March Madness Continues: Upsets and Blowouts Mark NCAA Tournament Day 1

DENVER — The first day of the 2025 NCAA tournament showcased surprises and stellar performances, setting the stage for an action-packed second round. Sixteen teams vied for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 in a thrilling opening round.

In one of the day’s most exciting contests, No. 10 Arkansas edged No. 7 Kansas, 79-72, with a 15-5 run in the closing moments. Arkansas guard led the team with 22 points, while had 18 points to seal the victory. Kansas struggled after forward KJ Adams left the game with an injury, impacting their performance down the stretch.

McNeese State made history by defeating fifth-seeded Clemson, 69-67, marking their first NCAA tournament win. The Cowboys roared to a halftime lead of 31-13, but had to fend off a late surge from Clemson. contributed 21 points off the bench, helping McNeese secure a spot in the second round against Purdue.

Drake dominated Missouri, 67-57, effectively controlling the game despite facing a size disadvantage. The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 38-22 in the paint, with leading the way with 21 points and crucial rebounds. Drake will face Texas Tech in the next round.

In a more expected matchup, No. 1 seed Auburn defeated Alabama State, 83-63, with senior guard scoring 23 points. The Tigers will now prepare for a challenging matchup against 9-seed Creighton, who also demonstrated offensive firepower in a previous win over Louisville.

Houston, another top seed, cruised to a commanding 78-40 victory over SIUE, thanks to a strong first-half performance. The Cougars shot 61.3% in the first half and relied on a balanced offense as four players scored in double digits. Houston will next take on Gonzaga, who defeated Georgia 89-68 in their opening game.

Other results included victories for teams like Tennessee, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, and BYU, who all displayed their strengths and will face competitive challenges in the next round.

As the tournament continues, fans can expect intense matchups as lower-seeded teams aim for the next upset amidst the excitement of March Madness.