Thursday’s results
WASH. ST. 71 WINTHROP 40
The fourth-seeded Cougars broke away from a 29-29 halftime tie with a 23-4 run to whip Winthrop in the East Regional behind 19 points and eight rebounds from Aron Baynes. Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill each had 14, and Derrick Low scored 11 for Washington State (25-8), which will play Notre Dame in the second round Saturday.
NOTRE DAME 68 GEORGE MASON 50
After trailing 7-6, Notre Dame went on a 17-0 run to take a 23-7 lead. Luke Harangody had five points during the run, and the Irish went into the locker room leading 33-21. Harangody finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds, and guard Kyle McAlarney added 15 points. Will Thomas led George Mason with 25.
FRIDAY’S MATCHUPS
North Carolina (32-2)
Mount St. Mary’s (19-14)
6:10 p.m.
LINE: North Carolina by 25
No. 1 overall seed North Carolina features outstanding depth. Eight players average at least 15 minutes per game. Seventeen consecutive opponents have shot less than 50 percent from the field against the Mountaineers, but UNC will likely bust that stat.
Indiana (25-7)
Arkansas (22-11)
8:30 p.m.
LINE: Indiana by 2
Best game of the day? Indiana relies on two stars: freshman guard Eric Gordon and senior forward D.J. White, the Big Ten’s top two scorers. Arkansas is as balanced as any team in the SEC with no Razorback ranking in the top 15 in the SEC in scoring.
Oklahoma (22-11)
St. Joseph’s (21-12)
6:10 p.m.
LINE: Oklahoma by 1
Oklahoma is only 7-6 in its last 13 games and lost to Texas by 28 in the Big 12 tournament. St. Joseph’s beat Xavier twice in eight days and reached the Atlantic-10 final. The Hawks will rely on 6-10 guard Pat Calathes. OU will try to make it a game of attrition.
Louisville (24-8)
Boise State (25-8)
8:30 p.m.
LINE: Louisville by 13
The Cardinals are a trendy pick for a Final Four run, but they’d better bring the defense against Boise. The Broncos run and shoot, and they were 12-0 in the regular season when scoring 90 points or more. On the road, they averaged 83.4 points and shot 52.5 percent.
Butler (29-3)
Southern Alabama (26-6)
1:35 p.m.
LINE: Butler by 4 1/2
Fans were steamed that Butler’s 29 wins earned only a No. 7 seed. The Bulldogs have won 20 or more games in 10 of the last 12 seasons and have been a tough out in the NCAAs. They led the Horizon League in scoring margin, turnover margin and fewest turnovers.
Tennessee (29-4)
American (21-11)
11:15 a.m.
LINE: Tennessee by 19 1/2
Tennessee was in line for a No. 1 seed before they were upset by Georgia in the SEC tournament. With a deep athletic team that handed Memphis its only loss, coach Bruce Pearl has a chance to go where no Vols team has gone before–past the Sweet 16.
