Day 1 Recap: Highlights of March Madness 2025

The 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, known as Men's March Madness, tipped off its first round on March 20, ushering in a 68-team single-elimination battle for the Division I title, set to conclude on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Day 1 featured 16 games across venues like Lexington's Rupp Arena and Denver's Ball Arena, with upsets and top-seed showcases captivating fans as the bracket came to life.

How to Watch March Madness 2025?

Online Streaming

Official online coverage is available through the NCAA's March Madness Live app, offering comprehensive streams, including Fast Break whiparound, across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.

You can download the app or visit NCAA.com for real-time scores and highlights, ensuring every buzzer-beater is just a click away.

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In-Person Attendance

For those seeking the live experience, official tickets are sold via Ticketmaster, the NCAA's trusted partner.

Visit Ticketmaster.com/marchmadness to secure seats at venues hosting Day 1 action, from Wichita's Intrust Bank Arena to Providence's Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Day 1 Highlights

Creighton vs Louisville (89-75)

No. 9 seed Creighton kicked off the tournament with an 89-75 win over No. 8 Louisville, showcasing Big East firepower.

The Bluejays were lights-out from beyond the arc, draining 12 threes. Guard Ryan Nembhard led the charge with 22 points and 8 assists, dictating the tempo.

Louisville mounted a second-half push but couldn’t cool Creighton’s hot hand, bowing out early.

Purdue vs High Point (75-63)

No. 4 Purdue handled No. 13 High Point 75-63, advancing with a methodical performance.

The Boilermakers dominated the paint, with Trey Kaufman-Renn posting 18 points and 7 boards—his second-quarter scoring burst opened the gap.

High Point's Trae Benham hit 4 triples for 14 points, but their offense sputtered, unable to keep pace.

Wisconsin vs Montana (85-66)

No. 3 Wisconsin rolled past No. 14 Montana 85-66, flexing balanced attack and defense. John Blackwell stole the show with 19 points, including a tough and-one in the second half to seal it.

Montana's Joe Pridgen tried to spark a rally with a highlight-reel dunk, but the Badgers' 7-of-11 three-point shooting buried any upset hopes.

Houston vs SIU Edwardsville (78-40)

Top-seeded Houston obliterated No. 16 SIU Edwardsville 78-40, asserting their dominance right out of the gate.

Milos Uzan set the tone, going 4-for-4 in the first quarter for 9 of his 15 points, adding 5 assists.

SIU Edwardsville crumbled under Houston's suffocating D, managing a tournament-low 40 points on the day.

Auburn vs Alabama State (83-63)

Top-seeded Auburn cruised past No. 16 Alabama State 83-63, launching their redemption tour.

Miles Kelly was unstoppable, draining 8 threes for 23 points—his 9-0 run to close the first half set the tone.

Alabama State briefly led early, but Auburn's overwhelming talent took over.

Clemson vs McNeese State (67-69)

No. 5 Clemson fell 67-69 to No. 12 McNeese State in the day's biggest shocker. McNeese's stingy defense held Clemson to 13 points in the first half, then iced it with clutch free throws late.

Clemson's PJ Hall dropped 20, but his missed three at the buzzer sent the Tigers packing.

BYU vs VCU (80-71)

No. 6 BYU beat No. 11 VCU 80-71, snapping a 14-year NCAA first-round win drought.

Richie Saunders scored 16 points (6-of-12), while Egor Demin added 15 with 3 triples—a late first-half 12-2 run set the tone.

VCU's Zeb Jackson poured in 23 points (5-of-10 from deep), but their 37.9% shooting wasn't enough.

Gonzaga vs Georgia (79-71)

No. 8 Gonzaga edged No. 9 Georgia 79-71, keeping their March streak alive. Forward Graham Ike owned the paint with 23 points and 10 rebounds—his fourth-quarter buckets preserved the lead.

Georgia's three-point barrage kept it close, but turnovers down the stretch cost them.

Tennessee vs Wofford (77-62)

No. 2 Tennessee dispatched No. 15 Wofford 77-62, leaning on SEC depth.

