The first four games served as a prelude, but the real drama of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – “March Madness,” one of the most important and widely-watched traditions on the American sporting calendar – truly began yesterday. A flurry of games unfolded, upending brackets and surprising fans who have followed the competition all season, and those tuning in solely for the thrill of predicting outcomes. After Thursday’s contests, less than 3% of those meticulously filled-out brackets remained perfect.
Two teams boasting over 30 wins but seeded in the lower half of the bracket delivered upsets, shaking up the tournament tree that will culminate in the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4th, and 6th. Miami (OH), with 31 wins before the tournament, had already navigated the First Four, and the High Point Panthers, a 12th seed in the West despite a 31-4 record, stunned fifth-seeded Wisconsin 82-83. The game produced a memorable moment: Chase Johnston secured the victory for High Point with five points in the final minute, including a crucial three-pointer – his first field goal of the game, and of the season. A specialist from beyond the arc, Johnston finished with 14 points, shooting 4-of-6 from three-point range and 5-of-7 overall. For the season, including this game, he’s 68-of-138 from three… and 1-of-52 on two-point attempts.
High Point will now attempt to extend their March run against Arkansas. There was a Spanish presence on the court at the University of North Carolina, as Owen Aquino started and contributed 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and two blocks, the second of which sealed the victory for the Badgers in the final seconds. Conrad Martínez added 3 assists off the bench.
Texas A&M defeated Saint Mary’s 50-63 with 11 points and three three-pointers (3-of-7) from Rubén Domínguez, who was in the starting lineup. They will face a tough test in the second round of the South Region against Houston, the current national runner-up. And Michigan, led by Aday Mara, avoided an upset against Howard Bison, winning 101-80 in a first-round matchup between the first and sixteenth seeds in the Midwest Region. That victory improved Michigan’s all-time record in 1-vs-16 games to 160-2. However, Duke had earlier faced a much tougher challenge against Siena, which led for much of the game before ultimately falling 65-71.
The Wolverines, who had recently lost the Sizeable 10 final to Purdue, had reason to be cautious; after all, it’s called “March Madness” for a reason. The first half (50-46) hinted at a potential upset, but it never materialized. Michigan’s offense flowed freely, shooting 67% from the field (and 69% in the second half) – their best shooting performance in tournament history. Their defense did enough to limit Howard’s three-point shooting, as the Bison had briefly connected on 10 of 11 attempts to stay competitive in the first half. As fatigue set in for Howard (having played in the First Four just two days prior), their high-pressure, fast-paced, and perimeter-oriented attack faltered, with the score reaching 77-59 midway through the second half.
At the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, Michigan dominated the boards 35-23 and outscored Howard 52-18 in the paint. They never trailed and led by as many as 31 points. Howard (24-11 on the season, compared to Michigan’s 32-3) couldn’t contain the interior pressure of a perfect Morez Johnson Jr. (8-of-8 shooting, 21 points, and 10 rebounds) and a dominant Aday Mara. The Spanish forward finished with 19 points (8-of-10 shooting), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks, adding a highlight reel of dunks, including an alley-oop just eight seconds into the game. Mara left his mark on what ultimately became an easy victory. Their next opponent in the second round will be Saint Louis, which cruised past Georgia.
Bulldogs Advance as Well
Gonzaga also advanced, though they faced a tougher challenge against Kennesaw State (73-64). Gonzaga (31-3 before the tournament) will now play Texas in the West Region. Spanish point guard Mario Saint-Supery started and played over 36 minutes, finishing with 7 points (2-of-11 shooting), 4 rebounds, and 8 assists in his tournament debut.
The first day of the tournament also saw a significant upset as North Carolina, eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive year – something that hadn’t happened since 1985 – fell to VCU 78-82 in overtime. Without the injured Caleb Wilson, a potential top-5 NBA draft pick, the Tar Heels couldn’t overcome VCU. They finished the season with an 0-3 record in games played since Wilson’s hand injury.
The tournament continues with more action on Saturday. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage and analysis.
