NCAA Tournament 2012: Live Scores, Highlights and Analysis for West Region

Welcome to the most wonderful times of the sports year, March Madness and the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 

Day One—or the Second Round, as it's officially known—starts now, with the West Region. Park your browser on this page for live scores, highlights and analysis for all the West Region has to offer on the tourney's opening day.

After No. 6 Murray State beat No. 11 Colorado State by double digits, the action shifted to Louisville vs. Davidson on TBS, a game Louisville won by seven.

As expected, No. 3 Marquette defeated No. 14 BYU by 20 points, 88-66. Marquette will go onto face Murray State in Round Three.

Murray State and Marquette both defeated their opponents by significant margins, though the games were slightly closer than the scores indicate. Still, Marquette appears too hot for Murray State to handle, but that's why we play these games, right?

No. 5 New Mexico edged out upstart No. 12 Long Beach State in a thriller that came down to end-of-game free throws and a fledgling wild three-attempt or two: 75-68 Lobos. New Mexico will face the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday.

In a way, Louisville and New Mexico have taken similar paths to Saturday's showdown. Both teams faced scares on Thursday at the hand of opponents who certainly packed their fair share of a punch.

Thursday provided some terrific early March Madness action, culminating in the West with an exciting Long Beach State vs. New Mexico closing period. Tomorrow's slate figures to be just as exciting.