INDIANAPOLIS – Derrick Walton Jr. scored 26 points and Michigan made 16 3-pointers Friday to hold off Oklahoma State 92-91 in the first round of the Midwest Regional.
The seventh-seeded Wolverines (25-11) set a school record for 3s in an NCAA Tournament game. They have won six straight – five since a frightening plane mishap on the way to last week’s Big Ten Tournament.
In Sacramento, California, Jeff Dowtin scored a career-high 23 points with a perfect day at the free-throw line, upstart Rhode Island answered every threat and the Rams ran right into the next round of the NCAA Tournament by stunning cold-shooting No. 6 seed Creighton 84-7.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nick Ward scored 19 points as Michigan State defeated Miami, 78-58.
In other Midwest Regional first round games, Oregon beat 14th seeded Iona 93-77; second seed Louisville topped Jacksonville State 78-63; and top seed Kansas routed UC Davis 100-62.
South Regional: Arkansas 77, Seton Hall 71; North Carolina 103, Texas Southern 64; Kansas State 75, Cincinnati 61.
East Region: Southern California 66, SMU 65; Baylor 91, Mexico State 73; Duke 87, Troy 65.