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Report: NCAA Will Review Differences in Amenities at Men's, Women's Tournaments

Mar 23, 2021
The March Madness logo is shown on the court during the first half of a men's college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The March Madness logo is shown on the court during the first half of a men's college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

NCAA President Mark Emmert wrote a letter acknowledging "a number of balls were dropped" when it came to the differences between the amenities available at the men's and women's basketball tournaments.

Heather Dinich of ESPN reported the news and shared more of Emmert's words to staff:

"I have directed our leadership team and appropriate staff to assess all the services, resources, and facilities provided to both the men's and women's teams so that we have a completely clear comparison. Further, I will be determining exactly how we found ourselves in this situation. This will be discussed with our applicable boards, committees and membership when the tournament is over and the review is complete.

"For now, please know that I am deeply disappointed that the past few days have been focused on NCAA blunders rather than the remarkable athletes in San Antonio. Putting on these tournaments is always an enormous feat, and this year has been much more difficult to say the least. I know how hard our staff has worked and thank you for your continued perseverance. I hope that we can now turn our attention to the women's games with confidence that they are receiving all that they need and deserve. You have my assurances that all will be done to make sure this never happens again."

The differences for men's players in Indiana and women's players in Texas have served as primary storylines in the early rounds of both tournaments.

Pictures of spacious and modern weight facilities available to the men's players compared to paltry options for the women's players made the rounds on social media and drew plenty of reaction:

https://twitter.com/_ajawilson22/status/1372664988184154115

Connor Bran of NCAA.org noted NCAA Vice President for Women's Basketball Lynn Holzman said the organization "fell short," while NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt apologized for the situation.

Alex Azzi of NBC Sports summarized more of the differences, which extended to men's players using PCR tests for COVID-19 compared to women's players using daily antigen tests. There were also differences in the food available, and most of the courts for the women's tournament did not feature NCAA branding.

Even the logos for the Final Four are different with the women's one including the word "women's" and the men's one just saying Final Four.

Evan Mobley, No. 6 USC Dominate No. 3 Kansas; Will Face Oregon in Sweet 16

Mar 22, 2021
USC forward Chevez Goodwin (1) dunks on Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) during the second half of a men's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
USC forward Chevez Goodwin (1) dunks on Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) during the second half of a men's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Andy Enfield has finally taken USC to the Sweet 16.

Eight years after arriving in Southern California, the former Florida Gulf Coast coach has the No. 6 Trojans dancing for another week thanks to an 85-51 victory over No. 3 Kansas on Monday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks' starting lineup was finally back at full strength Monday after Jalen Wilson returned from COVID-19 protocol, but it wasn't enough to help contain super freshman Evan Mobley and the USC offense. The win snaps a Trojans Sweet 16 drought dating back to 2007 and is the surest sign yet that Enfield has the program trending up.

Kansas will head home after failing to reach the second weekend for just the fourth time in the last 14 years, while USC moves on to face No. 7 Oregon for the right to play in the Elite Eight.

     

Notable Performer

Isaiah Mobley, F, Southern California Trojans: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

Evan Mobley, F, Southern California Trojans: 10 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists

Marcus Garrett, G, Kansas Jayhawks: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas Jayhawks: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

       

Mobley Brothers Lead Trojans To Sweet 16

Evan Mobley was supposed to be the player who carried USC this season.

His brother Isaiah had plenty to say about that.

The elder Mobley posted a career performance against the Jayhawks, draining a personal-best four three-pointers after failing to sink more than two during the regular season. Meanwhile, Evan was busy distracting last season's Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Garrett, in the paint and helping his fellow Trojans get open. 

That allowed USC to take a 19-point lead into halftime and turn the second half into an even bigger blowout. 

The Trojans assisted on 18 of their 32 field goals, outrebounded the Jayhawks 43-27 and saw five players score in double figures. 

Isaiah Mobley started that all off by knocking down his first three shots from behind the arc and proving there was more than just Evan to worry about.

Now the Trojans are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than a decade and look ready to dance long into April. The way Enfield has the team playing, there's little to suggest that won't happen. 

Kansas Offense Can't Keep Up

The Kansas Jayhawks fielded one of the worst shooting teams of the Bill Self era this year, averaging 44.1 percent on field goals and 34.6 percent on three-pointers. 

KU fought to a 21-8 record despite its offensive woes, though there were plenty of warning signs that any missteps elsewhere would lead to trouble. First was a season-opening loss to Gonzaga, then a three-game Big 12 losing streak in January and finally a crushing overtime loss to Texas in a litmus-test matchup. 

It all came to a head Monday against USC as the Jayhawks offense stalled from the opening tipoff, leading to the worst NCAA tournament loss in program history.

Head coach Bill Self put an undersized Marcus Garrett on Trojans star Evan Mobley with disastrous results while redshirt freshman Jalen Wilson—the team's second-best defender—played limited minutes due to both foul trouble and a week-plus layoff.

The Jayhawks were outmatched in every way, and it somehow looked worse than that.

Big man David McCormack tallied five points, Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun combined for 3-of-14 behind the arc, and the Jayhawks opened up shooting 4-of-20 overall. 

A confounding Kansas season ends with the school's worst loss in tournament history and sends Self in search of answers for next year.

What's Next?

USC will tip off in the Sweet 16 against No. 7 Oregon next week in Indianapolis. No game time has been set as of Monday night.

No. 2 Alabama Routs No. 10 Maryland to Advance in 2021 NCAA Men's Tournament

Mar 22, 2021
Alabama's Herbert Jones (1) Alabama's Jordan Bruner (2) celebrate a teammate's score against Maryland during the second half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Alabama's Herbert Jones (1) Alabama's Jordan Bruner (2) celebrate a teammate's score against Maryland during the second half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Life is Sweet again for the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

The No. 2 seed in the East Region defeated the No. 10 Maryland Terrapins 96-77 in Monday's second-round clash of the 2021 NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Jaden Shackelford, Jahvon Quinerly and John Petty Jr. led the way for the Crimson Tide, who clinched their first spot in the Sweet 16 since 2004.

An impressive showing from Aaron Wiggins was not enough for the Terrapins, who have not advanced to the second weekend of the Big Dance since 2016.

         

Notable Player Stats

  • Jaden Shackelford, G, ALA: 21 PTS, 3 AST, 3 REB, 5-of-8 3PT
  • John Petty Jr., G, ALA: 20 PTS, 6 REB, 4-of-9 3PT
  • Jahvon Quinerly, G, ALA: 14 PTS, 11 AST, 5 REB
  • Aaron Wiggins, G, MD: 27 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 5-of-8 3PT
  • Eric Ayala, G, MD: 13 PTS, 6 REB

            

3-Pointers, Offensive Rebounding Carry Alabama to Dominant Win

The path for a deep tournament run from the Crimson Tide opened up when Abilene Christian stunned Texas in the first round, but they also have the defense to cut down the nets.

That defense, which checks in at No. 2 in the country in KenPom.com's rankings, played a secondary role in the early going, though, as Alex Reese, Joshua Primo and Quinerly provided a spark off the bench as the Alabama offense staked the SEC representative to a commanding double-digit lead in the first half.

While Shackelford found his stroke from deep and Herbert Jones battled for boards, that Reese and Primo found openings and Quinerly facilitated in their minutes left the Terps in comeback mode throughout much of the contest.

Intermission did nothing to cool off the Crimson Tide, as Petty Jr. and then Shackelford rained in triples right out of the gates in the second half to push the advantage to more than 20.

It was more of the same for an Alabama squad that broke an SEC record with 23 made three-pointers in a win over LSU. That type of shooting buried a Maryland squad that is largely built on defense and doesn't have the firepower to overcome significant deficits against high-quality opponents.

The 16 three-pointers alone likely would have been enough to handle Maryland, but Alabama also controlled the glass with a 40-19 rebounding advantage. Fifteen of those rebounds came on the offensive side, which just gave the shooters more opportunity to continue draining from the outside.

A formula of red-hot shooting and dominance on the offensive glass should carry the Crimson Tide far, especially with Texas eliminated from the bracket and the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines playing at less than 100 percent.

           

Maryland's Typically Strong Defense Goes Missing

Perhaps Maryland entered play living on borrowed time after upsetting UConn in the first round, but the blueprint for another victory was apparent during that first one.

After all, the Terrapins held the Huskies to 54 points in that game while Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell helped shadow James Bouknight while holding the star to just 6-of-16 shooting from the field. Repeating a similar defensive showing figured to be the clearest path to the Sweet 16.

So much for that.

Alabama poured in 46 points in the first half alone with red-hot outside shooting against the typically strong Maryland defense. Instead, it was offense from Wiggins and Eric Ayala that kept the Terrapins within striking distance and helped partially make up for their defensive struggles.

Ayala and Wiggins especially could only do so much, though, to counter the Crimson Tide's overall dominance on the offensive end. Wiggins continued to carry the offense for extended stretches, but the deficit was far too much to climb out of even with a dominant individual showing.

Maryland made its living on defense for much of the season, but it had no answers for Alabama on that side of the ball Monday. The result was the end of an inconsistent season, although the Terps can at least brag to some of their fellow Big Ten teams that they made the second round.

             

What's Next?

The Crimson Tide will face the No. 11 UCLA Bruins in a Sweet 16 showdown in the East Region next weekend.

No. 4 Florida State Pulls Away from No. 5 Colorado, Advances to Sweet 16

Mar 22, 2021
Florida State center Balsa Koprivica (5) gets a hug from teammate Scottie Barnes, right, after a dunk during the second half of a second-round game against Colorado in the NCAA college basketball tournament at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Florida State center Balsa Koprivica (5) gets a hug from teammate Scottie Barnes, right, after a dunk during the second half of a second-round game against Colorado in the NCAA college basketball tournament at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

No. 4 Florida State is heading back to the Sweet 16 for the third time in their last three tournament appearances after a convincing 71-53 victory over No. 5 Colorado in the second round on Monday. 

The Seminoles will face No. 1 Michigan for a berth in the East Regional Final next week in Indianapolis while the Buffaloes failed to advance out of the first weekend for the fifth time under head coach Tad Boyle and still haven't reached the Sweet 16 since 1969—when the field featured just 25 teams. 

With FSU guard Anthony Polite pouring in 22 points, the Seminoles pushed their lead as high as 19 in the victory as head coach Leonard Hamilton moves his NCAA tournament record to 15-10. 

He'll have an opportunity to improve that more next week as the Seminoles look to reach the Elite Eight for the second time in four years. 

    

Notable Performers:

Anthony Polite, G, Florida State Seminoles: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 4 three-pointers

RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State Seminoles: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

McKinley Wright IV, G, Colorado Buffaloes: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 turnovers

D'Shawn Schwartz, G, Colorado Buffaloes: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

    

Seminoles Step Up After Ugly First Half

Every team that ends up making a deep run in the NCAA tournament runs into an ugly game—or at least a game it had no business winning. Florida State found itself in that position early on Monday as the first 20 minutes looked more like November basketball than March. 

The Buffs and Seminoles combined for 20 turnovers and went 18-of-51 from the field. 

Colorado seemed to get the worst of it, with the Buffaloes going on a stretch of two baskets in 15 possessions. And yet neither team could find separation. Florida State led by as many as seven at one point, but a last-second tip-in before the halftime buzzer cut the lead to just four. 

Each team could take solace in knowing it hadn't shown its best through 20 minutes, but something would have to change dramatically for either side to correct course. 

It just wouldn't come from Colorado's McKinley Wright IV, who after dishing out 13 assists with no turnovers against Georgetown in the first round found himself in early foul trouble with six points, four turnovers and no assists midway through the second half. 

That helped FSU stretch its lead to as many as 19, as the Buffs struggled to find any offense with their top ball-handler unable to find his rhythm.

    

Polite Takes Charge

The most important aspect of winning an ugly game is making sure at least one teammate can find his rhythm.

For Florida State, that proved to be junior Anthony Polite—a Swiss native who averaged just 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists on the year.

As FSU's leading scorer M.J. Walker struggled with his shot all game (seven points), Polite made up the difference, finishing with a season-high 22 points. Polite drained four three-pointers after not sinking more than three in any game this season. 

March just happened to bring out the best in him.

Only one other Seminoles player reached double figures in scoring—reserve forward Malik Osborne (11 points)—as FSU continued to grind out the win.

Hamilton and his assistants will have to hope Monday was their ugly game on a long road to the Final Four.

    

What's Next

Florida State moves onto face No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 next week. No game time has been announced as of Monday night. 

No. 1 Michigan Holds off No. 8 LSU to Advance in 2021 NCAA Men's Tournament

Mar 22, 2021
LSU forward Trendon Watford, left, shoots over Michigan forward Brandon Johns Jr. (23) during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium Monday, March 22, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU forward Trendon Watford, left, shoots over Michigan forward Brandon Johns Jr. (23) during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium Monday, March 22, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Top-seeded Michigan is headed to the Sweet 16 after an 86-78 defeat of No. 8 LSU on Monday.

Chaundee Brown Jr., who was held scoreless against Texas Southern in the first round, dropped 21 points off of the bench to supplement a 21-point performance from Eli Brooks for the Wolverines, who are 22-4. 

For the 19-10 Tigers, standout freshman Cameron Thomas posted 30 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome a season-best performance from Brown. 

Notable Performers 

  • Cameron Thomas, LSU: 30 PTS (10-of 23 FG, 3-of-5 3PT)
  • Eli Brooks, Michigan: 21 PTS (7-of-11 FG, 5-of-9 3PT), 7 AST, 4 REB
  • Chaundee Brown Jr., Michigan: 21 PTS (6-of-9 FG, 3-of-6 3PT), 3 REB
  • Javonte Smart, LSU: 27 PTS (10-of-23 FG, 2-of-10 3PT), 9 REB, 5 AST

 

Strong Start from Cameron Thomas Boosts LSU

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead thanks to Cameron Thomas, who scored 12 points in the first six minutes as LSU built a 15-7 advantage. His personal scoreline matched that of Michigan in its entirety at the 12-minute mark of the first half.

 

LSU's early run was a complete turnaround from its first-round game against St. Bonaventure, during which it eventually came away with the 76-61 win after shooting just 3-of-24 in the opening eight minutes and missing 12 consecutive three-point attempts. Thomas ended that game with 27 points. 

 

In addition to Thomas' offensive onslaught, the LSU defense was on-point, save for giving Michigan the advantage on defensive rebounds. The Tigers forced Michigan into five turnovers, posting three steals and three blocks by the break. 

He was slowed in the second half and didn't record his first field goal until eight minutes in as the Tigers answered a Michigan rally with a 12-3 run of their own.

 

Javonte Smart broke out with 27 points and nine rebounds while Thomas ended with 30 points, but it wasn't enough to push LSU past a major second half from Chaundee Brown Jr. 

Chaundee Brown Jr. Breaks Michigan Out Of Run Trouble

If the first minutes of the game were all Cameron Thomas, the second half was all Chaundee Brown Jr.

As both teams traded major runs, Brown remained consistent until the buzzer, leading the Wolverines with 21 points off the bench. 

The Wolverines struggled against Thomas' fast start, but they settled in halfway through the first 20 minutes. After starting 7-of-16 from the field, the Wolverines ended the half by going 9-of-12.  They were led by 13 points from Eli Brooks, who racked up nine of those points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep. 

 

Michigan also highlighted its bench depth with seven points from Brown and four from Terrance Williams II. 

Free throws saved Michigan at the end of the half with five shots from the line giving the Wolverines the slight edge, but LSU shot a perfect 6-of-6 on free throws to keep it close even as Michigan found its footing after the scare at the start. 

