Florida Cruises Over Maryland, Alabama Sets 3-Point Record, Flagg-Love Duel, Texas Tech’s Improbable Comeback Highlight Night One of the Sweet 16

Half of the Elite Eight is set, with Thursday night delivering two thrillers and two comfortable victories. 

In Florida’s 87-71 victory over Maryland from the Chase Center, the Gators pulled away after a 40-38 lead at halftime. Senior point guard Will Richard led the Gators with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists (6-for-9 from the field, 3-of-6 made threes), while fellow senior guard Alijah Martin put up 14 points with 7 rebounds (4-for-10, 3-for-7). Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. (17.7 points per game on the season) scored 13 points as did sophomore forward Thomas Haugh. Junior guard Denzel Aberdeen was 5-for-7 in 19 minutes off the bench for 12 points, and sophomore big man Ruben Chinyelu rebounded well, pulling in 8 rebounds along with 10 points. 

Terrapin freshman center Derik Queen scored 27 points with 5 rebounds (8-for-17, 10-for-10 from the line), with junior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (17 points) and sophomore guard Rodney Rice (12 points) each going 4-for-10 from the field. 

The Gators, who are making their 10th Elite Eight overall and first since 2017, outrebounded the Terrapins 42-20 and outshot them 50% to 41%.

The Alabama Crimson Tide put on a historic 3-point show from Newark’s Prudential Center, with a record 25 made threes in their 113-88 blowout win over the BYU Cougars. Senior guard Mark Sears, a 19.0 scorer on the season, erupted for 34 points (11-for-18 from the field, 10-for-16 from downtown) with 8 assists and 3 steals, and sophomore guard Aden Holloway scored 23 off the bench on 7-or-14 and 6-for-13 from downtown. Senior guard Chris Youngblood put up 19 points on 5-for-11 from 3-point range. 

Junior forward Richie Saunders, a Riverton, UT native, led the Cougars with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals on 10-for-14 shooting. Freshman guard Egor Demin scored 15 points with 7 assists while junior center Keba Keita scored 13 points with 6 rebounds. Senior guard Trevil Knell, a North Salt Lake native, scored 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting. 

Alabama’s 25 made threes were in stark contrast to just the six made by the Cougars. This is the third time that the Crimson Tide have made the Elite Eight, and their second straight appearance. Prior to 2024, their only other appearance was 2004. 

Projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg showed off his complete game at the Prudential Center, leading Duke to a 100-93 win over four-seeded Arizona. Flagg was 9-for-19 from the field, making 3-of-5 from downtown and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. His 30 points were complemented by 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 steal. He attacked late in the game, stopping the Wildcats’ momentum and adding crucial points for his side. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel scored 20 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists (5-for-7, 8-for-9 from the line). Senior guard Sion James scored 16 points with 4 assists on 5-for-6 shooting. Freshman center Khaman Maluach scored 13 points, had 6 rebounds and was big on the defensive end with 4 blocks. 

Caleb Love, the former North Carolina Tar Heel who was a fifth-year senior in 2024-25, did his best to upend the Blue Devils, staying in attack mode and leading the Wildcats back from double-digit deficit late. Love finished with 35 points on an efficient 11-for-21, going 5-for-11 from downtown and 8-for-9 from the line. His driving and finishing late drew Arizona closer and kept them in the game down the stretch until Duke made their free-throws at the other end. Junior guard Jaden Bradley, a native of Rochester, NY, scored 15 points with 5 assists on 6-for-10 shooting, and sophomore forward Henri Veesaar, who played big down the stretch getting rebounds and finishing inside, had 13 points and pulled in 6 rebounds. 

The Texas Tech Red Raiders staged a giant comeback from the Chase Center, the third seed storming back on the 10th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks and John Calipari. 

The Red Raiders looked finished as they trailed 61-45 with 9:48 remaining, but clawed their way back with big threes from freshman Christian Anderson (22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 7-for-14), and junior Darrion Williams (20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 8-for-26, 2-for-10 from three). Williams rattled in a triple with seconds to go in the score that forced overtime. JT Toppin (20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 10-for-18) scored 6 points in overtime, and Williams tallied 4 points, 1 block, and 1 rebound in the overtime period. 6’5 sophomore guard Kevin Overton played a big game off the bench with 12 points and 7 rebounds (5-for-11) in a seven man rotation utilized by head coach Grant McCasland.  

Senior Arkansas guard Johnell Davis scored a game-high 30 points (6 rebounds, 8-for-22, 3-for-9 from three, 11-for-11 from the line), while freshman guard Karter Knox was 4-for-4 from downtown with 20 points. Sophomore guard DJ Wagner scored 13 points (5-for-14) with junior forward Trevon Brazile going 4-for-8 for 11 points. 

This year's Elite Eight trip for the Red Raiders is their first since 2019. That year, they made their only Final Four.