NCAA Tournament 2021 scores, takeaways: Houston handles Syracuse as half of the Elite Eight field is set

Arkansas, Baylor and Oregon State won their Sweet 16 games on Saturday to join the Cougars in the Elite Eight

Something had to give on Saturday night when No. 3 seed Houston and No. 11 seed Syracuse met in the Sweet 16. The Cougars entered as one of the best 3-point defenses in the country, but the Orange were riding high off some prolific shooting by junior guard Buddy Boeheim.

In the end, defense won the day as Houston knocked off Syracuse 62-46 and limited the Orange to just 5-of-23 shooting from beyond the arc. Overall, Syracuse shot just 28% from the field.

Listen to our Saturday Sweet 16 Eye on College Basketball recap below.

Houston's offensive effort against Syracuse's 2-3 zone was by no means sterling, but the Cougars did enough to advance to play No. 12 seed Oregon State in Monday's Elite Eight. Quentin Grimes led Houston with 14 points, Justin Gorham contributed 13 and Marcus Sasser had 12.

The Cougars were among four teams that punched their ticket to the Elite Eight on Saturday, joining Oregon State, Baylor and Arkansas. Four more will join the group on Sunday. But for now, here are a few takeaways from Saturday's Sweet 16 action.

Coaches kids square off

When Baylor and No. 3 seed Arkansas square off Monday with a spot in the Final Four on the line, it will be a battle of great basketball bloodlines. Baylor coach Scott Drew's father, Homer Drew, is the all-time winningest coach at Valparaiso University. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman's father, Bill, was a longtime college and NBA coach during his career.

"Everyone's got their own story, but when you're around it, you either fall in love with it -- and I know a lot of coaches' sons that aren't in coaching because it's a tough life," Musselman said. "It's a conversation that my mother and I had several, several times when I decided to get into coaching, just how difficult it is. Coaches get fired, and it affects family. But it's what I loved. But I was warned by my mom, I promise you that."

Easy path for Houston

If Houston beats No. 12 seed Oregon State on Monday, it will have defeated four double-digit seeds on the way to the Final Four. There is no doubt that is a remarkable struck of luck for the Cougars, who last made the Final Four in 1984. In fact, Houston will become the first team to ever play four double-digit seeds in the same NCAA Tournament.

Of course, knocking off the Beavers won't be easy. Oregon State beat Loyola Chicago 65-58 on Saturday. But there's no doubt the matchup is far more favorable than having to play No. 1 seed Illinois, which was upset in the second round by Loyola Chicago. The early departures of Illinois, No. 3 seed West Virginia and No. 4 seed Oklahoma State flung the door open for Houston, and the Cougars are taking advantage.

Saluting Villanova

The Wildcats were left for dead by many when star point guard Collin Gillespie was lost for the season due to a knee injury early this month. Villanova lost its first two games without Gillespie and was a trendy pick to be upset by No. 12 seed Winthrop in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

But instead of folding without a key player, Villanova won two NCAA Tournament games and reached its seventh Sweet 16 under coach Jay Wright. Before bowing out with a 62-51 loss to No. 1 seed Baylor on Saturday, the Wildcats put a scare in the Bears by leading 30-23 at halftime. All in all, Villanova can hold its head high based off what it accomplished and overcame this season.

2021 NCAA Tournament TV schedule

• (12) Oregon State 65, (8) Loyola Chicago 58  -- Recap
• (1) Baylor 62, (5) Villanova 51 -- Recap
• (3) Arkansas 72, (15) Oral Roberts 70 -- Recap
• (2) Houston 62, (11) Syracuse 46 -- Recap
• NCAA Tournament schedule | Live bracket

CBS Sports will be with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from every second-round game on Saturday. Keep it locked here for scores, analysis and highlights throughout the evening.

[Mar 27, 2021 at 11:33 pm ET · Matt Norlander]

Houston up 43-37 on Cuse and it's been a much more equitable half of officiating.

[Mar 27, 2021 at 11:18 pm ET · Matt Norlander]

Joe Girard scored like 4,500 points in high school and is sometimes a walking bucket. Big 3 there.

[Mar 27, 2021 at 10:52 pm ET · Matt Norlander]

Halftime: 30-20, Coogs. Who's going to be the other guy for SU in the second half?