March Madness: Teams Advance to Sweet 16 in Thrilling Showdown

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The second round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament showcased dramatic finishes and impressive performances as teams secured their spots in the Sweet 16 this weekend.

The Purdue Boilermakers advanced with a commanding 76-62 victory over McNeese State on Saturday. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the charge with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Fletcher Loyer contributed 15 points. With this win, Purdue’s coach Matt Painter reaches his eighth Sweet 16 in 16 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Boilermakers will face either top-seeded Houston or eighth-seeded Gonzaga next.

Meanwhile, Arkansas upset St. John's 75-66, with coach John Calipari sending home another Hall of Famer, Rick Pitino. Billy Richmond III scored 16 points while Karter Knox added 15 for Arkansas. Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Michigan made a strong comeback to beat Texas A&M 91-79. Roddy Gayle scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half, helping Michigan recover from a 10-point deficit. Vladislav Goldin also had an impressive outing, contributing 23 points and 12 rebounds. The Wolverines will face the winner of the Auburn–Creighton game in Atlanta.

Notably, the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated Drake 77-64, led by Darrion Williams who scored a season-high 28 points. JT Toppin added 25 points and 12 rebounds to push Texas Tech into the semifinals against Arkansas.

Top seed Auburn secured its Sweet 16 spot by defeating ninth-seeded Creighton 82-70. Tahaad Pettiford scored 23 points, including 16 in the second half, as the Tigers shut down Creighton defensively during a crucial run.

In stunning finishes, BYU edged Wisconsin 91-89, with John Tonje scoring 37 points for the Badgers yet missing a desperation shot that could have forced overtime. Richie Saunders contributed 25 points for the Cougars, who will celebrate their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2011.

On the women’s side, the fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins rallied to defeat Norfolk State 82-69, led by Sarah Te-Biasu with 22 points. The Terrapins will host fifth-seeded Alabama on Monday, aiming for another Sweet 16 appearance.

As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more intense competition and memorable moments as teams strive for the championship.