Thursday is filled with a stacked slate of men’s college basketball action as the major conference tournaments — including the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 — kick into high gear.
The day began with an enticing matchup between two bubble teams, Rutgers and Michigan. The Wolverines came up short in Chicago after beating the Scarlet Knights just two weeks ago.
[Big Ten takeaways: Ohio State keeps rolling, Michigan watches wheels fall off]
But that was just the start! Several high-profile teams that had byes during Wednesday’s action, including UCLA, UConn and defending national champion Kansas were among the teams that took the court Thursday.
[Big East takeaways: Marquette turns to its star, advances to semis]
We’ve got you covered with all the action from start to finish from all around the league.
Here are the top moments!
DePaul vs. Xavier (Big East)
Red-hot
DePaul shot a combined 9-of-11 right out of the gate, as the Blue Demons held an edge over Xavier early in the first half.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas (Big 12)
This is March!
Texas was first on the board against Oklahoma State after a little trickery on the way to the basket.
Penn State vs. Illinois (Big Ten)
Go time!
Penn State guard Camren Wynter and the Nittany Lions were a force to be reckoned with early against Illinois, getting it done on both sides of the floor.
Penn State’s Kanye Clary connects with Camren Wynter for a tip-in layup
Washington State vs. Oregon (Pac-12)
Long live Las Vegas!
WSU’s TJ Bamba was hitting his stride early in Thursday’s tilt against Oregon, as both teams traded buckets to start.
Coming through!
Oregon returned the favor with a big-time 3-pointer of its own, courtesy of center Kel’el Ware.
The Ducks jumped out to a 10-point lead, 21-11, midway through the first half.
Team effort
Fueled by six points from Keeshawn Barthelemy, Oregon put together an 11-2 run to extend its lead to 19-11 at the second media timeout of the first half. The Ducks continued to command the court, widening their lead at the break, 38-30.
Fancy footwork
WSU forward DJ Rodman nailed a 3-pointer to keep the Cougars hot as the second half got underway. Meanwhile, Mouhamed Gueye showed off some fancy footwork en route to the basket, as the Ducks’ lead dwindled.
Stay tuned for updates!
Kansas 78, West Virginia 61 (Big 12)
Style points
Kansas started off on a 5-0 run, but WVU put up a fight right out of the gate, taking the lead after Emmitt Matthews Jr.’s big-time dunk.
From downtown
Kansas picked things up over the next few minutes, building a small lead over the Mountaineers. The Jayhawks carried an eight-point lead into the break despite shooting just 39.4% (13 of 33) in the first half.
Slam!
Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. brought fans to their feet with a massive dunk in the second half …
Angry run
… which he followed up with another huge bucket on a monster pass from Jayhawks teammate Dajuan Harris Jr.
Kansas went on to control the rest of the game and cruise to a double-digit win.
UCLA 80, Colorado 69 (Pac-12)
Hot start
Colorado went on a 6-0 run right out of the gate against UCLA, which picked up its first points thanks to Tyger Campbell’s smooth jumper early in the frame.
Making moves
Both squads went all-out as the first half continued, passing the lead back and forth as halftime approached.
At the break, Colorado had a one-point edge, 38-37.
Too tough
The Bruins ran the court in the second half, extending their lead as the minutes ticked down en route to a double-digit win.
UConn 73, Providence 66 (Big East)
Coast to coast
UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr. couldn’t be stopped on the fast break, as he threw down a wild dunk in the first half of Thursday’s tilt against Providence.
The Huskies were quick to build their lead out to double digits in the opening frame and held a 35-19 lead at the break.
UConn’s Andre Jackson Jr. goes coast-to-coast for big dunk vs. Providence
Lift off!
The Huskies continued to apply the pressure on the Friars, thanks to an impressive jam from Jackson in the second half.
UConn gets out in transition, Andre Jackson Jr. throws down BEAUTIFUL jam
Securing the win
The Huskies picked things up in the second half and advanced to the Big East semifinal game with their win, thanks in large part to guard Jordan Hawkins, who scored a game-high 19 points in the 77-63 win.
UConn’s Jordan Hawkins scores game-high 19 points in win over Providence
Ohio State 73, Iowa 69 (Big Ten)
Making a statement
Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh threw down a vicious one-handed dunk early against Iowa, which struggled to keep any lead it got over the Buckeyes.
