NCAA West: Temple Wins Tight One With Penn State; Aztecs Finally Advance; Bearcats, UConn Move On To Third Round

Action from the West Region of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament got underway on Thursday with four games.

At Tucson, Arizona:

In the first of two games played at the McKale Center, an 18-foot off balance shot converted by Juan Fernandez (two of his 23 points) with less than a second remaining carried seventh-seeded Temple to a 66-64 victory over tenth-seeded Penn State.  Ramone Moore also tallied 23 points for the Owls.


In the second game, San Diego State racked up their first-ever NCAA Tournament game victory 68-50 #15 and tournament newcomers Northern Colorado.  Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the second-seeded Aztecs.


At Washington:


In the first of two West Region contest at the Verizon Center, Kemba Walker, who carried his team on his back in the Big East Conference Tournament, scored 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had a career-high 12 assists as #3 Connecticut dominated #14 Bucknell 81-52.


In the nightcap, an 18-point, 11-rebound night for Yancy Gates as #6 Cincinnati downed #11 Missouri 78-63.