Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Tournament 2019: UC Irvine, 12 Seeds among top day two performers

By Logan Butts

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: The Liberty Flames bench celebrates during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on December 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: The Liberty Flames bench celebrates during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on December 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Michigan Wolverines won 64-63 with a 3-point buzzer beater. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS – MARCH 17: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars reacts as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Michigan Wolverines won 64-63 with a 3-point buzzer beater. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Corey Davis – Houston

Houston dominated a solid Georgia State team (no Ron Hunter celebrations this year, sadly), and Corey Davis turned in a killer performance.

Davis scored 26 points, made seven three’s, grabbed seven boards, dished out six assists, and made a steal. If Houston is going to continue the magical season going, and not have a repeat of last year’s buzzer-beating loss to Michigan in the second round, then Davis will need to keep up this level of play.

Rickey McGill – Iona

Iona gave UNC a legit scare in the first half before falling off. It was a valiant effort for the Gaels. McGill deserves the biggest shoutout. In his final game, the senior dropped 26 points and hit 7-9 from three. He went out swinging.

12 Seeds

Three of the four 12 seeds won this year, and New Mexico State was a missed free throw away from making it 4-4.

After seeing Murray State dominate Marquette on Thursday, Oregon and Liberty added to the upset tally with a pair of very different wins.

The surprise Pac 12 champions absolutely dominated Wisconsin 72-54. The Ducks held the Badgers to 33 percent shooting overall and just 20 percent from three-point range.

Payton Pritchard, Louis King and company look ready to take over Syracuse’s mantle as the high-seeded power conference team to advance to the second weekend.

Next. Recruiting trail for non-tournament teams. dark

Meanwhile, Liberty squeaked out an 80-76 win in a thriller against Mississippi State. Junior Caleb Homesley hit big shot after big shot for the Flames, firing in 30 points on 10-16 shooting (5-11 from behind the arc).

Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters did everything they could to keep the Bulldogs in it, combining for combined for 48 points, but otherwise Mississippi State seemed mostly lost.

Home/March Madness