College basketball highlights: Pitt survives vs. Miss St.; Texas A&M-CC wins

Get your brackets prepared, women and gents. The 2023 NCAA Tournament is formally underway!

A pair of First Four video games kick off the motion on Tuesday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi gained the primary battle of the 16 seeds, holding off Southeast Missouri State’s late comeback to win 75-71. It’ll tackle No. 1 general seed Alabama within the opening spherical. 

Later, Pittsburgh and Mississippi State traded the lead 21 instances earlier than the Panthers held on to win 60-59 within the battle of the 11 seeds. Pittsburgh will go up in opposition to 6-seed Iowa State within the Midwest.

Here are the highest moments from Tuesday’s motion!

[View the full bracket here]

Pittsburgh 60, Mississippi State 59

Opening from downtown

Shakeel Moore made the 3-pointer in rhythm to get issues going within the second recreation of the night and provides Mississippi State the result in begin.

3s in all places!

Both groups traded some 3-pointers within the early minutes, combining to hit 4 3-pointers in lower than two minutes. The 3-point barrage gave Mississippi State an early 14-8 lead.

Make the three and the foul!

Greg Elliott made the powerful 3-pointer and was fouled within the course of to provide Pitt a five-point lead after trailing early.

Air McNair with the block

Will McNair elevated to stuff Guillermo Diaz Graham’s dunk try and hold Mississippi State’s lead at three.

Taking the lead into the break

Nelly Cummings slipped previous the display screen to empty the 3-pointer from immediately to provide Pitt a one-point lead going into the break.

Lob it up!

Mississippi State completely executed its designed play, with Dashawn Davis throwing up the cross for Cameron Matthews on the proper time for the alley-oop to provide the Bulldogs the lead.

Up-and-under!

Cummings someway discovered his approach by the larger defenders to make the powerful layup and produce Pitt again inside a degree of the lead.

Hinson hits it from approach past!

Blake Hinson determined to launch a 3-pointer from approach downtown off the catch-and-shoot. It paid off as his 3-pointer went in to provide Pitt a six-point lead. 

Tolu to take the lead!

Tolu Smith drove to the bucket and made the layup to provide Mississippi State a one-point lead with 32.9 seconds left.

Burton buckets!

Jamarius Burton drove and cease to take the jumper, which went in with 14 seconds left to provide Pitt the lead again. 

Big-time block!

Diaz Graham received his hand on Smith’s layup try and hold Pitt’s one-point lead with just some seconds remaining.

Tough miss for Mississippi State

Moore received large open on the out-of-bounds play, however his 3-pointer for the win missed and so did the following putback alternative for the Bulldogs, giving the Panthers the win as they advance to the following spherical. 

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 75, Southeast Missouri State 71

March Madness has begun!

The ball’s been tipped and arguably the best time of the yr is right here!

A putback to get it began

De’Lazarus Keys received the offensive rebound and made the simple putback to provide Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the primary bucket of the match. 

Big man coming by!

Phillip Russell lower to the rim to obtain the dish, permitting him to attain a simple slam for Southeast Missouri State.

Islanders on the transfer

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi received the primary massive run of the sport late within the first half, happening a 9-0 streak to get some separation earlier than the break.

All concerning the hustle!

Southeast Missouri moved the ball round and received a few attractiveness, however did not hit its leap pictures. However, a pair of offensive rebounds saved the possession alive and Dylan Branson received a putback to make it a 33-27 recreation earlier than the break.

CC sees its lead increase

The Islanders went on a fast 8-0 run in the course of the second half to take a 53-43 lead, their largest lead of the sport. The Islanders made three consecutive layups as they remained aggressive to increase their lead.

From the brand!

Trevian Tennyson drained the jumper from the brand to hit a key shot for the Islanders as they’ve struggled from deep within the second half, extending their result in 9 with the shot.

Comeback time?

Chris Harris was on hearth within the second half, scoring 17 factors in roughly quarter-hour to assist Southeast Missouri State make it a one-point recreation with just below 5 minutes left.

Tennyson hitting the angles

Tennyson was someway capable of hit the powerful layup to increase Texas A&M-CC’s result in three late. 

Holding on for the victory!

With Southeastern Missouri down by three, Russell was capable of get lookup within the closing seconds along with his step-back jumper. But his game-tying try did not get the bounce he was in search of, permitting Texas A&M-CC to ice the sport on the free-throw line and win its first NCAA Tournament recreation in class historical past.

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