March Madness Day 2: A Full Day of Hoops Awaits
March Madness is in full swing, and after an exhilarating Day 1 of the NCAA tournament, we’re gearing up for another action-packed day with 32 more teams hitting the court this Friday. Basketball fans, get ready for a marathon of hoops that promises at least 12 hours of non-stop excitement. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, there’s something for everyone today.
One of the most anticipated moments of the day is the NCAA tournament debut of Duke superstar Cooper Flagg. Flagg is making his return from an ankle injury that sidelined him for two games during the ACC tournament. All eyes will be on him to see if he can lead Duke to victory. Meanwhile, North Carolina is riding high after a big First Four win. The question is, can they keep the momentum going and pull off an upset against Ole Miss?
For those glued to their screens or refreshing score pages, this guide will keep you updated with all the major highlights and results. Plus, you’ll get reactions and on-site reporting from ESPN writers stationed across the country.
Today’s Schedule
- No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 6 Ole Miss, 4:05 p.m. (TNT)
- No. 13 Grand Canyon vs. No. 4 Maryland, 4:35 p.m. (TBS)
- No. 16 Norfolk State vs. No. 1 Florida, 6:50 p.m. (TNT)
- No. 14 Troy vs. No. 3 Kentucky, 7:10 p.m. (CBS)
- No. 10 New Mexico vs. No. 7 Marquette, 7:25 p.m. (TBS)
- No. 13 Akron vs. No. 4 Arizona, 7:35 p.m. (truTV)
- No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 UConn, 9:25 p.m. (TNT)
- No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 6 Illinois, 9:45 p.m. (CBS)
- No. 15 Bryant vs. No. 2 Michigan State, 10 p.m. (TBS)
- No. 12 Liberty vs. No. 5 Oregon, 10:10 p.m. (truTV)
Day 1 Results
Most recent games listed first.
(14) Lipscomb vs. (3) Iowa State
Final: Iowa State beats Lipscomb 82-55
How Iowa State won: Milwaukee continues to be a favorite spot for Iowa State and coach T.J. Otzelberger, who grew up in the city and led the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 here in 2022. ISU displayed its standard stifling defense, holding Lipscomb to a season-low 55 points and just 28.6% shooting from 3-point range, where the Bisons typically do most of their damage. The Cyclones kept the ball away from top Bisons scorer Jacob Ognacevic until the game was out of reach, and they led by more than 20 points for the final 13:32. The difference between Friday and three years ago was an ISU offense that showed its potency, mainly behind Milwaukee-area native Milan Momcilovic, who had his first 20-point game since November. ISU also regained point guard Tamin Lipsey, who had 10 points and four assists in his return from a groin injury. — Adam Rittenberg
(15) Robert Morris vs. (2) Alabama
Final: Alabama beats Robert Morris 90-81
How Alabama won: Robert Morris forward and Cleveland native Amarion Dickerson delivered a memorable performance in his hometown, but the Colonials ran out of steam down the stretch. Dickerson scored a game-high 25 points and briefly gave the Colonials their first lead with a driving-and-1 basket with 7:44 to play, prompting the packed Rocket Arena crowd to erupt with “Amarion” and “Robert Morris” chants. Alabama ultimately salted the game away by drawing fouls and getting to the line. The Crimson Tide also got a late boost from forward Grant Nelson, who sat out the first 31 minutes and 13 seconds after injuring his left knee in last week’s SEC tournament. Nelson, Alabama’s leading rebounder (7.6 per game), scored five points and grabbed three rebounds in his limited minutes. When he returned to the bench, the Crimson Tide had the game in hand 82-71. — Jake Trotter
(9) Baylor vs. (8) Mississippi State
(9) Final: Baylor beats Mississippi State 75-72
How Baylor won: What was a comfortable 11-point lead for Baylor with a little more than eight minutes on the clock turned into a nail-biter in the final minute, but VJ Edgecombe drained two critical free throws while Mississippi State’s Claudell Harris Jr. airmailed a deep 3 out of bounds with less than 1 second left on the clock. It’s Scott Drew’s fifth straight year opening the NCAA tournament with a first-round win, though the Bears haven’t advanced to the second weekend since winning it all in 2021. — David Hale
Originally Written by: ESPN
