It looked like we had another double digit seed. Kennesaw State was rolling with a 13 minute lead with about 9 minutes to play, as I notice my phone give a message that the 14 seed is up big. Then, Xavier goes on a 15-0 run to regain the lead.

Kennesaw St keeps fighting and it is a tie game as Xavier brings the ball up with 30 seconds. And they make a beautiful back door pass to Colby Jones who gets his first shot blocked but then gets fouled trying to score off the rebound. But Jones only hits 1 of 2 free throws and we have a 1 point Xavier lead.

Kennesaw State’s Terrell Burden drives to the basket, looks like he has beat his defender for a layup, and Jack Nunge comes across the lane and makes a huge block. A scramble for the ball happened and Xavier’s Souley Boum grabbed the rebound and was fouled with just 3 seconds to play. Boum calmly drills both free throws and the lead became 3.

Unfortunately, the buzzer beater three never happened as Kennesaw State stepped on the out of bounce line when the ball was put in play. Boum would hit two more free throws to ice the game and Xavier survives with a 5 point victory.

Elsewhere, Michigan State managed to beat USC by 10, and another 14 seed UC-Santa Barbara jumped out to a halftime lead against 3 seed Baylor. But it looks like Baylor has taken control in the 2nd half.

Still – lots of excitement. And VCU is only down 1 at half to St. Mary’s and Vermont is only down 5 early to Marquette. Maybe one of them can add an upset to our Friday afternoon