Aggies in Denver.

  Vladislav Goldin finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, Danny Wolf added 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, and L.J. Cason scored 11 points for Michigan (27-9)/

  Reserve Pharrel Payne had a career-high 26 points, Wade Taylor IV contributed 14 before fouling out and Andersson Garcia scored 11 for Texas A&M (23-11).

  Midwest Region

  No. 1 Houston 81, No. 8 Gonzaga 76

  L.J. Cryer made six 3-pointers and matched his career high of 30 points as the Cougars earned their sixth straight Sweet 16 berth with a victory over the Bulldogs in Wichita, Kan.

  Houston's Ja'Vier Francis blocked the 3-point shot of the Bulldogs' Khalif Battle with under three seconds left and Houston leading by three. Milos Uzan then sank two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to seal the victory for the Cougars (32-4), who will face No. 4 Purdue in the Sweet 16.

  Graham Ike scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half for Gonzaga (26-9), which came up short in its bid for a 10th straight Sweet 16 appearance.

  No. 2 Tennessee 67, No. 7 UCLA 58

  Chaz Lanier scored a game-high 20 points and Zakai Zeigler added 15 points and six assists to lead the Volunteers past the Bruins in Lexington, Ky.

  Jordan Gainey added 13 points for Tennessee (29-7), which advances to its third straight Sweet 16 appearance next Friday in Indianapolis, where the Volunteers will face the winner of Sunday's Kentucky-Illinois contest in Milwaukee.

  Skyy Clark scored 18 points and Tyler Bilodeau added 15 to lead UCLA (23-11), which failed to reach the Sweet 16 for a fourth time in five seasons.

  No. 4 Purdue 76, No. 12 McNeese 62

  Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded 22 points and 15 rebounds to help the Boilermakers punch their sixth Sweet 16 ticket in the last eight NCAA Tournaments with a win over the Cowboys in Providence, R.I.

  Fletcher Loyer (15 points, five assists), C.J. Cox (11 points) and Braden Smith (10 points) also scored in double digits for Purdue (24-11). The 15 rebounds were a career-high for Kaufman-Renn, a unanimous All-Big Ten selection.

  Sincere Parker had 17 points and Javohn Garcia had 12 on four 3-pointers for McNeese (28-7), which entered Saturday on a 12-game win streak.

  East Region

  No. 6 BYU 91, No. 3 Wisconsin 89

  Richie Saunders scored 25 points, Keba Keita had 10 points and three blocked shots and the Cougars held off the Badgers in Denver.

  Trevin Knell added 14 points and Egor Demin added 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for BYU (26-9). The Cougars advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011 and will face the winner of Sunday's Alabama-Saint Mary's matchup.

  John Tonje scored 37 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field but missed a shot to send it into overtime with one second left. John Blackwell finished with 21 points, Max Klesmit had 12 and Steven Crowl contributed 10 for Wisconsin (27-10).

  --Field Level Media

Virginia named Ryan Odom as the 13th head coach in the program's history on Saturday morning.

• The Cavaliers learned all about Odom in 2018, when upstart UMBC made history under his direction by becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament by upending Virginia.

  Odom, 50, also has guided Utah State and VCU to the NCAA Tournament.

  The Cavaliers parted ways with interim coach Ron Sanchez on March 13, just hours after losing to Georgia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Virginia finished with a 15-17 record.

  Sanchez took over when national championship-winning coach Tony Bennett announced his retirement just three weeks before the start of the season.

  Odom led the Rams to a 52-21 record over the past two seasons, including a 28-7 mark in 2024-25. The latter team secured a share of the Atlantic-10 regular-season title, won the conference tournament championship and appeared in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, dropping an 80-71 decision to BYU in the first round on Thursday afternoon in Denver.

  Odom owns a 201-117 overall coaching record with Charlotte (2014-15), UMBC (2016-21), Utah State (2021-23) and VCU (2023-25).

  The appointment of Odom is a homecoming of sorts, as he grew up in Charlottesville while his father, Dave, served as an assistant basketball coach on Terry Holland's staff from 1982-89. The younger Odom was a ballboy for the Cavaliers.

  --Field Level Media

Kyan Evans scored a game-high 23 points with six 3-pointers as No. 12 seed Colorado State increased its winning streak to 11 games with a 78-70 victory over fifth-seeded Memphis in an NCAA Tournament West Region first-round game Friday at Seattle.

• Nique Clifford added 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Rams (26-9), who advanced to a second-round matchup Sunday against fourth-seeded Maryland. Jalen Lake also chipped in 14 points and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson tallied 12.

  Colorado State went 11 of 30 from 3-point range and limited one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country to 6 of 23 from behind the arc. The Rams also forced 16 turnovers to help overcome Memphis' 41-34 rebounding advantage. Colorado State had 13 offensive rebounds.

