NCAA Basketball Scores 2012: Latest March Madness Results & Reaction

Welcome to your one stop shop for everything March March Madness 2012.

With far more games than days ahead of us in the coming month it can be easy to become overwhelmed, but do not fear—Bleacher Report is here.

Let's be frank, unless you're completely engulfed in March Madness, it's going to be hard to keep track of every single game on the schedule. Lucky for you though, we here at Bleacher Report make it our priority to obsess about March Madness for you.

We'll keep you up to date with the action on the court, and fill you in on everything you need to know with hard-hitting reaction.

If you're looking for the latest scores, results and analysis of every game on your bracket, look no further:

NCAA Championship Game: Kansas vs. Kentucky

Kentucky 67, Kansas 59

For a few fleeting moments late in the game, Kansas looked like it had a shot at pulling off an epic upset over Kentucky.

The rest of the game, including the final few moments, belonged to the Wildcats. They owned this game, from the start all the way to the finish.

Amazingly, they did it despite getting just a single field goal from Anthony Davis. He was 1-of-10 from the floor, with just six points.

However, Davis did have 16 rebounds, five assists, three steals and six blocks. Let it never be said that he didn't have an impact on the outcome of the NCAA Championship Game. 

Doron Lamb led all scorers with 22 points. Marquis Teague added 14, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 11. 

Kansas was led, naturally, by Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Robinson had a monster double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds, and Taylor had 19 points and three assists.

Credit where credit is due, the Jayhawks did a good job of fighting the good fight in the second half after a forgettable first half. They gave themselves a chance to win this game.

They also gave that chance away. Kentucky turned up the intensity when Kansas turned up its intensity in the final couple minutes, and the Jayhawks' execution suffered. The Wildcats refused to go the way of Purdue, NC State, North Carolina and Ohio State.

This is Kentucky's eighth NCAA championship. It is John Calipari's first.

Final Four: Ohio State vs. Kansas

Kansas 64, Ohio State 62

A wild finish including a horrendous pass from Tyshawn Taylor and a lane violation from Aaron Craft ended a wild game between Kansas and Ohio State.

The Buckeyes came out swinging in the first half, but allowed Kansas to battle back and Craft's boneheaded mistake put the final nail in the coffin for Ohio State.

Despite racking up a double-double, Jared Sullinger was shut down for the most part, scoring 13 points on 5-19 shooting.

Both teams had four players in double-digits, but in the end it was Kansas who came away with a hard-fought win.

Kansas has their work cut out for them, with juggernaut Kentucky lying ahead in what will be the toughest competition they've faced all season.

Final Four: Louisville vs. Kentucky

Kentucky 69, Louisville 61

Kentucky was given a tough battle by Louisville, who became the first team all tournament to hold Kentucky to fewer than 80 points. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Wildcats' defense was more than up to the task. 

Ultimately, Louisville could not answer Anthony Davis. The freshman led all scorers with 18 points, while pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking five shots. Peyton Siva led the Cardinals with 11 points. 

The Wildcats will now await the winner of the Ohio State vs. Kansas game.

Elite Eight: North Carolina vs. Kansas

No. 2 Kansas def. No. 1 North Carolina: 80-67

In yet another March Madness upset, the Jayhawks of Kansas defeated the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels. That being said, the final score does not do this game justice. Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes kept the game close most of the way for the Tar Heels, but Kansas stepped it up at the end, played incredible defense and pulled away. Tyshawn Taylor led the way with 22 points for the Jayhawks, who now must play Ohio State in the Final Four.

Elite Eight: Kentucky vs. Baylor

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 3 Baylor: 82-70

The Kentucky Wildcats have absolutely dominated in the 2012 NCAA tournament, and even though the Bears of Baylor gave it their best shot, their best wasn't even close to Kentucky's. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led the way for Kentucky with 19 points, but sensational freshman Anthony Davis was right behind with with 18 points 11 rebounds and six blocks. The Wildcats cruised to the Final Four, leading by as much as 23 at one point. They will play Louisville for a shot to play in the national championship.

Elite Eight: Syracuse vs. Ohio State

No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 1 Syracuse: 77-70

We all knew that losing Fab Melo would eventually come back to haunt the No. 1 seeded Orange, but not many expected them to get to the Elite Eight without him. This was a great team coming into the tournament, but they ran into a Buckeyes team that got hot at the right time. Jared Sullinger was a beast down low, putting up 19 points and seven rebounds, and the Buckeyes made it to the line 42 times, making 31 freebies. Ohio State moves on to the Final Four to play either North Carolina or Kansas, both which should lead to great matchups.

