In the NCAA tournament, only 16 teams are left. Florida Gulf Coast has become the first No. 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16, doing so with an 81-71 win over No. 7 San Diego State. The outcome sets up an all-Florida game in the South Region semifinals, with the Eagles taking on third seed Florida. Third seed Florida built a 21-point halftime lead and whipped Minnesota 78-64. Miami is the third Florida team to reach the Sweet 16 after winning 63-59 over Illinois. No. 13 La Salle continued its unexpected run by beating No. 12 Mississippi 76-74. No. 1 Kansas downed North Carolina 70-58. Top seed Indiana beat No. 9 seed Temple 58-52 in Dayton, Ohio. Indiana earned a date with fourth-seeded Syracuse in the regional semifinals on Thursday in Washington. No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 10 Iowa State 78-75 in a West Regional game.
In other college basketball news, Ben Howland was fired as UCLA’s coach.
In the NBA, Miami beat Charlotte 109-77. Brooklyn defeated Phoenix 102-100. Chicago won against Minnesota 104-97. Oklahoma City beat Portland 103-83. Philadelphia trumped Sacramento 117-103.
Checking the NHL, the NY Islanders shut out Florida 3-0. Pittsburgh defeated Philadelphia 2-1 and Washington beat the NY Rangers 3-2.
In the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, the No. 1 seeds have moved into the second round. Notre Dame crushed Tennessee-Martin 97-64. Stanford knocked off Tulsa 72-56 and Baylor hammered Prairie View 82-40. Lastly, North Carolina beat UAlbany 59-54.
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