The Tigers' success from the line would come back to haunt the Wolverines as Michigan was whistled for five fouls in the opening four minutes of the second half. With seven chances from the line, LSU hit five and went on an 8-0 run to take the lead back quickly, 51-45. 

The Wolverines answered with a pair of threes from Mike Smith and Brooks, starting a quick 10-0 run to earn their largest lead of the night at four points.

 

But amid the back-and-forth runs, Brown, who transferred from Wake Forest prior to this season, broke it open for Michigan in the end. After LSU erupted for another 12-3 run, he led the Wolverines out to another lead with six free throws and a deep three.

Brooks went down with an injury inside the seven-minute mark and eventually returned, but Brown kept it rolling amid a 16-3 run for the Wolverines. The senior recorded a season-high 21 points, just short of his career high of 26 points to lead the Wolverines into the next round. 

What's Next? 

The Wolverines get the winner of Monday's game between No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Colorado in Sweet 16 play.

As for the Tigers, they'll welcome the fifth-best recruiting class in the SEC with three players currently signed to the program, per 247Sports. Center Jerrell Colbert, a 4-star recruit from Tennessee, headlines a class that also boasts 3-stars Brandon Murray and Bradley Ezewiro. 

Creighton Beats Jason Preston, Ohio; Advances to Face Gonzaga in Sweet 16

Mar 22, 2021
Creighton guard Marcus Zegarowski (11) celebrates a three-point basket against Ohio in the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Creighton guard Marcus Zegarowski (11) celebrates a three-point basket against Ohio in the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

March Madness has been all about the Cinderellas this year, but Marcus Zegarowski just stole Ohio's glass slippers.

The Creighton guard was fantastic in Monday's second-round matchup versus the 13th-seeded Bobcats, leading the fifth-seeded Bluejays to a 72-58 win and a berth in the Sweet 16.

Awaiting them will be the West Region's top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs, they of the perfect 28-0 record.

If Creighton shoots like it did against Ohio (9-of-21 from three) and plays equally stifling defense, however, it'll be a tough out for Gonzaga. If nothing else, players like Zegarowski, Denzel Mahoney and Damien Jefferson make it a difficult matchup for most teams.

Don't sleep on these Bluejays. All five starters finished with double-digit points Monday. That balance makes them dangerous. 

Ohio was a great story after upsetting Virginia in the first round. Creighton made sure there weren't any fairy-tale endings for the Bobcats, however.

                   

Key Stats

Marcus Zegarowski, CREI: 20 points (4-of-7 from three)

Christian Bishop, CREI: 12 points, 15 rebounds

Damien Jefferson, CREI: 15 points, five rebounds, three assists

Jason Preston, Ohio: Four points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four turnovers, 1-of-10 from the field

Dwight Wilson III, Ohio: 12 points, nine rebounds

Ben Vander Plas, Ohio: Nine points, 10 rebounds

                 

Zegarowski Is A Bucket

Don't leave this man open. You'll regret it. 

Zegarowski came into Monday shooting 41.5 percent from three, so it wasn't surprising that he torched Ohio from the perimeter. He's having an excellent tournament after putting up 17 points and eight assists vs. UC Santa Barbara in the first round. 

Creighton is a talented team, but Zegarowski is the leader. If he continues to play at this level, look out. 

               

A Tough End To Preston's Season

The Ohio point guard, former Detroit Pistons blogger and potential NBA prospect has been one of the stories of the tournament after nearly posting a triple-double vs. Virginia in Ohio's first-round win (11 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists). 

But Creighton clamped down on Ohio's leading scorer and best player Monday, forcing him into a tough offensive night. 

Better days are ahead for Preston, whose size at the point guard position (6'4"), playmaking (7.3 assists per game) and perimeter shooting (40.5 percent from three) have given him a legitimate chance to come off the board in the second round of this year's NBA draft. But if this is his final game for the Bobcats, it was a tough way to go out. 

Credit to Creighton for doing a solid job making life difficult for him Monday. 

                  

What's Next?

Creighton will face Gonzaga on Sunday in Sweet 16 action (time TBD).