Chaz Lanier was electric, sinking 6 treys for 29 points—his step-back jumper in the second half stretched the margin.

Wofford's Corey Tripp fought back, but Tennessee's size and speed proved too much.

Kansas vs Arkansas (62-68)

No. 7 Kansas dropped a 62-68 stunner to No. 10 Arkansas, marking another Day 1 upset. Arkansas' DJ Wagner stepped up with 16 points, including a crucial and-one layup in crunch time.

Kansas coach Bill Self burned early timeouts to regroup, but the Jayhawks' offense stalled, ending their run.

Texas A&M vs Yale (81-67)

No. 4 Texas A&M took down No. 13 Yale 81-67, holding serve as a higher seed. Wade Taylor IV ran the show with 20 points and 6 assists, sparking a 15-4 second-half run to put it away.

Yale, last year's Cinderella after upsetting Auburn, couldn't replicate the magic, undone by late turnovers.

Missouri vs Drake (55-60)

No. 6 Missouri fell 55-60 to No. 11 Drake, adding to the day's list of higher-seed casualties.

Drake's Bennett Stirtz was clutch, dropping 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting—his jumper in the final two minutes sealed it.

Missouri's 10-0 late surge wasn't enough, plagued by a dismal 3-of-10 from the stripe.

UCLA vs Utah State (84-74)

No. 7 UCLA outlasted No. 10 Utah State 84-74, repping the Pac-12 strong.

Aday Mara dominated inside, posting 12 points and 8 boards by halftime, finishing with 18.

Utah State's Mason Falslev scored 13, but their 2-of-17 three-point shooting sank their chances.

St. John's vs Omaha (83-53)

No. 2 St. John's demolished No. 15 Omaha 83-53, launching their run in style.

RJ Luis Jr. led with 22 points (5-of-8 from three) and 8 rebounds, fueling a 50-25 second-half beatdown.

Omaha's 5-of-36 three-point shooting left them helpless against St. John's pressure.

Michigan vs UC San Diego (68-65)

No. 5 Michigan edged No. 12 UC San Diego 68-65 in a heart-pounding finish.

Tre Donaldson's three and Vlad Goldin's perfect free throws (14 points total) flipped a late deficit.

UCSD's Tyler McGhie dropped 25, but his final three rimmed out, sending Michigan through.

Texas Tech vs UNC Wilmington (82-72)

No. 3 Texas Tech beat No. 14 UNC Wilmington 82-72, pulling away late.

Kerwin Walton erupted for 27 points, hitting 8-of-17 threes—his pair of second-half bombs broke it open.

UNCW's Justin Pierce scored 18, briefly taking the lead, but Tech's depth prevailed.


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Day 2 Schedule Preview

Day 2, set for March 21, promises 16 more first-round matchups. Below is a snapshot of the schedule (times in PDT, subject to confirmation):

*Note: Full schedule available at NCAA.com.

Must-Watch Games

Matches worth anticipating include Memphis vs. Colorado State (11:00 AM PDT), pitting a No. 5 seed against a No. 12, a classic upset-prone matchup given Colorado State's reputation as a sleeper pick.

Duke vs. Mount St. Mary's (11:45 AM PDT) offers intrigue as the No. 1 seed faces a No. 16, where rare but historic upsets have occurred.

Ole Miss vs. North Carolina (1:05 PM PDT) promises a tight No. 6 vs. No. 11 battle, with North Carolina's storied program eyeing an early statement.

Finally, UConn vs. Oklahoma (6:25 PM PDT) pits the defending champion No. 8 seed against a No. 9, testing UConn's resolve in a near-even clash.

Editor's Comments

The first round of the 2025 Men's March Madness reaffirms its reputation as a breeding ground for drama, with Arkansas's upset over Kansas echoing historic Cinderella runs like Loyola Chicago's in 2018.

Auburn's early dominance suggests a contender in the making, but the tight Drake-Missouri clash hints at more bracket-busting potential.

Given past trends—where No. 1 seeds often falter before the Elite Eight—this tournament could see a dark horse emerge by San Antonio.