2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Day One Live Recap

2021 NCAA Tournament
The first half of the Elite Eight will be set today with four great matchups in the Sweet 16 (John Locher/AP)

The Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Tournament has finally arrived and eight teams will deck it out today for a position in the Elite Eight. The Round of 32 was full of exciting games that narrowed the field and even featured the defeat of the first one seed. The matchups today have three double-digit seeds trying to make the Elite Eight.

I will be updating as each of the four games goes final and hopefully, the games are as thrilling as the NCAA Tournament normally provides to the fans.

No. 12 Oregon State vs. No.8 Loyola-Chicago

Oregon State 65 – Loyola-Chicago 58

The first half was full of defense and some sloppy offense. Loyola-Chicago started the game on a 7-1 run but failed to score much for the next few minutes. Oregon State clawed their way back into the game and the teams continued to go back and forth. With just over 5 minutes left in the first half, the Ramblers led 16-11 in a half-full of missed shots and tough defense.  The Beavers went on an 11-0 run to close the half to go up 24-16 heading into the locker room. Beavers guard Ethan Thompson led all scores at the half with just ten points.

Oregon State came out of the half ready to extend their lead and a sloppy Ramblers start would help them maintain a lead on the eighth seed. Loyola-Chicago would attempt to claw their way back into the game, but Oregon State seemed to have an answer every step of the way. The Ramblers made their run, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the red-hot Oregon State Beavers. Ethan Thompson was the star of the game with 21 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Warith Alatishe was the only other Beaver with double digits for the Beavers at ten. He also chipped in 11 rebounds. The Oregon State Beavers are the first team in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The Beavers are just the second 12 seed ever to make the Elite Eight. They will take on the winner of Syracuse vs. Houston.

No. 5 Villanova vs. No. 1 Baylor

Baylor 62 – Villanova 51

The Villanova Wildcats came into the 2021 NCAA Tournament without point guard Collin Gillespie, but it hasn’t caused them to lose. Now the Wildcats face their biggest test against the one-seeded Baylor Bears. Baylor is very good at forcing turnovers while the Wildcats are great at protecting the ball. A clash of two great teams to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight. The first half was a back and forth fight between the two teams, but Villanova managed to lead at half 30-23. Wildcat’s forward Jermaine Samuels led all scorers at the half with nine points. Baylor and Villanova both had several players get involved with no team or player being the clear favorite through 20 minutes.

The first ten minutes of the second half were intense with both teams trading baskets. Villanova held onto their lead until a Davion Mitchell layup tied the game at 41 with ten minutes to go. An untimely injury to Villanova’s Brandon Slater sparked a Baylor run and control of the game fell squarely in the lap of the Bears. While Villanova cut the game close several times the Bears’ defense just became too much for the short-handed Wildcats. The Baylor Bears get one step closer to the 2021 NCAA Tournament Championship and will take on the winner of Arkansas and Oral Roberts. Adam Flagler put up 16 points to lead the Bears to victory while Davion Mitchell put up 14.

No. 15 Oral Roberts vs. No. 3 Arkansas

Arkansas 72 – Oral Roberts 70

Arkansas entered the game trying to prevent the Golden Eagles from becoming the first 15 seed ever to make the Elite Eight. A bizarre start to the game had Oral Roberts up just 3-2 and ORU Head Coach Paul Mills would get called for a technical foul. Arkansas and Oral Roberts fought it out hard through the first ten minutes and were even at 15. The game was back and forth for much of the first half, but Oral Roberts managed to pull away slightly before halftime. 20 minutes into the game the Golden Eagles led the Razorbacks 35-28. Max Abmas led everyone with 12 points while Jalen Tate led the Razorbacks with ten points.

Oral Roberts controlled much of the second half, but Arkansas worked their way back into the game and tied the game at 58 with six minutes remaining. The game would continue to go back and forth over the next few minutes of the game. With just two minutes to go Arkansas led 68-66 in a battle for a ticket to the Elite Eight. Oral Roberts’ would tie the game with a free throw with 30 seconds to go. Arkansas guard Davonte Davis would sink a jumper with 3.1 seconds remaining to take a 72-70 lead. Max Abmas’ three-point attempt would be no good off the rim ending the cinderella run for Oral Roberts. Jalen Tate finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and six assists for the Razorbacks. Arkansas will face one-seeded Baylor on Monday for a spot in the Final Four.

No. 11 Syracuse vs. No. 2 Houston

Houston 62 – Syracuse 46

Syracuse came into the game trying to be the second double-digit seed to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight today. The two-seeded Houston Cougars had other ideas and controlled the first ten minutes of the game leading the Orange 17-7. Syracuse recovered from the early onslaught and tied the game at 20 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams struggled to score to close the half, but Houston ended the half up 30-20. Houston’s Marcus Sasser led all scores with just ten points.

Houston came out firing in the second half and led the Orange 39-27 with just under 16 minutes to go in the game. With ten minutes left in the game, the Cougars still had control of the game leading the Orange 46-37. Syracuse just did not seem capable of putting a run together in time against a tough Cougars team. The Cougars lengthened their lead 58-43 with just under three minutes to go. Syracuse just couldn’t handle the Houston onslaught and lost 62-46. The hero for Houston was Quentin Grimes who led the team with 14 points and four rebounds. Houston will take on Oregon State in the Elite Eight on Monday.

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