March Madness live updates, scores, bracket, highlights: Omaha vs. St. John's in NCAA tournament

Yahoo

21-03-2025

It's officially March Madness time. The first full day of the NCAA tournament is Thursday, with 16 men's games spread out over 12 hours. Creighton and Louisville got things started in the first game of the day, while Texas Tech and UNC Wilmington will wrap up the opening day of action late tonight.
No. 12 McNeese provided the first big upset of the tournament in the afternoon, stifling No. 5 Clemson for an embarrassingly low 13 points in the first half and then holding on for a 69-67 win. (Track all of the 2025 NCAA tournament upsets here.)
Here's how the rest of Thursday's schedule will unfold (all times Eastern, scroll for live updates):
No. 9 Creighton 89, No. 8 Louisville 75
No. 4 Purdue 75, No. 13 High Point 63
No. 3 Wisconsin 85, No. 14 Montana 66
No. 1 Houston 78, No. 16 SIU Edwardsville 40
No. 1 Auburn 83, No. 16 Alabama State 63
No. 12 McNeese 69, No. 5 Clemson 67
No. 6 BYU 80, No. 11 VCU 71
No. 8 Gonzaga 89, No. 9 Georgia 68
No. 2 Tennessee 77, No. 15 Wofford 62
No. 10 Arkansas 79, No. 7 Kansas 72
No. 4 Texas A&M 80, No. 13 Yale 71
No. 11 Drake 67, No. 6 Missouri 57
No. 10 Utah State vs. No. 7 UCLA (TNT)
No. 15 Omaha vs. No. 2 St. John's (CBS)
No. 12 UC San Diego vs. No. 5 Michigan (TBS)
No. 14 UNC Wilmington vs. No. 3 Texas Tech (TruTV)And it's over. Utah State's offense had nothing against UCLA and the result was a double-digit deficit for the entire second half. Seven different UCLA players scored between seven and 14 points, and they had assists on 22 of their 26 field goals. A great day on both sides of the ball for the Bruins.
They'll face No. 2 Tennessee in the second round.
Tyler Bilodeau from WAY back 😳#MarchMadness @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/4Xjiz6AZoE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Johnnies open the 2nd half on a 10-2 scoring spurt to open a 43-30 lead.
Suddenly, Omaha's early upset hopes are fading.
THE RED STORM ARE FLYING ✈️#MarchMadness @StJohnsBBall pic.twitter.com/dBkknuxH6z
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Wolverines are in control of this one early. They opened the game on a 10-0 run and have led the entire way while the Tritons shot just 2-of-15 from deep.
The Red Storm weathered the Omaha ... storm early in the game to take a mild lead into the locker room. Neither team is shooting particularly well. Can St. John's pull away?
There might not be much more to say about this game. