The Associated Press

Tournament briefs…

CHARLOTTE (AP)  — There were no big upsets in the first half of Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament. There will be, however, some good matchups in the round of 32, including one the state of Kansas has been anticipating for almost 20 years.

EAST REGION

NORTHERN IOWA 71, WYOMING 54

SEATTLE (AP) — Paul Jesperson led five Northern Iowa players in double figures with 16 points and Sean Tuttle added 14 and the fifth-seeded Panthers.

Northern Iowa (31-3) built a 21-point lead after scoring 11 of the first 12 points to start the second half.

The Panthers face fourth-seeded Louisville on Sunday.

LOUISVILLE 57,
CAL-IRVINE 55

SEATTLE (AP) — Freshman Quentin Snider hit the winning free throws and Terry Rozier made the saving steal for fourth-seeded Louisville.

Wayne Blackshear had 19 points for the Cardinals (25-8), who will play fifth-seeded Northern Iowa on Sunday for a trip to the Sweet 16.

Anteaters 7-foot-6 center Mamadou Ndiaye, the tournament’s tallest player, finished with 12 points and five rebounds but didn’t touch the ball in the last 2 minutes.

MIDWEST REGION

WEST VIRGINIA 68, BUFFALO 62

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tarik Phillip hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left while the shot clock was winding down, adding the clinching points for fifth-seeded West Virginia.

Devin Williams, who led the Mountaineers with 17 points and nine rebounds, hit two free throws with 2:10 left to give his team the lead for good.

Juwan Staten had 15 points and seven assists for West Virginia, with Daxter Miles Jr. adding 10 points.

WEST REGION

KANSAS 75, NEW MEXICO ST. 56

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Frank Mason III scored 17 points to lead a balanced attack, and the second-seeded Jayhawks gave the Big 12 its first win of the tournament after three losses on Thursday.

Perry Ellis added nine points for the Jayhawks (27-8), who will face seventh-seeded Wichita State.

The schools, separated by a couple hours of highway, have not played since 1993 because of the Jayhawks’ stubborn refusal to schedule the Shockers.

WICHITA ST. 81,
INDIANA 76

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Fred VanVleet matched his career high with 27 points and Ron Baker made big free throws late for seventh-seeded Wichita State.

Baker scored 15 points, making 7 of 8 free throws in the last 2 minutes to allow Wichita State to hold off the Hoosiers (20-14).

OKLAHOMA 69,
ALBANY 60

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — TaShawn Thomas had 18 points and Buddy Hield scored 15, carrying Oklahoma into the round of 32 after early exits the last two years.

The Sooners (23-10), who led wire to wire, advance to play on Sunday against the winner of the late game between Dayton and Providence.

Peter Hooley had 15 points and Evan Singletary scored 13 for No. 14-seeded Albany (24-8), regular season and tournament champs of the America East Conference.