Here's a recap of Thursday's NCAA basketball tournament Sweet 16 action, including game stories, the updated brackets, a photo gallery of top pics and more. Plus, a look ahead to today's action:
SWEET 16 COVERAGE
Gonzaga's Malachi Smith (13) celebrates in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Gonzaga beats UCLA 79-76 in Sweet 16 on Strawther's shot
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gonzaga and UCLA played one NCAA Tournament game that left the Zags' star player bawling, and another game that stunned the Bruins.
Add another to the list. Maybe the maddest one in March yet.
Julian Strawther hit a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to answer a 3-pointer by UCLA's Amari Bailey, lifting Gonzaga to a wild 79-76 win over UCLA Thursday night in the Sweet 16.
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“It’s moments like that you can’t make up,” said Strawther, a Las Vegas native. “Those are literally the moments you dream of. To even make a shot like that in March Madness and just to be back home in Vegas is like the cherry on top.” Read the full story:
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Florida Atlantic guard Bryan Greenlee (4) and guard Brandon Weatherspoon (23) react after the team defeated Tennessee 62-55 in a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York.
Florida Atlantic makes first Elite Eight, bounces Tennessee
NEW YORK (AP) — When the horn sounded on the greatest victory in the history of Florida Atlantic athletics, Nick Boyd and Bryan Greenlee hopped onto the press row table to celebrate.
Instead of going to the locker room, some of the Owls players made their way up into the stands to sing “New York, New York” with their fans.
The Boca Raton, Florida-based school that has only been competing in Division I for the last 30 years, and had just one previous appearance in the NCAA Tournament, is now a victory away from the Final Four. Read the full story:
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Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell reacts after a play in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York.
Nowell breaks tourney assist record, lifts Kansas St. over Michigan St in OT
NEW YORK — Markquis Nowell broke the NCAA Tournament record for assists in a game with 19, his last two on spectacular passes in the final minute of overtime, and Kansas State beat Michigan State 98-93 on Thursday night in a Sweet 16 thriller at Madison Square Garden.
Playing in his hometown and fighting through a second-half ankle injury, Nowell found Keyontae Johnson for a reverse alley-oop with 52 seconds left in OT to give the Wildcats (26-9) the lead for good in this back-and-forth East Region semifinal. He then threw an inbound pass to Ismael Massoud, who knocked down a jumper with 17 seconds left for a 96-93 lead.
With Michigan State needing a 3 to tie, Nowell stole the ball from the Spartans' Tyson Walker and drove for a clinching layup at the buzzer. Read the full story:
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UConn a step from Final Four after 88-65 blowout of Arkansas
LAS VEGAS (AP) — After UConn lost as a 5 seed to 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament, Huskies coach Dan Hurley told his core players they would be back on this stage.
Not only would they return, but Hurley said he would surround them with players capable of taking them deep into March.
They are certainly doing that.
The Huskies' 88-65 victory over Arkansas in the West Region semifinals on Thursday night was their third by double digits in as many games. Read the full story:
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THE BRACKETS
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THURSDAY'S SCORES
No. 3 Kansas State 98, No. 7 Michigan State 93 (OT)
No. 4 UConn 88, No. 8 Arkansas 65
No. 9 Florida Atlantic 62, No. 4 Tennessee 55
No. 3 Gonzaga 79, No. 2 UCLA 76
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TODAY'S SCHEDULE
All times Eastern
MEN
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 5 San Diego State | 6:30 p.m. | TBS
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 5 Miami | 7:15 p.m. | CBS
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 15 Princeton | 9 p.m. | TBS
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Xavier | 9:45 p.m. | CBS
WOMEN
No. 4 Villanova vs. No. 9 Miami | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 2 Utah vs. No. 3 LSU | 5 p.m. | ESPN
No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 6 Colorado | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 5 Louisville vs. No. 8 Ole Miss | 10 p.m. | ESPN
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PREVIEWING TODAY'S GAMES
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PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Photos: Scenes from Thursday's Sweet 16 action
Gonzaga's Malachi Smith (13) celebrates in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
UCLA's Tyger Campbell reacts after a foul call in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Gonzaga in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UCLA's Kenneth Nwuba reacts after the 79-76 loss to Gonzaga of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UCLA's Tyger Campbell goes up for a shot in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Gonzaga in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme (2) loses controls of the ball while defended by UCLA's Kenneth Nwuba, left, in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UCLA's Mac Etienne (12) is fouled by Gonzaga's Julian Strawther in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme (2) and Julian Strawther (0) celebrate in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against UCLA in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Florida Atlantic guard Bryan Greenlee (4) and guard Brandon Weatherspoon (23) react after the team defeated Tennessee 62-55 in a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Florida Atlantic team members huddle during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Tennessee in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua walks off the court after the team was defeated by Florida Atlantic in a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Florida Atlantic guard Brandon Weatherspoon reacts after a play during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Tennessee in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic reacts after a play during the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Florida Atlantic in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Florida Atlantic guard Alijah Martin (15) passes during the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Tennessee in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi, reaches in on Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis during the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell reacts after a play in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) steals the ball from Michigan State forward Malik Hall in overtime of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Michigan State teammates look at forward Malik Hall on the ground after the Spartans lost to Kansas State in overtime of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kansas State guard Cam Carter (5) reaches in on Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard (11) during overtime of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Michigan State forward Malik Hall (25) is fouled by Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo yells from the sideline in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Kansas State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Kansas State forward David N'Guessan loses control of the ball in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Michigan State in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
UConn's Jordan Hawkins (24) goes up for a shot in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against against Arkansas in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UConn's Andre Jackson Jr. dunks in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against against Arkansas in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Arkansas' Kamani Johnson (20) shoots while defended by UConn's Andre Jackson Jr. in the second half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UConn's Donovan Clingan (32) celebrates after the 88-65 win against Arkansas of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Arkansas' Derrian Ford, middle, reacts after the 88-65 loss to UConn of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UConn's Alex Karaban (11) celebrates in the first half of a Sweet 16 college basketball game against Arkansas in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
UConn head coach Dan Hurley, right, reacts with guard and son Andrew Hurley after the 88-65 win against Arkansas of a Sweet 16 college basketball game in the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