Elite Eight: Louisville vs. Florida

No. 4 Louisville def. No. 7 Florida: 72-68

The sharpshooting Gators looked to be in control for most of this game and on their way to the Final Four, but somehow Louisville coach Rick Pitino was able to get his guys to keep fighting and work their way to an epic comeback. Forward Chase Behanan and guard Russ Smith both got hot halfway through the second half, and in the meantime Florida got cold. Behanan finished the game with 17 points and Smith notched 19 coming off the bench. Pitino and his Cardinals will face either Kentucky or Baylor in the Final Four.

Sweet 16: West Region

No. 4 Louisville def. No. 1 Michigan State: 57-44

Louisville didn't just upset the Spartans, they destroyed them. Rick Pitino's team held the No. 1 seeded Spartans to an abysmal .286 shooting percentage from the floor and forced them into an even worst 5-of-21 night from behind the three-point line. Defense was the name of the game for the Cardinals, and they were led in that effort by center Gorgui Dieng, who notched an impressive nine rebounds and seven blocks. The Cardinals were led in scoring by Chane Behanan, who had 15. The No. 4 seed goes on to face Florida in the Elite Eight.

No. 7 Florida def. No. 3 Marquette: 68-58

The sharp-shooting Gators may be the most dangerous team in this tournament, being that they are seven seed with the talent and shooting ability of a No. 1 seed. They also have elite coaching in Billy Donovan. This is not a team you want to match up with. Guard Bradley Beal led the Gators over the Golden Eagles with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. They also got 11 apiece from Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. They match up with Louisville in the Elite Eight.

Sweet 16: South Region

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 4 Indiana: 102-90

After beating the very talented Hoosiers, there can be little doubt that the Wildcats are ready to make a run all the way to the National Championship. There have been concerns about experience and depth, but despite an average performance from Anthony Davis, the Wildcats took care of business. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, sharp-shooter Darius Miller came off the bench for 19. Now Kentucky will face their biggest challenge yet, going against Baylor in the Elite Eight.

No. 3 Baylor def. No. 10 Xavier: 75-70

The Bears made their living down-low and shot a blazing .509 from the field as they held on to beat the upstart Xavier Musketeers. Quincy Acy was a beast down-low, scoring 20 points and grabbing 15 rebounds for the Bears. Xavier's Tu Holloway led both teams in scoring with 22 points, but in the end it will be the No. 3 seed that gets a chance to take on the No. 1 seeded Wildcats in the Elite Eight.

Sweet 16: Midwest Region

No. 1 North Carolina def. No. 13 Ohio: 73-65

The Ohio Bobcats will go down as one of the more impressive Cinderella stories we have seen in a while, but when all was said and done, it was the No. 1 seed that found themselves advancing to the Elite Eight. The Bobcats sure didn't make it easy though. They pushed the heavy favorites to overtime off an incredible 26 points night from Junior Walter Offutt. UNC prevailed and snagged an almost Herculean effort from Forward Tyler Zeller, who notched 20 points and 22 rebounds. They will play Kansas in the Elite Eight.

No. 2 Kansas def. No. 11 NC State: 60-57

North Carolina State was easy one of the best "underdogs" in this tournament, but Kansas was able to tough them out and move on to the Elite Eight. Jayhawks' center Jeff Withey had an incredible 10 block performance and Thomas Robinson led the way with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Jayhawks play the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels in the Elite Eight.

Sweet 16: East Region

No. 1 Syracuse def. No. 4 Wisconsin: 64-63

It was close, but in the end the No. 1 seeded Orange defeated the Badgers of Wisconsin to move on to their spot in the Elite Eight. The Orange put up some incredible offense and survived a miss three pointer at the end of the game to move on. Forward C.J. Fair led the way with 15 points, while Scoop Jardine scored 14 and Dion Waiters came off the bench for 13. Syracuse will play the No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes for a chance to go to the Final Four.

No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 6 Cincinnati: 81-66

The Bearcats of Cincinnati have been a very dangerous team in the 2012 NCAA tournament, but their run has come to an end at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Cincinnati came out in the second half to make it a game, but the Buckeyes, led by Deshaun Thomas' 26 points and Jared Sullinger's 23 point 11 rebound performance, squashed the run and came away victorious. They will face Syracuse in the Elite Eight.