Ohio State held a one-point advantage, 29-28, at the half after a big first half from both squads.
Ohio State’s Brice Sensabaugh throws down WILD one-handed jam vs. Iowa
All gas, no brakes
The Hawkeyes put the Buckeyes under pressure and vice versa as the second half got underway, with both teams coming up with one clutch bucket after the next to keep the other within arm’s reach.
Madness!
It was a two-point game, 69-67, with one minute to go. The Buckeyes led with 20.8 seconds left when a back-and-forth, full-court scramble for a loose ball ensued.
In the end, it was Ohio State that held possession of the ball and went on to secure the win after a hard-fought battle.
Ohio State, Iowa featured in WILD full-court SCRAMBLE
Iowa State 78, Baylor 72 (Big 12)
Quick start
Iowa State was the first to strike in this one, but Baylor quickly regained the lead with big plays like this one:
Heating up
The Cyclones bounced back in the opening half after losing the lead momentarily, settling into a rhythm and getting one much-needed basket after another to put space between them and the Bears.
Nothing but net!
Things were neck and neck the entire first half, but it was Baylor that had the last word, thanks to Adam Flagler’s 3-point buzzer-beater. Baylor carried a 41-38 lead into halftime.
Star power
Baylor’s Jalen Bridges continued to be the star of the show as the second half got underway. Exhibit A:
Securing the W
Iowa State turned up the heat late in the second half, cruising to a big-time win over No. 10 Baylor, 78-72.
Marquette 72, St. John’s 70 OT (Big East)
All-out effort
Marquette went on a 6-0 run to start the game, but St. John’s charged back to knot things up early in the opening half.
Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones made a smooth 3-point jumper to put space between them and the Red Storm.
Big-time buckets
Olivier-Maxence Prosper made back-to-back dunks to put Marquette ahead, 16-11, early in the frame.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper finishes with a dunk in transition vs. St. John’s
Denied!
St. John’s took its first lead of the game, 17-16, at the midway-mark in the first half. The Red Storm settled into a rhythm and went on a 10-0 run to extend its lead as the frame winded down. St. John’s had a 36-26 edge at halftime.
AJ Storr hits a WILD bank shot off glass to extend St. John’s first-half lead
Back and forth
The Golden Eagles opened the second-half scoring, but Marquette had a few tricks up its sleeve as well.
Down to the wire
After an intense battle, things were tied at the end of regulation, and the action headed to overtime in New York.
In the end, the sixth-ranked Golden Eagles were able to hang on to the lead and secure the win in overtime, 72-70.
Rutgers 62, Michigan 50 (Big Ten)
Battling early
Michigan went on a 7-0 run to set the tone early, capped off by Jett Howard’s big-time 3-pointer.
As the frame continued, Michigan was getting it done on both ends of the floor. Wolverines star Hunter Dickinson came up with one clutch bucket after another to keep Michigan out front for the majority of the opening half.
Hunter Dickinson hits the turnaround hook shot and draws the foul
Anyone’s game!
Rutgers’ Oskar Palmquist drained two free throws to knot things up 23-all before Antwone Woolfolk’s steal and subsequent basket gave the Scarlet Knights its first lead of the game, 25-23, with 1:25 to play before the break.
Then, Michigan’s Joey Baker hit a 3-point buzzer-beater to end the half and take a three-point lead into halftime, 28-25.
Michigan’s Joey Baker hits 3-point buzzer-beater to end the half vs. Rutgers
Follow the leader
Rutgers took the lead, 29-28, early in the second frame when guard Derek Simpson caught the Wolverines’ defenders sleeping and made the bucket off his own rebound.
Rutgers’ Derek Simpson grabs his own rebound for a bucket
On a roll
Rutgers went on a 12-0 scoring run to extend its lead over Michigan to double digits, capped off with a beautiful dunk by Simpson. The Scarlet Knights continued to pour it on as the second half came to a close, securing a big-time win, 62-50.
Rutgers’ Derek Simpson goes SKY HIGH for two-handed dunk vs. Michigan
COMING UP:
Minnesota vs. Maryland (Big Ten)
Stanford vs. Arizona (Pac-12)
TCU vs. Kansas State (Big 12)
Villanova vs. Creighton (Big East)
Arizona State vs. USC (Pac-12)
Read more:
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