RALEIGH, N.C. — For 30 minutes, UConn showed the mettle and toughness that delivered back-to-back national championships for Dan Hurley, outplaying top-seeded Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
And then Walter Clayton Jr. took over.
The Gators' first-team All-America guard scored 13 of his 23 points in the final eight minutes on Sunday, including two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch, and Florida rallied to a scintillating 77-75 victory over the Huskies, ending UConn’s pursuit of a third straight title.
DUKE 89, BAYLOR 66
RALEIGH, N.C — Tyrese Proctor couldn't miss. And top-seeded Duke showed the toughness to push back when pushed.
Proctor had career highs of seven 3-pointers and 25 points to continue his recent tear, helping Duke beat Baylor 89-66 on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Freshman star Cooper Flagg had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Blue Devils (33-3), the East Region headliners who faced little drama in two home-state wins to secure a spot in the Sweet 16.
KENTUCKY 84, ILLINOIS 75
MILWAUKEE — Kentucky is joining its former coach in the Sweet 16.
The Wildcats believe they have their new coach to thank for it.
Koby Brea matched a career high with 23 points and Kentucky beat Illinois 84-75 on Sunday to advance beyond the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend for the first time since they reached the Elite Eight in 2019.
Kentucky (24-11), the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, faces No. 2 seed and Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee on Friday in Indianapolis. The Wildcats have already beaten the Volunteers twice this season.
ALABAMA 80, SAINT MARY’S 66
CLEVELAND — Alabama turned the page on the program's first Final Four appearance the moment the players received their commemorative rings in October.
Coach Nate Oats knew his team needed to get a little deeper and more athletic, and find more balance to go even further this season.
Two games into the NCAA Tournament, the Crimson Tide certainly look up to the task.
Chris Youngblood led six players in double figures with 13 points and No. 2 seed Alabama powered its way past seventh-seeded Saint Mary's 80-66 on Sunday to reach the Sweet 16 for a third straight year.
MARYLAND 72, COLORADO STATE 71
SEATTLE — Derik Queen demanded the ball.
With Maryland trailing 71-70 and only 3.6 seconds left against Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Terrapins coach Kevin Willard gave each of his players a chance to say they wanted to take the last shot. Queen spoke up, using an expletive for emphasis.
The 6-foot-10 freshman from Baltimore banked in a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer, and Maryland won a 72-71 thriller on Sunday to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.
OLE MISS 91, IOWA STATE 78
MILWAUKEE — Mississippi's senior-dominated roster understood how much was at stake this season.
The Rebels responded by doing something this program hadn't accomplished in over two decades.
Sean Pedulla scored 20 points, Jaemyn Brakefield had 19 and Ole Miss beat Iowa State 91-78 on Sunday night to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history.
MICHIGAN STATE 71, NEW MEXICO 63
CLEVELAND — Jaden Akins scored 16 points, including a 3-pointer that put Michigan State ahead to stay, and coach Tom Izzo took the Spartans to the Sweet 16 for the 16th time with a 71-63 victory over New Mexico on Sunday night.
Izzo has 58 wins in the NCAA Tournament, tied for fourth in a coaching career. The 70-year-old Hall of Famer has taken the Spartans to March Madness 27 times.
Four of those victories have come against the Pitino family. Izzo has won both of his matchups against New
First Published March 24, 2025, 4:02 a.m.
