2026 NCAA Tournament: Live Updates & Results from Round 1

Duke advanced to the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Thursday, defeating Siena 71-65 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blue Devils, the No. 1 overall seed, were tested by the Saints, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half before Duke rallied.

Siena’s strong first-half performance was fueled by efficient shooting, but their offense faltered in the second half, shooting just 8-of-34 from the floor. Duke capitalized, led by Cameron Boozer, who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and his brother Cayden, who added 19 points. The Blue Devils didn’t take the lead until the 5:08 mark of the second half.

Elsewhere in the first round, High Point secured its first-ever NCAA tournament victory, upsetting Wisconsin 63-62. The Panthers overcame an early 15-5 deficit and a late eight-point lead by the Badgers, closing the game on an 18-12 run. Chase Johnston’s late layup, his first two-point field goal of the season, proved to be the game-winner. Rob Martin led High Point with 23 points and 10 assists, while Terry Anderson and Cam’Ron Fletcher each recorded double-doubles.

Louisville also secured a first-round win, defeating South Florida 83-70. Isaac McKneely led the Cardinals with 23 points, going 7-of-10 from three-point range. Louisville’s strong three-point shooting – 13-for-25 overall – contrasted sharply with South Florida’s struggles from beyond the arc, where they shot just 5-for-33. Wes Enis of South Florida missed all 11 of his three-point attempts, the second-most missed three-pointers in an NCAA tournament game since the introduction of the three-point line in 1987.

TCU edged Ohio State 79-78 in a tightly contested game. The Horned Frogs, who led by 15 at halftime, saw their lead dwindle as Ohio State mounted a comeback, eventually taking a one-point lead late in the second half. A late dish from David Punch to Xavier Edmonds with four seconds remaining secured the victory for TCU. Punch contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds in the second half.

Nebraska achieved a historic milestone, winning its first-ever NCAA tournament game after eight previous appearances without a victory, defeating Troy 81-71. Pryce Sandfort led the Cornhuskers with a program-record seven three-pointers in an NCAA tournament game. Nebraska dominated the glass, securing 19 second-chance points and forcing 17 Troy turnovers, which they converted into 17 points.

The first round continues on Thursday with matchups including Siena versus Duke, McNeese versus Vanderbilt, North Dakota State versus Michigan State, Hawai’i versus Arkansas, VCU versus North Carolina, Howard versus Michigan, Texas versus BYU, Texas A&M versus Saint Mary’s, Penn versus Illinois, Saint Louis versus Georgia, Kennesaw State versus Gonzaga, and Idaho versus Houston.