Here’s a complete recap of Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament action with a lookahead to today’s games. Plus, the updated bracket and top pics from the tourney’s opening day.
TOP STORY
Saint Peter’s guard Doug Edert (25) celebrates at the end of a college basketball game against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. Saint Peter’s won 85-79 in overtime.
Saint Peter’s shocks No. 2 seed Kentucky 85-79 in OT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Saint Peter’s acted like it had been there before.
After the 15th-seeded Peacocks bounced storied Kentucky from the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night, they calmly exchanged handshakes with the Wildcats before heading over to the opposite sideline to celebrate with a small contingent of true believers.
The tiny Jesuit school from Jersey City, New Jersey, got 27 points from Daryl Banks III as it took down basketball royalty, beating second-seeded Kentucky 85-79 in overtime and sending countless brackets into the digital wastebasket.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Banks said. “You grow up you watching March Madness, the tournament, so to let that sink in — knowing the game was over — it felt really good.”
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The Peacocks became the 10th No. 15 seed to win a first-round game since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and handed Kentucky its first opening-round loss under coach John Calipari. Full story here:
Click here for recaps from all 16 of Thursday’s first-round games:
SCOREBOARD & SCHEDULE
EAST
Saint Peter’s 85, Kentucky 79 OT
Murray State 92, San Francisco 87 OT
Baylor 85, Norfolk State 49
North Carolina 95, Marquette 63
Saint Mary’s 82, Indiana 53
SOUTH REGION
Michigan 75, Colorado State 63
Tennessee 88, Longwood 56
MIDWEST REGION
Creighton 72, San Diego State 69 OT
Kansas 83, Texas Southern 56
Providence 66, South Dakota State 57
WEST REGION
New Mexico State 70, UConn 63
Gonzaga 93, Georgia State 72
Memphis 64, Boise State 53
UPDATED BRACKET
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
Loyola Chicago’s Tate Hall drives to the hoop during practice for the first round of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Pittsburgh. They take on Ohio State Friday.
GAME OF THE DAY: LOYOLA-CHICAGO VS. OHIO STATE
After a couple of first-day shockers, Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament’s first round features a dangerous double-digit seed with Loyola-Chicago matched against an Ohio State team that surely hasn’t forgotten its overtime loss to a No. 15 Oral Roberts in last year’s tournament opener.
The seventh-seeded Buckeyes are not trending in a good direction, coming in with losses in four of their last five. A couple of those were stinkers, too — one at home against Nebraska and one to Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
No. 10 seed Loyola is a program that knows how to win this time of year, and it never hurts to have Sister Jean on your side. Yes, the 102-year-old superfan and team chaplain traveled to Pittsburgh with the Ramblers. Click here for more things to watch today:
PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Photos: Top pics from Thursday’s NCAA Tournament action
Saint Peter’s forward KC Ndefo (11) fights for a rebound with Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe, right, during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
St. Peter’s guard Daryl Banks III (5) dunks the gall during the first half of a college basketball game against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) reacts at the end of a college basketball game against Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. Saint Peter’s won 85-79 in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Kentucky head coach John Calipari reacts on the sideline during overtime in a college basketball game against Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Saint Peter’s guard Doug Edert (25) celebrates at the end of a college basketball game against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. Saint Peter’s won 85-79 in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan (1) reacts after scoring during the second half of a college basketball game Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Baylor players Flo Thamba (0), Jeremy Sochan (1), James Akinjo (11) and Matthew Mayer (24) hug during the second half of a college basketball game against Norfolk State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
North Carolina forward Brady Manek (45) dunks against Marquette during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (12) falls in front of North Carolina guards D’Marco Dunn (11) and Puff Johnson during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
St. Mary’s guard Tommy Kuhse (12) puts up a shot against Indiana during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s guard Logan Johnson (0) puts up a shot against Indiana center Michael Durr (2) during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s guard Augustas Marciulionis greets fans as he leaves the court after a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Indiana, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. St. Mary’s won 82-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) and UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, dive for a loose ball during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. reaches for the ball during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Akron, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA players, including guard Tyger Campbell, second from right, and guard Johnny Juzang (3) celebrate as Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) walks off the court after a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Murray State forward KJ Williams (0) celebrates during the second half of a college basketball game against San Francisco in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
San Francisco forward Zane Meeks reacts at the end of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Indianapolis. Murray State won 92-87 in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan forward Moussa Diabate, left, looks to pass ahead of Colorado State guard John Tonje, right, during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan forward Brandon Johns Jr., left, fights for a loose ball with Colorado State forward James Moors, right, during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan guard Frankie Collins (10) celebrates with teammates at the end of a college basketball game against Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Michigan won 75-63. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Providence’s Al Durham (1) celebrates after drawing a foul while scoring in the second half of a college basketball game against the South Dakota State during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Providence won 66-57. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
South Dakota State’s Matt Mims (1) is defended by Providence’s Ed Croswell (5) and Justin Minaya (15) in the second half of a college basketball game during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Providence won 66-57. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Providence’s Justin Minaya (15) celebrates with teammates after a college basketball game against South Dakota State during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Providence won 66-57. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Memphis guard Lester Quinones reacts after a shot against Boise State during the first half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Pouncer, the Memphis mascot, joins cheerleaders during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Boise State, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Memphis forward DeAndre Williams, left, reacts after a shot against Boise State during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. Memphis won 64-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Tennessee forward John Fulkerson dunks the ball during the first half of a college basketball game against Longwood in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Longwood guard Justin Hill (11) drives to the basket ahead of Tennessee forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (2) during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Longwood guard Justin Hill (11) passes between Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) and guard Josiah-Jordan James, right, during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard, top, fights for control of the ball with Iowa’s Joe Toussaint in the first half of a college basketball game during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard, right, gestures after making a three-point shot in the second half of a college basketball game against the Iowa during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Richmond’s Nick Sherod (5) celebrates with teammates in the second half of a college basketball game against the Iowa during the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) shoots against Georgia State during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman (11) reacts after a shot against Georgia State during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) right, is greeted by guard Rasir Bolton, left, at the bench during the second half of a first round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Georgia State, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. Gonzaga won 93-72. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
San Diego State guard Chad Baker-Mazara (20) pounds on the court floor after being fouled while sinking a basket in the first half of a first-round game against Creighton in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) works to shoot as San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah (31) defends in the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
San Diego State guard Trey Pulliam (4) goes up to shoot after getting past Creighton forward Ryan Hawkins (44) and Rati Andronikashvili (21) in the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
New Mexico State guard Mario McKinney Jr. (4) shoots against Connecticut guard R.J. Cole (2) during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New Mexico State guard Teddy Allen (0) reacts to fans after scoring against Connecticut late in the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New Mexico State players react after a win over Connecticut in a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New Mexico State forward Johnny McCants gestures to fans after the team’s win over Connecticut in a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Arkansas guard JD Notae shoots against Vermont guard Aaron Deloney, left, during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Vermont guard Finn Sullivan reacts during the second half of the team’s college basketball game against Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) celebrates after being fouled while sinking a shot in the first half of a first-round game against Texas Southern in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji (30) dunks the ball as Texas Southern forward John Walker III (24), Jordan Gilliam (11) and Jalen Wilson (10) watch during the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, March 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)