The first four games of the 2021 NCAA Tournament featured four teams rallying from double-digit deficits with three of them closing the deal for impressive victories to advance on to first round games on Saturday. The most high-profile game of the night belonged to Michigan State and UCLA as the Bruins roared back from an 11-point halftime deficit to win 86-80 in overtime.
Appalachian State staged the biggest rally of the night to take a second half lead after trailing by 19 in the first half. But the Mountaineers ultimately fell short in the end, losing 54-53 to Norfolk State. The Mountaineers made just 6-of-36 attempts from 3-point range in the loss as Norfolk State advanced to play No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga in a first-round game on Saturday.
No. 16 seed Texas Southern and No. 11 seed Drake each advanced out of the First Four by holding on after their own big comebacks. Drake's 53-52 win over Wichita State was particularly dramatic as the Bulldogs survived to win when Alterique Gilbert's last-second 3-point attempt fell short at the buzzer for Wichita State.
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In the night's first game, Texas Southern advanced to play No. 1 seed Michigan on Saturday by virtue of a 60-52 win over Mount St. Mary's after the Tigers trailed 30-20 at halftime. The win is the first-ever NCAA Tournament coaching victory for third-year Texas Southern coach Johnny Jones, an industry veteran who was previously in the Big Dance as coach of North Texas and LSU.
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Karl-Anthony Towns: 41 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
Antony Edwards: 42 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
It's only the second time in team history that two teammates have eclipsed the 40-point mark in the same game 🐺 pic.twitter.com/ebVhwFN6v3
If the First Four was any indication, we're in for a wild ride.
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) March 19, 2021
The NCAA Tournament is back, and Thursday night provided plenty to unpack.https://t.co/nQhbwae0Hf
REMINDER: First Four-winning teams have seen a lot of success in recent history #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/2qZ82eppYI
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
MOVING 🔛#GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/i3GYz8AjD9
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 19, 2021
🗣 UC 👏👏 LA @UCLAMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/7cvrK8MkwI
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
#B1G 👏 @MSU_Basketball. Thank you for a great #B1GMBBall season! pic.twitter.com/6TOZ9P4V2s
— Big Ten Men's Hoops (@B1GMBBall) March 19, 2021
For the first time in a year, Mick Cronin gets to see his dad. pic.twitter.com/fDV8RJBgRy
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2021
BRUINS BATTLE BACK! 💪
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
UCLA outlasts Michigan State in an OT THRILLER 86-80! #MarchMadness #FirstFour pic.twitter.com/zwcps7aoJT
Mick Cronin getting to catch up with his dad for the first time in a year after the UCLA win is amazing!
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
(Via @marchmadness)
pic.twitter.com/3Km3fAaDG5
Mick Cronin getting to catch up with his dad for the first time in a year after the UCLA win is amazing!
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
(Via @marchmadness)
https://t.co/UiX4mfKem2
WHAT 👏 A 👏 GAME 👏@UCLAMBB will take on BYU in the First Round after knocking off Michigan State in an OT battle! #FirstFour #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/c5u5yKNoaZ
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
There’s 16 more games today! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/3KFdUIVICe
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
FINAL/OT: UCLA 86, Michigan State 80#GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/x6ZK2Vn92y
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 19, 2021
Four double-digit comeback victories is a tremendous way for the NCAA Tournament to return to our lives.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 19, 2021
Rest up.
Because tomorrow is going to be nirvana.
What a fun night of college basketball.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2021
Let's do it again tomorrow...and then the next day...and then the day after that...and after that.
UCLA ADVANCES! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/iMaCgSnb2d
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
FINAL: UCLA 86, MSU 80
— Michigan State Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 19, 2021
UCLA 83, Michigan State 80
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 19, 2021
0:29 - Overtime
📺: @TBSNetwork#GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Mx9BpjB7aZ
Down 3, with the ball, 1:23 left in OT.
— Michigan State Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 19, 2021
🤞🤞🤞
UCLA nearly won it at the buzzer 🤯
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
OT coming at Mackey Arena. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8pjyzUMdna
Well, we've got OT. What a rally for the Bruins after they trailed by 11 at the half and by 5 with under two minutes left.
🚨 OT AT MACKEY ARENA! @MSU_Basketball vs. @UCLAMBB - TBS NOW! pic.twitter.com/v3DfS2GO6D
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
🚨 OT AT MACKEY ARENA! @MSU_Basketball vs. @UCLAMBB - TBS NOW! pic.twitter.com/v3DfS2GO6D
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
For the 213th time in tournament history, we are headed to overtime. #MarchMadness
— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) March 19, 2021
END OF REGULATION: UCLA 77, Michigan State 77#GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/3nbZ1OlfBx
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 19, 2021
A fantastic day of First Four action ending in fitting fashion OVERTIME. Michigan State and UCLA can't settle it in regulation, so we've got five extra minutes.
77-77 after regulation.
— Michigan State Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 19, 2021
Headed to OT!
UCLA TIES IT! #MarchMadness
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 19, 2021
pic.twitter.com/IlP1PqQQ6c
UCLA AND-1 FOR THE TIE 😱@UCLAMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ipDDWOUc6p
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2021
Missed free throw couldn't have worked out better.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 19, 2021
TIE GAME. pic.twitter.com/biTwDvHY9T