No. 11 UCLA Cruises Past No. 14 Abilene Christian to Advance to Sweet 16

Mar 22, 2021
UCLA's Johnny Juzang (3) congratulates David Singleton (34) and Tyger Campbell (10) during a timeout in the first half of a college basketball game against Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
UCLA's Johnny Juzang (3) congratulates David Singleton (34) and Tyger Campbell (10) during a timeout in the first half of a college basketball game against Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

UCLA is headed back to the Sweet 16 after knocking off No. 14 Abilene Christian in a 67-47 victory on Monday.

Johnny Juzang paced the Bruins, who improved to 20-9, with 17 points.

For the 24-5 Wildcats, who had a Cinderella moment after defeating No. 3 Texas in first-round play, Mahki Morris had a team-high 14 points, all of which came in the second half. 

Notable Performers

  • Johnny Juzang, UCLA: 17 PTS
  • Cody Riley, UCLA: 12 PTS, 12 REB
  • Mahki Morris, Abilene Christian: 14 PTS
  • Reggie Miller, Abilene Christian: 5 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST

 

After Early Struggle, UCLA Dominates

The Bruins fell behind early as Abilene Christian opened up a 12-8 lead, but they quickly erased all memories of that by going on a monstrous 18-0 run that spanned nine minutes. 

Balanced scoring brought the Bruins to a 31-21 halftime lead, with Jake Kyman scoring eight points on perfect shooting off the bench. He hit both his three-point attempts to lead all scorers at the break. 

While the Wildcats started to build momentum at the end of the half, UCLA put the game away at the start of the second half when they emerged on another major run, this time outscoring Abilene Christian 14-1. 

After the Bruins' early-game struggles, they recovered to end the night shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three, though they never quite found their footing at the line. 

Johnny Juzang impressed with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting. 

Abilene Christian Can't Break Through

The first half was dominated by the UCLA run that threatened to put the Wildcats away following balanced opening minutes, but Abilene Christian refused to go down easily.

The Wildcats ended the half by limiting UCLA to just five points in the final 6:48 of play as they built their way back from the doomed deficit. 

At the break, Coryon Mason led the team with eight points, three of which came at the line. His success was part of what kept the Wildcats in it after 20 minutes since they posted a tough 26.9 field-goal percentage at the break but hit all five free-throw attempts, whereas UCLA missed all four of its foul shots.

Mahki Morris, who, like every other ACU bench player, failed to score in the first half, came alive late to add all 14 of his points after the break, leading all Wildcats scorers. 

What's Next? 

UCLA will get the winner of Monday night's game between No. 2 Alabama and No. 10 Maryland in the Sweet 16. 

While the run will continue for the Bruins, who are seasoned competitors in the tournament and around the NCAA, Joe Golding's squad has plenty to be proud of following its trip to the Big Dance, which came after its second Southland Conference championship in as many chances. With this exposure, the Wildcats may be in a position to entice prospects to head to Abilene in an effort to return. 

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn Calls Out Racist IG Comment After Loyola-Chicago Upset

Mar 22, 2021
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn plays during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn plays during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn drew attention to a racist and xenophobic comment he received following the Fighting Illini's loss to Loyola-Chicago in the 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

"Go back home ya bum," an Instagram user commented (via USA Today's Chris Bumbaca). "F--king lost to Loyola. Go sit your monkey ass on the couch."

While posting a screenshot of the comment in his Instagram story, Cockburn wrote: "I blame his parents."

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg confirmed with an Illinois spokesman the university is "looking into the situation" and already identified who wrote the comment.

Cockburn led all scorers with 21 points and was one rebound short of a double-double in Illinois' second-round exit. The Kingston, Jamaica, native is only a sophomore, so he could return to Illinois to bounce back from the upset next season.

Cockburn's Instagram post came days after Ohio State star E.J. Liddell shared screenshots of threatening messages to his account after Ohio State fell to Oral Roberts in the first round (warning: contains slurs and profanity):

ESPN's Myron Medcalf reported Ohio State contacted local authorities regarding the matter.

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