Mid-Major Men’s Scoreboard
No. 2 Alabama 80, No. 7 Saint Mary’s 66 — East Region
Chris Youngblood (Alabama) – 13 points, 4-of-5 FG
Mitchell Saxen (Saint Mary’s) – 15 points, five rebounds, three steals
Harry Wessels (Saint Mary’s) – 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks
Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide took a lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it, keeping the Gaels at bay. It might’ve been a different story on another day — Saint Mary’s dominated the rebounding and turnover battle, but an ugly 34% from the field and 21% from three spelled the end for the WCC’s regular-season champs. Star guard Augustas Marciulionis couldn’t get going, sputtering to a 3-of-11 night, and nobody else outside of Saxen could pick up the slack enough to make a late surge.
No. 4 Maryland 72, No. 12 Colorado State 71 – West Region
Derik Queen (Maryland) – 17 points, six rebounds, two blocks
Nique Clifford (Colorado State) – 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists
Jalen Lake (Colorado State) – 13 points, two rebounds, two assists
When Jalen Lake’s deep, lead-taking 3-pointer splashed through the hoop with six seconds remaining, it stood out not just as the moment of the night, but maybe the moment of the Tournament so far.
Moments later, when Derik Queen’s buzzer-beating layup kissed sweetly off the glass and through the mesh, Lane’s jumper had been upstaged — in both respects. For the Rams, instead of a cathartic, now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t ticket punch to the Sweet 16, it was heartbreak, as they looked on with dejected faces while Maryland snatched their season out from under their noses in the rudest way possible.
CSU, like Saint Mary’s, didn’t cower against powerful opposition, winning the rebound battle handily. It was the 3-point shot (24%) that did them in, and Maryland’s “Crab Five” (all of whom scored in double digits) did just enough to take advantage.
No. 2 Michigan State 71, No. 10 New Mexico 63 — South Region
Jaden Akins (Michigan State) – 16 points, 7-of-11 FG
Nelly Junior Joseph (New Mexico) – 16 points, seven rebounds, 7-of-9 FG
Donovan Dent (New Mexico) – 14 points, six assists, 7-of-18 FG
It wasn’t a banner weekend for the Pitino family; Rick’s St. John’s fell to Arkansas on Saturday before he flew across the country to watch Michigan State eliminate Richard’s New Mexico. (Rick looking on as his son suffered the same fate he did had some real A Bronx Tale feel to it, admittedly.)
Rick Pitino has made the trip to Cleveland to watch his son Richard Pitino.
Less than 24 hours after St. John’s season came to an end, he is now in the stands rooting and supporting his son. pic.twitter.com/sbKUDVrqHJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 24, 2025
On the court, the Lobos took control, opening up a 10-point cushion in the first half before the athletic, deep Spartan roster slowly started to wrest control. A huge Akins three late in the second half gave Michigan State the cushion they needed, and Junior Joseph’s fifth foul moments later sealed the deal. New Mexico looked the part of a rival, but sent MSU to the free throw line 28 times — and Dent’s subpar night wasn’t enough to keep the last mid-major in the tournament.
Elsewhere around the Madness
No. 1 Florida 77, No. 8 UConn 75 — West Region
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) – 23 points, 5-of-8 3PT
Alijah Martin (Florida) – 18 points, four rebounds, 7-of-12 FG
Liam McNeeley (UConn) – 22 points, three assists, 6-of-16 FG
No 1. Duke 89, No. 9 Baylor 66 — East Region
Tyrese Proctor (Duke) – 25 points, 9-of-10 FG
Cooper Flagg (Duke) – 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor) – 16 points, six rebounds, 6-of-12 FG
No. 3 Kentucky 84, No. 6 Illinois 75 — Midwest Region
Koby Brea (Kentucky) – 23 points, six rebounds, 10-of-16 FG
Otega Oweh (Kentucky) – 15 points, four rebounds, 6-of-12 FG
Kylan Boswell (Illinois) – 23 points, six assists, 9-of-14 FG
No. 6 Ole Miss 91, No. 3 Iowa State 78 — South Region
Sean Pedulla (Ole Miss) – 20 points, eight assists, 6-of-13 FG
Jaemyn Brakefield (Ole Miss) – 19 points, 6-of-8 FG
Curtis Jones (Iowa State) – 26 points, four rebounds, 9-of-17 FG
No. 4 Arizona 87, No. 5 Oregon 83 — East Region
Caleb Love (Arizona) – 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists
Tobe Awaka (Arizona) – 12 points, 14 rebounds, 6-of-8 FG
Jackson Shelstad (Oregon) 25 points, 9-of-14 FG
Mid-Major Women’s Scoreboard
No. 1 UCLA 84, No. 8 Richmond 67 — Los Angeles Region
Lauren Betts (UCLA) – 30 points, 14 rebounds, 14-of-17 FG
Maggie Doogan (Richmond) – 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds
Rachel Ullstrom (Richmond) – 18 points, seven rebounds, 7-of-11 FG
Richmond hung really tough with the top-overall seed. The Spiders led by two after the first quarter and were tied at halftime. The Atlantic 10 regular-season champions shot a scorching 65% (15-of-23) and 73% (8-of-11) from deep in the opening 20 minutes. It looked as though an upset was brewing in Westwood.
But it was not to be. The Bruins outscored the Spiders 29-7 in the third quarter, which included separate runs of 10 and 13 straight points. Richmond shot 20% (3-for-15) with five turnovers, while UCLA converted on 55% (11-for-20) of its shots.
Elsewhere around the Madness
No, 1 South Carolina 64, No. 9 Indiana 53 — Columbia Region
Bree Hall (South Carolina) – 11 points, 4-of-6 FG
Chloe Kitts (South Carolina) – 10 points, 11 rebounds
Shay Ciezki (Indiana) – 12 points, 5-of-10 FG
No. 2 Duke 59, No. 10 Oregon 53 — Durham Region
Ashlon Jackson (Duke) – 20 points, 5-of-9 3FG
Reigan Richardson (Duke) – 13 points, six rebounds, 6-of-10 FG
Deja Kelly (Oregon) – 20 points
No. 2 TCU 85, No. 7 Louisville 70 — Fort Worth Region
Agnes Emma-Nnopu (TCU) – 23 points, 8-of-12 FG
Hailey Van Lith (TCU) – 16 points, 10 assists
Jayda Curry (Louisville) – 41 points, 6-of-12 3FG, five assists
No. 3 Notre Dame 76, No. 6 Michigan 55 — South Bend Region
Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) – 21 points, 8-of-14 FG
Liatu King (Notre Dame) – 18 points, 15 rebounds, 7-of-7 FG
Olivia Olson (Michigan) – 20 points
No. 5 Kansas State 80, No. 4 Kentucky 79 (OT) — Lexington Region
Temira Poindexter (Kansas State) – 24 points, six rebounds
Serena Sundell (Kansas State) – 19 points, 14 assists
Clara Strack (Kentucky) – 22 points, eight rebounds
No. 5 Ole Miss 69, No. 4 Baylor 63 — Waco Region
Sira Thienou (Ole Miss) – 16 points, six rebounds
Madison Scott (Ole Miss) – 14 points
Aaronette Vonleh (Baylor) – 16 points, 8-of-10 FG
No. 5 Tennessee 82, No. 4 Ohio State 67 — Columbus Region
Talaysia Cooper (Tennessee) – 19 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, five assists
Zee Spearman (Tennessee) – 17 points, 8-of-10 FG, five rebounds
Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State) – 19 points, five rebounds