Round of 32: Midwest Region

No. 11 North Carolina State def. No. 3 Georgetown: 66-63

This is a huge upset win by seeding, but taking one look at this NC State team may tell you otherwise. They play in the ACC and are constantly in the shadows of Duke and North Carolina. They know how to play the big programs and apparently they know how to beat the programs. The Wolfpack hung on to this game at the end and outlasted a three-point shot that didn't drop. They got incredible production from the starting five, with C.J. Leslie, C.J. Williams and Scott Wood all scoring 14 points, Lorenzo Brown scoring 12 and Richard Howell with nine. This is a team that can beat anybody they match up with. They will play either Purdue or Kansas in the Sweet 16.

No. 1 North Carolina def. No. 8 Creighton: 87-73

The Tar Heels are quietly rolling through this tournament. They aren't making much of a stir, yet they've beaten both of their opponents by double-digits so far. Creighton didn't stand much of a chance against these dominant Tar Heels. They had five players score in double digits including 13 from forward John Henson, 17 from Harrison Barnes and 18 from guard Kendall Marshall. With all the upsets that have taken place in the Midwest region, UNC may have a clear shot to the Final Four without much resistance. The await the winner of USF and Ohio in the Sweet 16.

No. 13 Ohio def. No. 12 South Florida: 62-56

Ohio guard D.J. Cooper is quickly asserting himself as the breakout star of the tournament. Along with fellow backcourt starter Walter Offutt, Cooper helped lead the Bobcats to another upset of a power conference opponent to reach the Sweet 16. Ohio was able to connect on nine three-point shots to just two for South Florida, which made the difference. Before you count the Bobcats out against North Carolina, it's important to remember the status of Tar Heels point guard Kendall Marshall is unclear after suffering a wrist injury.

No. 2 Kansas def. No. 10 Purdue: 63-60

It appeared Robbie Hummel was primed to lead Purdue to a massive upset. The senior guard was hitting virtually every shot he took, finishing with 26 points, but Kansas eventually fought back to pull out a thrilling victory. Elijah Johnson hit several key shots down the stretch for the Jayhawks. Thomas Robinson registered another double-double despite making just two shots from the field. Kansas should feel a sense of relief heading into its Sweet 16 clash with North Carolina State, which makes the Jayhawks extremely dangerous moving forward.

Round of 32: West Region

No. 4 Louisville def. No. 5 New Mexico: 59-56

The Lobos kept it close and made it very interesting, but in the end it was Rick Pitino's Cardinals that find themselves in the Sweet 16 after a hard-fought win. The Cardinals put up a solid team effort, with three players in double-digits and all of the starting five contributing to the scoreboard. Lobos' forward Drew Gordon had a great game with 21 points and 14 rebounds, but it was not enough to secure a win. Louisville will play either Michigan State or No. 9 St. Louis. 

No. 3 Marquette def. No. 6 Murray State: 62-53

The Golden Eagles of Marquette had to make yet another epic comeback to secure this win, but in the end, led by Jae Crowder's 17 points and 13 rebounds they were able to pull away from the Murray State Racers and advance to the Sweet 16. They played their best basketball when it mattered, and now they wait to see if they will play Florida or Norfolk State.

No. 1 Michigan State def. No. 9 Saint Louis: 65-61

The Billikens really gave the Spartans quite a run for their money, but in the end it was MSU senior Draymond Green and his team that pulled off the close victory. Tom Izzo's squad got a great all-around performance, securing 10 and 19 points respectively for Derrick Nix and Keith Appling in starting roles and 16 points and 13 rebounds from Green off the Bench. The Spartans will play the Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16.

No. 7 Florida def. No. 15 Norfolk State: 84-50

As if Missouri needed any more reason to be mad at itself for dropping an opening round game to Norfolk State, the Tigers were likely watching as the underdogs got throttled by Florida. The Gators led 47-19 at halftime before putting it in cruise control for the second half. They knocked down 10 three pointers with no player contributing more than two, showing the team's balanced scoring approach. Norfolk State shot just 27 percent from the field. Florida will face Marquette in the Sweet 16.

