NCAA Tournament scores 2017: Kent State overcome by UCLA’s offense, 97-80

Historically, a third-seeded team has lost to a No. 14 in the first round 21 times in 128 meetings (16.4 percent), most recently when West Virginia fell to Stephen F. Austin last season. Prior to UCLA’s first-round matchup against Kent State, Barkley donned a Golden Flashes jersey as a direct shot at LaVar. And even though they scored only 12 points on the fast break, they wound up shooting 62.7 percent and almost scoring 100. They have been placed in a good opening spot for the first two games, hosting at Pauley Pavilion where they have won 27 straight. “It was a battle”.

On a day of upsets in the NCAA Tournament – namely over No. 6 seeds – Kent State was hoping to pull off the biggest one of the tournament.

UCLA puts up 90.4 points per game, which is tops in the nation. Thomas Welsh led the team with 8 rebounds, while Aaron Holiday led the team with 11 assists.

Ball reportedly bruised his right hip but was back on the floor in the second half, though limping a bit and rubbing his hip. “I’m too old and fat to play basketball, but I’d challenge Mr. Ball to a one-on-one”. “I didn’t know he would finish the game”.

Said Alford: “He went down hard, obviously”. That’s what’s gotten us to where we are so far, and our offense speaks for itself. “Don’t think it’s anything we’ve got to worry about”. Fans could also get a glimpse of potential National Basketball Association lottery picks, and future stars of the pro league.

It’s also highly unlikely that Ball will go on to break the all-time assists record for the Bruins. That was a story point early and often this season, but consider this: after suffering back-to-back losses against Arizona and USC at mid-season, the Bruins buckled down defensively and held all but one opponent (AZ in the Pac-12 tourney) below 80 points per game.

“Just credit to my teammates”, Ball said. “So just thank them”.

The 14th-seeded Golden Flashes enter play on a hot streak winning nine of 10 games to close the season with a MAC tournament championship.

But any missteps against Kent State or in the second round against the victor of Cincinnati and Kansas State, the season will be over – no matchup against Kentucky, no Final Four, no championship banner.

“Where we weren’t poised is when we got up 16 in the first half and kind of let up”, Alford said. “And he can only make so many shots outside before I make every bucket under the rim”. He should look to shoot a lot more and carry the offensive load for the team.