2023 NCAA Tournament Round Two Day Two Live Recap

2023 NCAA Tournament
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2023 NCAA Tournament

The 2023 NCAA Tournament kicked off this weekend with the Round of 64. While some major upsets did happen, the tournament overall featured a lot of chalk in the first round. Entering the first day of the Round of 32, fans were hoping for a different outcome. With eight games on the slate, there were plenty of chances for some March Madness.

3 Seed Xavier Musketeers Vs. 11 Seed Pittsburgh Panthers

For the majority of this game, it looked like the Xavier Musketeers would easily advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. They led at halftime against Pittsburgh 48-34. The second half was largely more of the same until the Panthers cut the lead to ten with about two minutes to go in the game. Some missed free throws and some Pittsburgh makes would make things incredibly tense for the three seed in this game. Everything would have to go perfectly if Pittsburgh wanted to pull off a miraculous comeback in this game. Despite the late flurry from Pittsburgh, it would not be enough and the Xavier Musketeers won the game 84-73. The team had six players in double figures in the game including Jack Nunge who led the way with 18 points. They will play the two-seeded Texas Longhorns in the Sweet 16.



3 Seed Kansas State Wildcats Vs. 6 Seed Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcat matchup was one of the more highly anticipated matchups of the day. Both Kentucky and Kansas State started the game cold from beyond the arc, but still showed a lot of effort in the post. Kansas State took a 29-26 lead into the half. Kentucky would start the second half with control of the game thanks in part to Kanas State starting the game 0 for 13 from three. Finally, their 14th attempt went in and the rest of the game would be a tightly contested game with Markquis Nowell finally finding his shot for Kansas State in the game. The execution would be critical for both Wildcats.

With just 1:30 to play Kansas State held a 64-62 lead that was extended by three thanks to a Keytonte Johnson jumper. Kentucky would miss their next jumper and putback attempt. The Blue Blood program was in danger of going home. Jacob Toppin would foul out for Kentucky with 37.4 seconds left. Kansas State would make both free throws to take a 69-62 lead. Kentucky got a quick dunk, but would need some missed free throws or turnovers to have a chance. Cason Wallace would then foul out for Kentucky with 23.7 seconds left. Kansas State did not miss a free throw down the stretch and won the game 75-69. Markquis Nowell led the way for Kansas State with 27 points, nine assists, two rebounds, and three steals. The Wildcats will play the winner between the two-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles and seven-seeded Michigan State Spartans.

2 Seed Marquette Golden Eagles Vs. 7 Seed Michigan State Spartans

The college basketball saying goes something like this, never count out Tom Izzo in March. Michigan State and Marquette felt each other out for most of the first half with both teams struggling to score. The Spartans took a 33-28 lead into halftime against the Golden Eagles. A three-point make from Marquette to start the second half would define the rest of the game. These two teams figured out how to score in the second half. The second half of this game felt like two heavyweight fighters trading blows back and forth with neither letting up. This game felt destined to go down to the wire. The Spartans held a 56-55 lead with just 3:20 to play in the game. That lead would quickly stretch to a 60-55 lead with 1:28 to play.

Ultimately Tom Izzo and the Michigan State defense were too much for the Golden Eagles with the team winning 69-60. Tyson Walker led the way for the Spartans with 23 points while Joey Hauser posted 14 points and ten rebounds. The Spartans will meet the three-seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

4 Seed UConn Huskies Vs. 5 Seed St. Mary’s Gaels

The first half was a defensive battle with both teams locking in on the defensive end. A last-second contested three would send the Huskies into the halftime locker rooms with a 31-30 lead. Unforutnelty in the second half an injury to Saint Mary’s star Alex Ducas would change the dynamic of the game. Thanks in part to Jordan Hawkins heating up, the Huskies would begin to pull away in the middle of the second half. The Huskies would go on to beat the Gaels 70-55 in the game. Adama Sanogo led the way for the Huskies with 24 points, eight rebounds, and one block. The Huskies will face off against the eight-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sweet 16. The last time the Huskies made the Sweet 16 was in 2014 when they won the National Championship.

3 Seed Baylor Bears Vs. 6 Seed Creighton Bluejays

The majority of this game was just the Creighton Bluejays staying three to four possessions ahead of the Baylor Bears. Creighton took a 39-29 lead into the half and did more of the same in the second half. Missed opportunities late would cost the Bears the game and the Bluejays would win 85-76. Ryan Nembhard led the way for the program with 30 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. He also went ten for ten from the free-throw line. Creighton will play the 15-seeded Princeton Tigers in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

9 Seed FAU Owls Vs. 16 Seed FDU Knights

The 16 seed was 0-1 all-time in the Round of 32 and FDU hoped to change that outcome. The teams went back and forth in the first half with FAU pulling out a 32-25 lead heading into the locker rooms. An immediate 8-0 run by FDU to start the second half would give them a 33-32 lead. The second half was electric and an instant classic March Madness game. Despite an FAU run, FDU always seemingly had an answer to stay within a couple of possessions. With 2:18 left in the game FAU would make a basket to take a 69-64 lead. A quick FDU miss would spell trouble for the upset-minded Knights. A three-pointer would cut to the heart of the 16-seed and then a steal and jam for FAU would balloon the lead to 10.

The historic cinderella FDU Knights run would end with a 78-70 loss to the FAU Owls despite some made threes from the 16 seed. FAU closed the game out with enough made free throws and will advance. The owls were led by Johnell Davis who posted 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in the game. He became the first player ever to post 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in a Men’s NCAA Tournament game. FAU will play the four-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

4 Seed Indiana Hoosiers Vs. 5 Seed Miami Hurricanes

Miami held control of the game through much of the first half and took a 40-35 lead into halftime. The Hoosiers would come out of halftime looking far more poised and made the game much more back and forth to start the second half. With 10:19 to play Miami led 54-52 in the game. The following ten minutes would be virtually all Miami led by a scorching hot Isaiah Wong in the game. They built a double-digit lead and kept it virtually for the rest of the basketball game. Miami won the game against the Hoosiers 85-69. Wong led the team with 27 points, eight rebounds, and one steal. Norchad Omier broke his own Miami NCAA Tournament record with 16 rebounds in the game. Miami will play the one-seeded Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16.

3 Seed Gonzaga Bulldogs Vs. 6 Seed TCU Horned Frogs

TCU controlled the majority of the first half against the Bulldogs with just Drew Timme playing well for Gonzaga with a third of their first-half points. The Horned Frogs took a 38-33 lead to the locker rooms at halftime against the Bulldogs. Gonzaga has been here before and showed it in the second half. They battled back and tied the game followed by some back-and-forth action. A rare Timme three followed by a steal and jam by Gonzaga would put the three seed in control of the game. With 1:14 left Micah Peavy fouled out for TCU with Gonzaga already holding a five-point lead. The Bulldogs would hit one free throw to make the lead six. TCU could not fight their way back in with enough makes during the final minute and the Bulldogs won 84-81. Drew Timme led the way with 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one block. The Bulldogs will play the two-seeded UCLA Bruins in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

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