Round of 32: South Region

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 Iowa State: 87-71

For a while it the second half it looked as if Iowa State had a chance to pull off yet another huge upset in this tournament, but then led by the defense of Anthony Davis and the shooting of Darius Miller, the nations best team pulled away with force. Guard Marquis Teague scored 24 points for the Wildcats, Davis added 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and Miller came off the bench for 19. It was a valiant effort from the underdogs, led by Royce White and his 23 points, but Kentucky is just far too talented. They will play Indiana in the Sweet 16.

No. 4 Indiana def. No. 12 VCU: 63-61

VCU almost put on their March Madness Cinderella slippers for a second year, but in the end it was the Hoosiers who escaped a last second three that didn't find the bottom of the basket. Cody Zeller led the way for the Hoosiers with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Christian Watford added 13 himself. The Hoosiers will have a real touch matchup against the nation's No. 1 team, but they have the length to cause Kentucky a lot of problems and perhaps cause an upset. 

No. 3 Baylor def. No. 11 Colorado: 80-63

There's no doubting that Baylor was the better team in this matchup, and they were one of the few favorites that were able to come out and fully establish that. Colorado is a talented and scrappy team, so they stuck around for a bit, but in the end the Bears pulled away off the strength of guard Brady Heslip and his 27 points. The Bears will face the winner of Xavier and Cinderella story Lehigh.

No. 10 Xavier def. No. 15 Lehigh: 70-58

Lehigh entered with a lot of momentum after knocking off Duke on Friday, and it looked like the Cinderella story was going to continue early on. The Mountain Hawks raced out to an early lead and held a four-point advantage at halftime. Xavier took control in the second half, however, outscoring Lehigh by 16 to cruise into the Sweet 16. Kenny Frease and Tu Holloway scored over 20 apiece for the Musketeers. Nobody else had more than seven. They will battle Baylor for a spot in the Elite Eight.

Round of 32: East Region

No. 1 Syracuse def. No. 8 Kansas State: 75-59

This was a huge win for Syracuse, especially after looking so bad in round two. Many thought that this would be where we would see the Orange exit, especially since they've lost Thad Melo. Syracuse quieted their doubters, at least for the moment, with an impressive 75-59 win. Guard Dion Waiters led the way for the Orange with 18 points off the bench.

No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 7 Gonzaga: 73-66

It was probably closer than they would have liked, but the Ohio State Buckeyes have made it to the Sweet 16 yet again, none the less. It was all about the starters for the Buckeyes, as they scored all of their points. Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas both scored 18, while guard Aaron Craft notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists. The Buckeyes will play the winner of Cincinnati and Florida State in the Sweet 16.

No. 4 Wisconsin def. No. 5 Vanderbilt: 60-57

The Badgers escaped in a very close one to move on to the Sweet 16, and their tough defense is going to make them a force to be reckoned with. Four of the Badgers five starters put up double-digits points, and guard Ben Brust added 11 points and four rebounds off the bench. It's not going to get any easier for Wisconsin, as now they have to match up with No. 1 seeded Syracuse. With their defense and team play though, they do have a chance.

No. 6 Cincinnati def. No. 3 Florida State: 62-56

It wasn't always pretty, but Cincinnati found a way to advance to the Sweet 16 by knocking off Florida State. The game went back and forth for most of the evening before the Bearcats finally gained control in the final minute and made free throws to close it out. Sean Kilpatrick led the way with 18 points, including a couple huge three pointers, and Dion Dixon added 15. Cincinnati will face off with Ohio State in the next round.

Round of 64 Day 2: South Region

No. 15 Lehigh def. No. 2 Duke, 75-70

Wow. Just wow. Lehigh, led by Cj McCollum, came out on fire against Duke, while the Blue Devils never were able to get it going from downtown. Duke shot 6-of-26 from three-point land and McCollum finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Both Austin Rivers and Seth Curry shot poorly and the only player who stepped up for the Blue Devils was Mason Plumlee. This was one of the true shockers of the tournament and undoubtedly the biggest upset through the Round of 64. This Lehigh team is not scared of anyone.

Round of 64 Day 2: West Region

No. 7 Florida def. No. 10 Virginia, 71-45

So much for this potentially being a close matchup. The Florida Gators dominated the Virginia Cavaliers in the Round of 64. They shot 52 percent while holding the Cavaliers to 38 percent shooting and attacked the glass, outrebounding Virginia, 36-21.

Star Bradley Beal led the Gators with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Patric Young came off the bench to score 13 points and grab seven rebounds.

