NCAA Basketball Tournament Report: Cincinnati, Ohio and Xavier Win To Advance To Round Of 16

Ohio, Cincinnati and Xavier all won on Sunday to join Ohio State in the NCAA basketball tournament round of 16. Top-seeded North Carolina and Michigan State also won to advance to the regional semi-finals. Here’s a full recap of the day’s action in the NCAA tournament:

Midwest Regional

North Carolina 87 — Creighton 73

After sustaining a wrist injury in the ACC tournament, John Henson returned to record 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots as North Carolina beat Creighton 87-73 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional in Greensboro, N.C. The victory allowed the top-seeded Tar Heels (31-5) to advance to play Ohio in the round of 16 in St. Louis on Friday. However, North Carolina’s championship dreams suffered a blow when point guard Kendall Marshall left the game after sustaining a fractured wrist. He is out for the remainder of the tournament. Doug McDermott scored 20 points to lead the eighth-seeded Bluejays (29-6).

Ohio 62 – South Florida 56

Walter Offutt scored 21 points and Ohio beat South Florida 62-56 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional in Nashville. The 13th-seeded Bobcats (29-7) advanced to play North Carolina in the round of 16 in St. Louis on Friday. Victor Rudd Jr. and Anthony Collins scored 13 points each for the 12th-seeded Bulls (22-14).

Kansas 63 — Purdue 60

Elijah Johnson scored 18 points, including a late go-ahead basket, and Kansas beat Purdue 63-60 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional in Omaha, Neb. Thomas Robinson had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the second-seeded Jayhawks (29-6), who, despite trailing most of the game, advanced to play N.C. State in the round of 16 in St. Louis on Friday. Robbie Hummel scored 26 points to lead the 10th-seeded Boilermakers (22-13).

N.C. State 66 — Georgetown 63

Lorenzo Brown hit three key free throws in the final 10 seconds and North Carolina State beat Georgetown 66-63 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional in Columbus, Ohio. C.J. Williams, Scott Wood and C.J. Leslie each had 14 points to lead N.C. State. The 11th-seeded Wolfpack (24-12) advanced to play Kansas in the round of 16 in St. Louis on Friday. Hollis Thompson led the third-seeded Hoyas (24-9) with 23 points.

East Regional

Cincinnati 62 — Florida State 56

Dion Dixon made a key steal and dunk late to push his team ahead, and Cincinnati beat Florida State 62-56 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s East Regional in Nashville. The sixth-seeded Bearcats (26-10) advanced to play Ohio State in the round of 16 in Boston on Thursday. Sean Kilpatrick led Cincinnati with 18 points, while Luke Loucks led the third-seeded Seminoles (25-10) with 14 points in the loss

West Regional

Florida 84 — Norfolk St. 50

Kenny Boynton scored 20 points and Florida routed Norfolk State 84-50 on Sunday in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s West Regional in Omaha, Neb. The seventh-seeded Gators’ 25-0 run in the first half all but assured the victory. Florida (25-10) advanced to play Marquette in the round of 16 in Phoenix on Thursday. The 15th-seeded Spartans (26-10), who upset Missouri on Friday, were led in defeat by Marcos Tamares’ 12 points and five rebounds.

Michigan State 65 — Saint Louis 61

Draymond Green had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Michigan State beat Saint Louis 65-61 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s West Regional in Columbus, Ohio. The top-seeded Spartans (29-7) advanced to play Louisville in the round of 16 in Phoenix on Thursday. Keith Appling, whose late 3-pointer put Michigan State in a position to win, added 19 points for the Spartans. The ninth-seeded Billikens (26-8) were led by Kwamain Mitchell’s 13 points.

South Regional

Xavier 70 — Lehigh 58

Center Kenny Frease scored a career-high 25 points and added 12 rebounds, as Xavier beat Lehigh 70-58 in the third round of the NCAA tournament’s South Regional in Greensboro, N.C. Tu Holloway added 21 points for the Musketeers, as 10th-seeded Xavier (22-12) advanced to play Baylor in the round of 16 in Atlanta on Friday. Lehigh, which upset No. 2 seed Duke on Friday, didn’t make a basket for more than six minutes in the second half. Mackey McKnight had 20 points for the 15th-seeded Mountain Hawks (27-7), who shot just 5-of-34 from the field after halftime.