Duke's Cameron Boozer Ignites March Madness Surge as Sweet 16 Field Takes Shape
In a thrilling display of second-half dominance, Duke forward Cameron Boozer shook off a slow start to lead the No. 1 overall seed to an emphatic 81-58 victory over TCU in the NCAA Tournament's second round on Saturday night. The freshman, recently voted a unanimous first-team Associated Press All-American, scored 19 points, with 17 coming after halftime, as Duke shot an impressive 61.5% in the final period to secure their spot in the Sweet 16.
Boozer Ignites Duke Rally in Dominant Second Half
Boozer's performance was a tale of two halves. In the first, he managed just two points and missed his only shot attempt, but he exploded in the second half with a series of key plays. He scored three times during an 11-0 run, twice on high-low feeds from teammate Patrick Ngongba II, who returned to the lineup. This surge capped a larger 26-6 stretch over nearly nine minutes, during which TCU missed 15 of 17 shots after tying the game at 44-all with 13:56 remaining.
The victory improved Duke's record to 34-2, while TCU ended their season at 23-12. Boozer's ability to elevate his game under pressure highlighted his status as a top prospect and fueled Duke's momentum as they advance deeper into March Madness.
Michigan State Advances with Record-Setting Performance
In other action, No. 3 seed Michigan State secured their place in the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under coach Tom Izzo with a 77-69 win over No. 6 Louisville. Coen Carr recorded his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Jeremy Fears Jr. dished out 16 assists, adding 12 points. Fears became the first Big Ten player to record 10 or more assists in each of the first two games of an NCAA Tournament, showcasing his elite playmaking skills.
Michigan State will face the winner of Sunday's game between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 7 seed UCLA in the East Region semifinals in Washington. The Spartans' depth was on full display, with Trey Fort contributing 12 points off the bench and Jaxon Kohler adding 10 points.
Michigan and Houston Roll into Sweet 16
No. 1 seed Michigan dominated No. 9 Saint Louis with a 95-72 victory, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 25 points, punctuated by a massive dunk, while Morez Johnson Jr. added 15 points and eight rebounds. The Wolverines matched a program record with 33 wins and will play the winner of Texas Tech and Alabama in Chicago.
Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Houston cruised past No. 10 Texas A&M with an 88-57 win, reaching the Sweet 16 for the seventh straight year. Emanuel Sharp scored 18 points, and Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and nine rebounds. Houston's aggressive defense stifled Texas A&M, winning the rebounding battle 46-29 and blocking seven shots. The Cougars will face No. 3 seed Illinois in Houston on Thursday.
Other Key Results and Surprises
In a historic moment, No. 4 Nebraska advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time with a 74-72 win over No. 5 Vanderbilt, sealed by Braden Frager's layup with 2.2 seconds left. Nebraska, who had never won a March Madness game prior to this tournament, will face either Florida or Iowa in Houston.
No. 10 Texas made headlines by becoming the first team in five years to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16, beating No. 3 Gonzaga 74-68. Jordan Pope and Matas Vokieaitis each scored 17 points, and Camden Heide hit a game-sealing three-pointer. Texas will face either Purdue or Miami in the West Region semifinals.
Additional results included No. 3 Illinois beating No. 11 VCU to advance, No. 3 Arkansas surviving a scare from No. 12 High Point, and No. 1 Michigan State's continued success under Tom Izzo. The Sweet 16 field is now taking shape, setting the stage for more intense matchups as the tournament progresses.
