NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 Matches Set After Thrilling Saturday Games

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – March 22, 2025 – The second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament unfolded Saturday, featuring thrilling matchups as teams battled for a coveted spot in the Sweet 16. Key wins highlighted the day, reflecting the intense competition of college basketball.

Purdue (4) secured its place in the Sweet 16 with a commanding 76-62 victory over McNeese. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer and C.J. Cox contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively. Purdue will face the winner of the game between Houston and Gonzaga in the Midwest Region semifinals. Head coach Matt Painter noted, “Every Sweet 16 is special, but this one feels particularly rewarding after the year we had.”

In another matchup, Arkansas edged past St. John's with a score of 75-66, sending John Calipari’s team to the Sweet 16 once again. Billy Richmond III scored 16 points, alongside Karter Knox’s 15, as the 10th-seeded Razorbacks overcame a strong performance from Zuby Ejiofor, who scored 23 points for St. John’s.

Michigan, rebounding from a disappointing season last year, beat Texas A&M 91-79, thanks to Roddy Gayle’s clutch 26 points, 21 of which came in the second half. The Wolverines’ Vladislav Goldin added 23 points and 12 rebounds. Michigan will face the winner of the upcoming Auburn–Creighton game in Atlanta next weekend.

Texas Tech (3) continued its strong tournament run with a 77-64 win over 11th-seeded Drake, led by Darrion Williams’ season-high 28 points. The Red Raiders will match up against Arkansas for a shot at the West Region semifinals.

Auburn displayed their strength against Creighton, winning 82-70 behind Tahaad Pettiford’s 23 points. Bruce Pearl’s top-seeded Tigers held off a determined Creighton team, demonstrating their defensive prowess in a critical stretch of the second half. Looking ahead, Auburn will face Michigan for a trip to the Elite Eight.

BYU achieved a heart-pounding 91-89 victory over Wisconsin, marking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2011. John Tonje scored an impressive 37 points but his last-minute effort fell short, allowing the Cougars to advance. Richie Saunders contributed 25 points for BYU.

Houston, the No. 1 seed in its region, narrowly defeated Gonzaga 81-76, with LJ Cryer matching his career-high of 30 points. J’Wan Roberts supported the team with 18 points as the Cougars extended their winning streak to 15 games. They will face Purdue in the regional semifinal.

As March Madness progresses, expectations rise with each passing game. With the Sweet 16 now set, fans are eagerly anticipating upcoming matchups and potential upsets in the quest for the national championship.