For the Broncos, a run still awaits. Boise State fell to 0-9 in its NCAA Tournament appearances, despite beating Northwestern. The Broncos are 0-4 under coach Leon Rice, who spoke passionately before their practice a day earlier about how the March win would change his program.
“It means a lot to our fans,” he added, “and I want our players to keep going. I want to keep this team together as long as I can. Losing can’t do that. The moment you lose, it’s over.
By Thursday night, it was over; The Broncos went home, finishing 24-10.
The feeling for Northwestern was similar to its first tournament appearance in 2017. Later, the Wildcats got past Vanderbilt 68-66 before falling to Gonzaga in the first round. Here at Golden 1 Center ready to play the winner of the game – UCLA vs. UNC-Asheville – Northwestern can reach its first Sweet 16 in school history with a win Saturday. – Scott Miller
Missouri’s defense clamped down on Utah State.
Sacramento – Utah State was hanging around. Once they saw openings in 3-point territory, the thinking went, the 10th-ranked Aggies were going to blow past Missouri.
But that never happened. The No. 7 seeded Tigers won the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament 76-65.
Missouri’s pressure defense held the Aggies, who ranked fifth in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, to 0 for 11 in the first half and 4 for 24 in the game. Utah State was 0 for 13 when junior guard Steven Ashworth, sixth in the nation in 3-point percentage (.443), finally took a swing with 17:51 left. In the game, the Tigers held Ashworth to 2 of 10 from 3-point land.
“Our approach was full-court pressure,” Missouri guard De’Moy Hodge said. “We knew what they wanted. They wanted jump shots. We tried to force them to the basket to make the big man score, make twos.
