March Madness Round Of 64 Kicks Off With Thrilling Games

The round of 64 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has officially kicked off, with teams battling for a chance to advance deeper into March Madness. The opening matchups took place on March 20, 2025, featuring a total of eight games that determined the initial fate of several teams.

The first game saw Creighton face off against Louisville, resulting in a decisive victory for the Bluejays, who triumphed 89-75. Jamiya Neal was the standout player, scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, helping his team maintain a strong lead throughout the game. Neal's outstanding performance was complemented by Creighton's impressive shooting, as the team boasted a field goal percentage of over 55% and made 45% of their three-point attempts. On the opposing side, Chucky Hepburn led Louisville’s efforts with 22 points.

Next, Purdue, the No. 4 seed, contended against High Point and emerged victorious with a 75-63 scoreline. High Point put up a fight, but it was Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn who shined, scoring 21 points, while Braden Smith contributed 20 points to ensure Purdue’s advancement.

Wisconsin also showcased their strength against Montana, defeating the 14-seed team 85-66. John Blackwell was key for the Badgers, scoring a game-high 19 points, while Steven Crowl and John Tonje added 18 and 15 points respectively, demonstrating Wisconsin’s depth in offensive threats.

On the other hand, Houston had a blowout win against SIUE, ending the game at 78-40. The Cougars, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson, exhibited defensive prowess by dominating the boards and recording 11 steals. Houston's relentless effort throughout the matchup ensured SIUE never gained momentum.

Auburn, the tournament’s top seed, similarly dispatched Alabama State with an 83-63 victory. Although the Hornets put up a commendable effort in the first half, the Tigers firmly took control, ending the half 10 points ahead and continued to extend their lead post-break.

There was nail-biting excitement in the matchup between McNeese State and Clemson. The No. 12 McNeese State Cowboys secured a historic win against No. 5 Clemson, squeezing past them with a final score of 69-67. Brandon Murray’s contributions off the bench were vital as he scored 21 points, while Clemson’s Chase Hunter also managed to hit 21 points, predominantly in the second half of the game.

In another competitive game, BYU triumphed over VCU, winning 80-71. Despite a late effort from VCU, which included Zeb Jackson scoring 23 points, BYU held firm behind significant contributions from Richie Saunders (16 points) and Igor Demin (15 points), allowing them to advance to face Wisconsin.

Gonzaga continued their dominance with an 89-68 win over Georgia, starting aggressively with an initial 27-3 run that set the pace for the rest of the game. Georgia struggled to keep up the entire time, succumbing to Gonzaga's well-rounded offensive strategy.

Another unexpected yet competitive game featured Tennessee against Wofford, where Chaz Lanier took center stage with 29 points leading the Volunteers to a comfortable 77-62 win. Zakai Zeigler’s contribution of 12 points alongside 12 assists exemplified Tennessee’s cohesive teamwork.

Arkansas made headlines with an impressive upset against Kansas, winning 79-72. Strong contributions from Jonas Aidoo, who scored 22 points, were crucial to overcoming Kansas' attempts to retake the lead in the final moments.

Texas A&M, seeded fourth, faced off against No. 13 seed Yale, emerging victorious with an 80-71 win as they prevented a repeat performance from last year’s shocking upset.

In an essential battle, Drake recorded their first NCAA tournament round of 64 victory in program history by defeating Missouri 67-57, led by Bennett Stirtz with 21 points.

Meanwhile, UCLA cruised past Utah State with a solid 72-47 victory, capitalizing on the Aggies’ poor shooting night, with the latter’s field goal percentage falling to just 30%.

St. John’s overcame Omaha in a commanding fashion with an 83-53 score, showing dominance throughout—especially in the second half—much to the delight of their loyal fans.

Michigan managed to inch past UC San Diego in a close contest that ended 68-65, as Michigan held off a strong attempt from the opposition, aided by missed opportunities at the end for UCSD.

Finally, Texas Tech secured their position in the round of 32 after a tightly contested game against UNC Wilmington, winning 82-72. Kerwin Walton led the charge with 27 points, while Elijah Hawkins just missed out on a triple-double, recording 13 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.

As the tournament progresses, teams will look to build upon these victories to make deeper runs, with fans eagerly anticipating the unknown twists and turns of March Madness.