March 22, 2025, 08:29 PM ET
After two days of college basketball, the second round of the men’s NCAA tournament is ongoing. The field has been cut in half and the candidates have appeared – and we will do it all today.
All March Madness Actions present updates from authors on all sites and analysis of the meaning of each final result.
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Saturday Schedule (All Tips ET):
(8) Gonzaga vs. (1) Houston, 8:40pm (TNT)
(7) UCLA vs. (2) Tennessee, 9:40pm (TBS)
Saturday Results
Final: Texas Tech defeated Drake 77-64
How Texas Tech Won: Briefly, the Red Raiders were too big. Two days after the Bulldogs physically hugged themselves against Missouri’s bigger enemies, Texas Tech took over Drake, drawing 12 performances from sophomore JT Toppin, 50-20 behind the 25 points (11/13/11/11) depicting the Missouri Valley Conference champion. In addition to a seven-assist effort with a game-high 28 points from Dallion Williams and a 16-point 16 points from Elijah Hawkins, the Red Raiders were enough to corrupt their 13-2 shooting performance from the 3-point range. For Drake, it’s the end of the storybook season with freshman Ben McCollum, Guard Bennett Stillz (21 points, 8 assists) and 10 rotation guards (21 points, 8 assists) filled with Division II and junior college relocations. All eyes are falling where the Bulldogs and McCollum go from here, but Texas Tech will move forward on the sweet 16th at 10-seeded Arkansas in San Francisco next Thursday. – Eli Raderman
Final: Michigan defeated Texas A&M 91-79
How to win Michigan: The Wolverines survived a breakout tournament from Texas A&M’s Farrell Payne, calling enough discoveries, research and Crunchtime heroics to move to Sweet 16 until the Michigan coach coach praised the day before and left the Michigan state lead for more than six minutes to move to Sweet 16. Having had a back-to-back game of 25 and 26 points in the Aggies in the tournament, Payne was a problem for most of his two highest-score games of the season. But in May, he said his players would take a different attitude when it’s time to settle down, regardless of whether the game is “it looks different.”
Final: Arkansas defeated St. John’s 75-66
How Arkansas Won: In the second round game with the strength and physicality of a Sweet 16 matchup, crowds that contributed to a special March crazy environment led Arkansas to build a late 11-point lead and secure a 9-point victory over a slow charge from St. John’s. Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr. scored nine points in three-thirds of shooting from the field. After adding up a season-high 14 3-pointers in a first-round victory over Omaha, the storm was 21 from 3 to 21 against Arkansas. They shot 28% off the field.
But they didn’t take anything from the Razorbacks. The Razorbacks navigated most of the second half when Jonas Aido played four fouls and backup Zvonimir Ivisic mid-second half. It wanted a lot against the amazing St. John’s Boy Egifall with 23 points and 12 rebounds. St. John’s cut the lead to two in the second half, and the Amica Mutual Pavilion was lively. However, Arkansas retained its position. – Mike Reese
Final: Purdue defeated McNeese 76-62
How Purdue Won: Purdue played in the pedigree of a team that took part in the national championship game a year ago, in a 76-62 victory over McNees a year ago. With the steady hands of junior forward Trae Kaufmann Renn (22 points, 15 rebounds) and All-American guard Braden Smith leading in the face of pressure, the boilermakers began a 17-6 lead and opened an early statement to open a 17-6 lead, not overlooking the Cinderella Story Cowboys who dominated No. 5 Clemson in the first round. Purdue said, “3-2) and “3-2) and “I felt, “If there is.” It was the moment of signing when Smith continued playing the ball in the first half and playing the ball in front of the Purdue Bench. It was an all-out effort from the leader, and his team was pleased with Suite 16 in the Midwest region. There, he plays in Indianapolis, about 65 miles from the West Lafayette campus. – Mike Reese
