INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Abilene Christian and its frantic, havoc-causing defense bounced coach Shaka Smart and Texas out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round yet again, as the 14th-seeded Wildcats stunned the third-seeded Longhorns 53-52. Joe Pleasant, a 58.8% foul shooter on the season, made a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left, and the Wildcats took down their in-state rivals in the first meeting between the schools. The Wildcats caused all kinds of headaches for the bigger, more talented Longhorns and got just enough offense to pull off their first NCAA Tournament victory in their second appearance. Abilene Christian will face No. 11 seed UCLA in the second round Monday. Andrew Jones scored 13 points for Texas.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Austin Reaves scored 23 points, Brady Manek added 19 and Oklahoma slipped by ninth-seeded Missouri to win 72-68 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The eighth-seeded Sooners are on to the second round for fourth time in the last six tournaments and will face No. 1 seed Gonzaga on Monday in the West Region. The Sooners pulled out to an eight-point lead with 1:08 left behind Reaves’ free-throw shooting, but Dru Smith made two 3-pointers in the final minute to keep the pressure on and pull Missouri within 70-67. Oklahoma's Elijah Harkless committed a heads-up foul with 2.1 second left to keep Missouri from attempting a potential tying 3-pointer. Smith led the Tigers with 20 points.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — David McCormack had 22 points and nine rebounds in his return from COVID-19 quarantine and helped No. 3 seed Kansas rally from a 10-point second-half hole and beat No. 14 seed Eastern Washington 93-84 in the NCAA Tournament. Ochai Agbaji scored 21 points, Marcus Garrett fought foul trouble to add 20 and Dajuan Harris Jr. had 13 as Kansas advanced to play sixth-seeded Southern California or No. 11 seed Drake for a spot in the Sweet 16. Tanner Groves scored a career-high 35 points and younger brother Jacob Groves had 23 for the Eagles.
UNDATED (AP) — The pandemic that forced cancellation of last year's NCAA Tournament returned with a vengeance. Virginia Commonwealth was informed multiple players had tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregame meal, forcing the Rams to miss their game against Oregon and go straight into quarantine. “It just stinks,” said VCU coach Mike Rhoades. There were a few surprises: tiny Abilene Christian, a 14 seed, ambushed Texas when Joe Pleasant — a 58.8 % free-throw shooter — canned two from the line with 1.2 seconds left; and defending champion and fourth-seeded Virginia got clipped by No. 13 Ohio.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Shaka Smart pulled off one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in NCAA Tournament history, taking VCU from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011. But as Texas coach, Smart is 1-3 in three tournament appearances during his six seasons. Twice his Longhorns have been knocked out in the first round by mid-majors with improbable last-second finishes. Texas was bounced from the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed Saturday night, 53-52 by Abilene Christian, in a turnover-filled performance that left the Longhorns stunned. A lot of Texas fans think Smart has been a disappointment in Austin, and wonder if he’s worth the $3.2 million salary. Longhorns guard Matt Coleman defended his coach after the painful loss.
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas is hoping Jalen Wilson can shake off the quarantine rust as well as David McCormack. Meanwhile, two Virginia teams with COVID-19 issues of their own made early exits in the West Region. The return of McCormack helped propel the third-seeded Jayhawks into Monday’s second-round matchup with Southern California. Wilson is on a tight timetable to make it back in time for Round 2. Kansas’s leading rebounder is scheduled to finish his quarantine period on Sunday. The regional got a shakeup when positive COVID-19 tests for VCU forced a no-contest with Oregon, moving the Ducks into the next round. And another one came hours later when No. 13 seed Ohio eliminated No. 4 Virginia with a 62-58 victory.
SATURDAY SCORES
NCAA First Round
EAST
Final Florida St. 64 UNC-Greensboro 54
Final Colorado 96 Georgetown 73
Final Alabama 68 Iona 55
Final UCLA 73 BYU 62
Final LSU 76 St. Bonaventure 61
Final Abilene Christian 53 Texas 52
Final Michigan 82 Texas Southern 66
Final Maryland 63 UConn 54
WEST
Final Southern Cal 72 Drake 56
Final Gonzaga 98 Norfolk St. 55
Final Oklahoma 72 Missouri 68
Final Kansas 93 E. Washington 84
Final Iowa 86 Grand Canyon 74
Final Oregon 1 VCU 0
Final Ohio 62 Virginia 58
Final Creighton 63 UC Santa Barbara 62