Mike Scott led the Cavaliers with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.

No. 15 Norfolk State def. No. 2 Missouri, 86-84

In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Norfolk State shocked Missouri in the Round of 64, using an uncharacteristic three-point barrage to stun the Tigers.

Norfolk State was shooting 31 percent from long range headed into the matchup, but went 10-of-19 from downtown and thoroughly outrebounded Missouri, 35-23. Norfolk State ended up with 14 offensive rebounds.

It was simple: Missouri was at its worst in the Round of 64 and Norfolk State played its best game of the season. Three Spartans scored at least 20 points, led by senior center Kyle O'Quinn, who posted 26 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

Junior guard Michael Dixon led Missouri with 22 points.

No. 9 Saint Louis def. No. 8 Memphis, 61-54

This figured to be a close game and didn't disappoint. Both teams were tied at the half, 23-23, before Saint Louis pulled away. The Billikens shot 45 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Tigers. It proved to be the difference, despite the Billikens committing 16 turnovers. Junior guard Kwamain Mitchell led Saint Louis with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Memphis star Will Barton scored 16 points, but shot 6-of-14 from the floor. 

No. 1 Michigan State def. No. 16 Long Island, 89-67

On a day filled with upsets, Michigan State calmly and collectively dominated Long Island in the Round of 64 on Friday. The Spartans shot 58 percent while outrebounding the Blackbirds, 42-19. Spartans star Draymond Green was a monster, scoring 24 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists in perhaps the most dominant performance of the day. Jamal Olasewere led the Blackbirds with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Round of 64 Day 2: Midwest Region

No. 11 NC State def. No. 6 San Diego State, 79-65

San Diego State started this season with such promise, but their late season woes proved to be a bad omen as the Aztecs lost to N.C. State in the Round of 64. N.C. State shot 57 percent from the floor while holding SDSU to 37 percent shooting. Richard Howell led the Wolfpack with 22 points, and Lorenzo Brown added 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Jamaal Franklin led the Aztecs with 23 points and eight rebounds. 

No. 8 Creighton def. No. 9 Alabama, 58-57

In a riveting matchup, Alabama was not able to steal the game away from Creighton on a last-second shot and the Bluejays hung on for the victory. It may have been the most balanced game of the tournament. Both Creighton and Alabama shot 44 percent for the game and were nearly identical in rebounds and turnovers. Sophomore forward Doug McDermott led the Bluejays with 16 points and nine rebounds. Trevor Releford led the Crimson Tide with 14 points.

No. 3 Georgetown def. No. 14 Belmont, 74-59

Georgetown exerted its dominance early in this one, getting off to a 36-27 halftime lead. The Hoyas were able to roll from there, shooting 61 percent as a team for the game and holding Belmont to 38 percent shooting. Georgetown also outrebounded the Bruins, 30-22. Jason Clark led the Hoyas with 21 points and Otto Porter added 16 points and eight rebounds. This was a team win for Georgetown. 

No. 1 North Carolina def. No. 16 Vermont

It didn't figure to be a close matchup between North Carolina and Vermont, and that is how it all went down. North Carolina jumped off to a 37-25 halftime lead before putting the Catamounts away. Both teams shot 40 percent from the field, but Vermont committed 19 turnovers, which figured to be the X-factor. Four Tar Heels scored in double figures. Tyler Zeller led North Carolina with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Sandro Carissimo led the Catamounts with 11 points.

No. 13 Ohio def. No. 4 Michigan, 65-60

In a night of upsets, Ohio simply wanted to fit in. The Bobcats shocked Michigan in the Round of 64, shooting 51 percent while holding the Wolverines to 40 percent shooting. Michigan tried to scrap back in the second half, but wasn't able to get past the halftime deficit. Junior guard D.J. Cooper led the Bobcats with 21 points and five assists. Michigan's Trey Burke scored 16 points in the losing effort.