  Dain Dainja scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Tigers (29-6), who were eliminated in the first round for the second time in three seasons. Colby Rogers and PJ Haggerty each added 18 points. Haggerty, who averaged 21.8 points per game, made just 7 of 23 shots.

  No. 1 Florida 95, No. 16 Norfolk State 69

  Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points and the Gators built a big early lead on the way to dismissing the Spartans in Raleigh, N.C.

  Alijah Martin added 17 points, Thomas Haugh had 13 and Alex Condon 12 for Florida (31-4), which pushed its winning streak to seven games. The Gators will meet UConn in the second round on Sunday.

  Christian Ings posted 16 points, Jaylani Darden had 15 and reserve Chris Fields Jr. racked up 14 for Norfolk State (24-11). The Spartans shot 2-for-14 on 3-point attempts.

  No. 4 Maryland 81, No. 13 Grand Canyon 49

  Julian Reese had 18 points and nine rebounds and Derik Queen had 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Terrapins rolled past the Lopes in Seattle.

  The Terrapins (26-8) have won 16 of their last 17 first-round NCAA Tournament games dating to 1997 and will meet No. 12 seed Colorado State (26-9) in the second round on Sunday.

  Tyon Grant-Foster had 23 points, but the rest of the starters combined for only 15 points for WAC champion Grand Canyon (26-8), which was seeking a second consecutive first-round win after beating fifth seed Saint Mary's 75-66 a year ago.

  No. 8 UConn 67, No. 9 Oklahoma 59

  Solo Ball scored 14 points and Alex Karaban provided 10 of his 13 points in the last 11 minutes to help the two-time defending champion Huskies survive against the Sooners in Raleigh, N.C.

  It was a game-long tussle for UConn (24-10), but the Huskies won their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament game spanning three seasons. Tarris Reed Jr. added 12 points and seven rebounds. Karaban also finished with seven boards.

  Jeremiah Fears notched 20 points and Jalon Moore had 13 points and seven rebounds for Oklahoma (20-14). Fears, a freshman widely envisioned as a potential NBA draft selection, wasn't talking about his future after the game.

  Midwest Region

  No. 3 Kentucky 76, No. 14 Troy 57

  Otega Oweh had 20 points and three teammates scored in double figures as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half to defeat the Trojans in Milwaukee.

  Kentucky (23-11) will face sixth-seeded Illinois (22-12) in the second round on Sunday in Milwaukee. The Wildcats led 35-27 at the half, then took control with a 16-point run midway through the second half.

  Koby Brea, Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison each had 13 points for Kentucky. Marcus Rigsby had 17 points, and Sun Belt Player of the Year Tayton Conerway added 12 for Troy (23-11), which was appearing in the tournament for the first time since being a No. 15 seed in 2017.

  No. 6 Illinois 86, No. 11 Xavier 73

  Will Riley scored 22 points and Tomislav Ivisic added 20 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Illini to a victory over the Musketeers in Milwaukee.

  Illinois (22-12) advances to a Sunday second-round game against third-seeded Kentucky. Kasparis Jakucionis added 16 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and Kylan Boswell put up 15 points for the Illini, who had a 45-25 edge on the boards.

  Dailyn Swain had 27 points and eight rebounds while Ryan Conwell and Dayvion McKnight had 12 points apiece for the Musketeers (22-12).

  South Region

  No. 2 Michigan State 87, No. 15 Bryant 62

  Coen Carr came off the bench to produce 18 points and nine rebounds as the Spartans defeated the Bulldogs in Cleveland. Michigan State will face No. 10 seed New Mexico in the second round on Sunday.

  Jase Richardson supplied 15 points and Tre Holloman contributed 14 for Michigan State (28-6). The Spartans controlled the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs 54-29, and had a 31-6 advantage on second-chance points.

  Rafael Pinzon led Bryant (23-12) with 21 points, and Earl Timberlake tossed in 14.

  No. 3 Iowa State 82, No. 14 Lipscomb 55

  Milan Momcilovic had 20 points, Curtis Jones added 17 and Iowa State rolled past Lipscomb in Milwaukee.

  Iowa State (25-9) will face sixth-seeded Ole Miss in the second round Sunday. Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey each added 10 points for Iowa State, which played without starting guard Keshon Gilbert, who was declared out for the tournament with a groin injury.

  Jacob Ognacevic, the Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year, had 18 points for Lipscomb (25-10), whose only other NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2018. Gyasi Powell added 11 points for the Bisons.

  No. 6 Ole Miss 71, No. 11 North Carolina 64

  Sean Pedulla had 20 points and Dre Davis added 15 as the Rebels staved off the Tar Heels' second-half rally for a victory in Milwaukee.

  Ole Miss (23-11) advanced to the second round Sunday against third-seeded Iowa State (25-9), which rolled past 14th-seeded Lipscomb. North Carolina, which trailed by 22 early in the second half, closed within 66-64 on RJ Davis' three-point play with 1:09 left. Pedulla countered with a 3-pointer from the top left to make it 69-64.

