HBCU Programs Winning in NCAA Tournament
(Houston, TX) The NCAA Basketball Tournament and March Madness began on Thursday with the First Four. Major basketball programs navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic are still favorites to win the tournament. However, two HBCU schools, Texas Southern and Norfolk State Universities broke brackets with upset splashes in the basketball tourney.
Mar 18, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Texas Southern Tigers head coach Johnny Jones looks on during the second half against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers in the First Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Texas Southern Tigers won 60-52. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The SWAC and MEAC advanced to the main NCAA bracket of 64 teams. Both teams played Mountaineers, and both teams made HBCU fans proud.
Texas Southern had a passionate rally against Mount St. Mary's to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and won 60-52. TSU outplayed the Mountaineers 40-22 in the second half. Credit solid rebounding and defensive performance for the Tigers' win.
Mar 18, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Norfolk State Spartans guard Daryl Anderson (13) celebrates their win over the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the First Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Norfolk State Spartans won 54-53. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Norfolk fended-off a 33-18 second-half comeback attempt on Appalachian State to gain the 54-53 victory. Spartans guard Devante Carter scored two free throws in the final 10 seconds of the contest. The buckets gave the Spartans the lead and sealed the victory over the Mountaineers.
Mar 18, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Texas Southern Tigers guard Michael Weathers (20) shoos over Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers forward Frantisek Barton (24) during the first half in the First Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The No. 16 seeded SWAC Tournament champions will face the No. 1 seeded University of Michigan team on Saturday, March 20 at 2 PM CT on CBS. Texas Southern (17-8) versus Michigan (20-4) will take place at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, IN.
The Spartans (17-7) will battle the #1 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-0) on Saturday, March 20 at 8:20 PM CT on TBS. Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will host the game between Norfolk State and Gonzaga. The betting point spread is 33.5 in favor of Gonzaga. Michigan is a 25.5 point favorite.
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