No. 10 Purdue def. No. 7 St. Mary's, 72-69

It's ironic that Purdue upset St. Mary's because St. Mary's was supposed to be a team built for a Cinderella run this year. Instead, the Boilermakers shot 45 percent and went to the free-throw line 18 times. Terone Johnson and Lewis Jackson scored 21 points and 18 points respectively for Purdue. Rob Jones scored 23 points for the Gaels, but was unable to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Round of 64 Day 2: East Region

No. 6 Cincinnati def. No. 11 Texas, 65-59

It's been a frustrating season for Rick Barnes and the Texas Longhorns. They barely sneaked into the NCAA tournament this season. But they gave Cincinnati a scare in their Round of 64 matchup. Cincinnati was rolling along throughout the game until they final minutes, where Texas went on a run to eventually tie the game. But, led by Yancy Gates and Jaquon Parker, the Bearcats were too much. Gates posted 15 points,10 rebounds and three blocks, while Parker added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Texas star J'Covan Brown scored 19 points in the losing effort.

No. 3 Florida State def. No. 14 St. Bonaventure, 66-63

Wow, what a game this was.

St. Bonaventure had the lead all game until the final minutes when Florida State pulled away. The Bonnies had a chance to tie it up in their final possession, but senior Da'Quan Cook inexplicably went for a two-pointer...twice. Senior forward Bernard James led the Seminoles with 19 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and one steal. Andrew Nicholson led St. Bonaventure with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Round of 64 Day 1: South Region

In a day that mostly went the way of chalk, the South Region turned out to be the most unpredictable. There were just two upsets based on seeding on the first day of the round of 64, and both of them happened to take place in the South.

All but two of the South Region's round of 64 games took place on Thursday and it is already shaping up to be a highly intriguing quarter of the bracket.

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 16 Western Kentucky, 81-66

The Cinderella Hilltoppers hung around early in the game and made life difficult for the Wildcats, but Kentucky took control in the latter part of the first half and never relinquished its stranglehold on the game. Freshman Anthony Davis was dominant in front of the home-state crowd as he poured in 16 points, added nine rebounds and swatted away seven Western Kentucky shot attempts.

No. 12 VCU def. No. 5 Wichita State, 62-59

Although the VCU Rams have plenty of new faces after going on a magical run to the Final Four last season, it appears as though head coach Shaka Smart has the formula for NCAA Tournament success. The Rams were in control for most of the game against the No. 5 Wichita State Shockers, but they needed a late three from Bradford Burgess to overcome a two-point deficit with about a minute remaining.

No. 3 Baylor def. No. 14 South Dakota State, 68-60

South Dakota State gave Baylor all it could handle, but the No. 3 Bears were ultimately too athletic for the No. 14 Jackrabbits. SDSU led for much of the first half, but Baylor went on a run to lead at the break. While the Jackrabbits drew near in the second stanza, Baylor was able to hold them off. Perry Jones III had only two points for the Bears, but Anthony Jones came through with a big performance off the bench.

No. 8 Iowa State def. No. 9 Connecticut, 77-64

The defending National Champion UConn Huskies entered this year's NCAA Tournament with high hopes as they scored a couple big wins in the Big East tourney, but it wasn't to be as they were knocked off by the Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State built a massive 20-point lead in the first half, and while the Huskies chipped away at it and got as close as eight points down, the Cyclones always seemed to have an answer.

No. 4 Indiana def. No. 13 New Mexico State, 79-66

There seemed to be some upset potential in this game, but the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers proved that they were deserving of their lofty seeding. They had no trouble as they blew out No. 13 New Mexico State 79-66. The Aggies actually shot 55 percent from the field, but the Hoosiers were never in danger as they shot 59 percent overall and 54 percent from beyond the arc as Jordan Hulls nailed four of his six three-point attempts.

No. 11 Colorado def. No. 6 UNLV, 68-64

Thursday's nightcap turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the day as the No. 11 Colorado Buffaloes upset the No. 6 UNLV Rebels 68-64. Colorado busted out to a huge lead and held a 20-point advantage at points in the second half, but UNLV stormed back and got within a bucket. The Buffaloes hit clutch free throws down the stretch, however, and will continue their magical run that began with a Pac-12 title.

Round of 64 Day 1: East Region

While there were a couple scares in the East Region on Thursday, there were also some dominant performances to behold. Unlike the South Region, only the favorites have come out of the round of 64 this far in the East.

This region will certainly be quite intriguing moving forward as top-seeded Syracuse struggled to advance, while other contenders like Ohio State and Vanderbilt were impressive. This may very well be the most wide open region in the entire tournament.

No. 8 Kansas State def. No. 9 Southern Mississippi, 70-64

In what was the second game of the day, Kansas State and Southern Mississippi battled in a see-saw affair. Each team had an intermediate lead at some point in each half, but the Wildcats were ultimately able to overcome the Golden Eagles. The main reason for that was Rodney McGruder's sizzling shooting as he poured in 30 points for Kansas State.