  On their next possession, the Tar Heels missed a 3-pointer and Pedulla hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to 71-64 with 34 seconds left. RJ Davis had 15 points and Ven-Allen Lubin 14 for the Tar Heels (23-14), who shot 38.1 percent from the field and made just 5 of 24 attempts from 3-point range (20.8 percent).

  No. 10 New Mexico 75, No. 7 Marquette 66

  Donovan Dent scored 21 points to lead four Lobos in double figures as New Mexico eliminated the Golden Eagles in Cleveland.

  Nelly Junior Joseph added 19 points and seven rebounds for the Lobos (27-7). Tru Washington contributed 12 points, and CJ Noland came off the bench to chip in 11.

  David Joplin starred in defeat for the Golden Eagles (23-11), pumping in a game-high 28 points and going 6 of 10 from the 3-point arc. Marquette converted just 24 of 59 shots from the field (40.7 percent) and was outrebounded 36-30.

  East Region

  No. 1 Duke 93, No. 16 Mount St. Mary's 49

  Star freshman Cooper Flagg scored 14 points in his return to action after missing two-plus games and the Blue Devils blew out the Mountaineers in Raleigh, N.C.

  Tyrese Proctor scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half, Caleb Foster bagged 12 points off the bench and Khaman Maluach added 11 points for Duke (32-3).

  Arlandus Keyes came off the bench to score 15 points for Mount St. Mary's (23-13), which won a First Four matchup against American on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

  No. 2 Alabama 90, No. 15 Robert Morris 81

  Mark Sears scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to help the Crimson Tide hold off the Colonials at Cleveland.

  Mouhamed Dioubate finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Clifford Omoruyi had 17 points for Alabama (26-8), which advanced to Sunday's second round to face No. 7 seed Saint Mary's.

  Sears, who also dished out 10 assists, made 11 of 13 free throws and sparked a late 11-1 surge by the Crimson Tide after the Colonials briefly took the lead late in the second half. Amarion Dickerson scored a game-high 25 points and added nine rebounds for 15th-seeded Robert Morris (26-9).

  No. 4 Arizona 93, No. 13 Akron 65

  Jaden Bradley recorded 19 points and six rebounds to help the Wildcats roll to a victory over the Zips at Seattle.

  Trey Townsend added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and collected eight rebounds, and Carter Bryant had 12 points and three blocked shots for the Wildcats (23-12), who will play fifth-seeded Oregon in Saturday's second round. Caleb Love registered 10 points and seven rebounds and KJ Lewis also scored 10 points for the Wildcats.

  Tavari Johnson scored all 13 of his points in the first half for Akron (28-7), which lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney for the third time in four seasons. The Zips are winless in seven all-time attempts. Nate Johnson also scored 13 points for the Zips, but he was just 1 of 9 from the field. Shammah Scott added 11 points for Akron, which saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end.

  No. 5 Oregon 81, No. 12 Liberty 52

  Jackson Shelstad scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to help the Ducks douse the Flames in Seattle.

  Nate Bittle contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and Keeshawn Barthelemy added 10 points for Oregon (25-9), which never trailed while winning for the ninth time in the past 10 games. Oregon will play fourth-seeded Arizona on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16.

  Zach Cleveland had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists for Liberty (28-7), which lost for just the second time in the past 13 games.

  No. 7 Saint Mary's 59, No. 10 Vanderbilt 56

  The Gaels rallied from a sluggish offensive start and a second-half deficit of 12 points to upend the Commodores in Cleveland.

  The Gaels (29-5) fell behind 39-27 just before the first media timeout of the second half when Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner connected on a 3-pointer. Saint Mary's chipped away at the deficit over the ensuing eight minutes, however, embarking on a 16-4 run. Jordan Ross led the Gaels with 15 points, while both Mitchell Saxen and Luke Barrett finished with double-doubles.

  Vanderbilt (20-13) went 8-of-26 from 3-point range on the day. Jason Edwards, who finished with a game-high 18 points, finished just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.

  No. 9 Baylor 75, No. 8 Mississippi State 72

  Robert Wright III scored 19 points as the Bears got rolling late in the first half and held on to defeat the Bulldogs in Raleigh, N.C.

  VJ Edgecombe provided 14 points in his first NCAA Tournament game, Langston Love posted 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting and Norchad Omier collected 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Bears. Ninth-seeded Baylor (20-14) will meet top-seeded Duke in the second round on Sunday.

  Josh Hubbard sank four 3-pointers and pumped in 26 points to keep eighth-seeded Mississippi State (21-13) in contention. Claudell Harris Jr. had 13 points, Riley Kugel supplied 11 and KeShawn Murphy added 10.

  --Field Level Media