No. 4 Wisconsin def. No. 13 Montana, 73-49

There were several games that were decided decisively on Thursday, but Wisconsin's 24-point triumph over Montana might have been the most dominant. The Badgers' defense smothered the Grizzlies as is customary of Bo Ryan-led teams, but Wisconsin's offense was a well-oiled machine as well, shooting 53 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 90 percent from the charity stripe.

No. 1 Syracuse def. No. 16 UNC-Asheville, 72-65

Entering Thursday a No. 16 seed had never beaten a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and that still holds true as the Syracuse Orange escaped with a seven-point win over the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs. Asheville held a four-point lead at the half and was going blow for blow with the Orange late in the game, but Syracuse was the beneficiary of a few calls and some late free throws made it look tilted in the Orange's favor more than it truly was.

No. 5 Vanderbilt def. No. 12 Harvard, 79-70

After a shocking SEC tournament victory, the Vanderbilt Commodores carried their momentum into the NCAA Tournament's round of 64 as they took care of a dangerous Harvard team by nine points. The Crimson made a late run, but Vandy guard John Jenkins, who tallied 27 points, was clutch from the free-throw line and helped advance to the Commodores to the next round.

No. 7 Gonzaga def. No. 10 West Virginia, 77-54

This one was never in doubt as the Gonzaga Bulldogs dominated the West Virginia Mountaineers from start to finish and earned a 23-point victory. West Virginia's high-scoring duo of Kevin Jones and Darryl Bryant was held in check as they combined for just 22 points, while freshman sensation Kevin Pangos paced Gonzaga with 13 points and five helpers in what was a total team win.

No. 2 Ohio State def. No. 15 Loyola (Md.), 78-59

The No. 2-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes looked to exert their dominance in the East Region on Thursday night against the overmatched Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds and they did just that in a breezy 19-point win. Loyola had pockets of success, but Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas was an absolute monster as he scored 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in an emphatic victory.

Round of 64 Day 1: West Region

Of the three regions that got underway on Thursday, the West Region was likely the most uneventful as it featured just four games, all of which resulted in the favorite winning, but there were some tense moments in every contest.

All four favorites that came out on top had to overcome some form of adversity in their respective games and they will be better for it moving into the round of 32. Neither of the top two seeds have played yet in this region, but there are some other squads that look like they will be very tough outs.

No. 6 Murray State def. No. 11 Colorado State, 58-41

The Murray State Racers continued their magical season by winning the first game in the round of 64 on Thursday afternoon. The Racers, who lost just one game on the season, thrashed the Colorado State Rams 35-17 in the second half, but Murray State was actually trailing at halftime. Star guard Isaiah Canaan stepped up for the Racers, however, as they overwhelmed the Rams in the latter stages of the game.

No. 4 Louisville def. No. 13 Davidson, 69-62

The underdog Davidson Wildcats continually made advances during the game and pulled to within seven points when it was all said in done, but there was never really any doubt that the No, 4 Louisville Cardinals would come out on top. Davidson's high-powered offense sputtered as the Wildcats shot an atrocious 35 percent from the field and couldn't contend with Louisville's athleticism.

No. 3 Marquette def. No. 14 BYU, 88-68

Coming off the biggest comeback in NCAA Tournament history in their play-in win over Iona, the BYU Wildcats were in a position to do it again on Thursday against the third-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles. It wasn't meant to be, however, as Marquette cruised to a 20-point win. The Eagles led by 20 at the half, and while BYU chipped away early in the second frame, Marquette proved to be too deep and talented.

No. 5 New Mexico def. No. 12 Long Beach State, 75-68

In one of the more wide open games of the day, the No. 5 New Mexico Lobos held off a late charge by the No. 12 Long Beach State 49ers. The Niners went up by two with a couple minutes left thanks to a swipe and slam by James Ennis, but the Lobos answered with a three and locked the 49ers down defensively in the closing possessions to come out on top.

South Florida 65, California 54

The South Florida Bulls took care of business against the much more prolific Cal Golden Bears, and now they move on to face a very challenging opponent in the Temple Owls.

Sophomore forward Victor Rudd Jr. led the way for the Bulls with 15 points, five rebounds, one assists and one block, and South Florida's tenacious defense held the Golden Bears to just .362 shooting from the field.

If there's a First Four that proved they have what it takes to make some noise in the tournament, it's South Florida.

Vermont 71, Lamar 59

The good news for Vermont Catamounts is that they won this game pretty handily. The bad news is, their reward is a matchup with the No. 1 seeded Tar Heels of North Carolina.

They beat the Lamar Cardinals off the amazing bench play from freshman Four McGlynn, who scored 18 points and notched three rebounds and three assists.

They shot an incredible 50-percent from the field, and led by 16 at one point.

It was a great game from the Catamounts, but I don't see them carrying that momentum or dominant play into the UNC game.

Hopefully they enjoyed it while they could.

Western Kentucky 59, Mississippi Valley State 58

If the rest of the tournament goes like its opening game, this is going to be a wild tournament. 

WKU came back from a 16-point deficit in the second half to win. And that seems about right for the way the Hilltoppers season has gone. 

They are the only team in the tournament with a losing record. At one point this season they were 9-18. They came back from that dismal start, however, and they came back in this game. 

And for their troubles, they have been rewarded with a date against the nation's No. 1 Kentucky. 

BYU 78, Iona 72

You wouldn't expect the second game to beat the first one—considering the first one featured a 16-point comeback. But it did. 

BYU pulled off the biggest comeback in NCAA Tournament history by battling back from a whopping 25-point deficit. The previous record was 22 points. 

This was a simply amazing effort. You kept expecting BYU to wear themselves out in the comeback effort and it just never happened. 

They now prepare to face Marquette in the round of 64. 

Vermont 71, Lamar 59

Despite evidence from the first day pointing to the contrary, teams can hold onto a lead in the NCAA Tournament. 

Vermont opened up a nine point lead on Lamar at the end of the first half and cruised in the second to win by 12. 

Four McGlynn came off the bench to spark Vermont. He scored a team-high 18 points. He was 5-9 from the field and 3-5 from three point range. 

Enjoy this victory, Vermont—North Carolina is up next. 

Sweet 16: East Region

No. 1 Syracuse 64, No. 4 Wisconsin 63

The loss of Fab Melo was evident in this game as Wisconsin got to some rebounds that would have clearly be wrestled free by the big man. He would affected a great deal more shots in the lane as well. 

This game came down to the outside shot, though. 

The Badgers put all their hopes and dreams into the long ball, unable to consistently get the ball inside. They were able to drain 14 three pointers, but in the end it wasn't enough. 

Syracuse shot 55% from the field and narrowly escaped a Badgers team that was far too one dimensional at times on offense.  

No. 2 Ohio State 81, No. 6 Cincinnati 66

Ohio State won, but you have to give credit to Cincinnati for having a couple of great runs that put a scare in the No. 2 seed Buckeyes. 

The Bearcats just couldn't see it through while Ohio State remained poised under some unrelenting surges from Cincinnati. 

The man of the game has to be Jared Sullinger who is as versatile as any big man. He did it all with 23 points and 11 rebounds, also affecting shots and making a positive impact on this game. 

No we get a dream matchup between Syracuse and Ohio State. Both teams have legitimate claims at the Final Four with rosters filled with talent. 

Sweet 16: West Region

No. 4 Louisville 57, No. 1 Michigan State 44  

Both teams came out of the gate looking sloppy and not the least bit sweet. By the end, Louisville had emerged as real threats moving forward in this magnificent tournament. 

Draymond Green the best he could to get the Spartans into this game, going for 13 points and 16 rebounds. 

The Cardinals just got to the loose balls and benefited from the hapless Spartans that turned the ball over 15 times. Both teams had issues from the field but Michigan State never got it going and went 14-for-49 from the field. 

Louisville may have just escaped on a very off night for Michigan State. 

No. 7 Florida 68, No. 3 Marquette 58

This was a wild game that saw Florida escape a Marquette team that finally decided to wake up in the final moments. 

The Gators defense had Marquette go quiet for most of the game until the Golden Eagles mounted one last gasp effort, but it was too little much too late. 

Jae Crowder was a dismal 1-for-7 from three, and the rest of the cast struggled to make their presence known all game. 

Florida enjoyed a big game from Bradley Beal who had 21 points and 6 rebounds. The Gators shot 41% from the field and were a shade better offensively than Marquette all game. 

Get ready for some exciting run and gun basketball as Florida will now take on Syracuse for a chance at the Final Four.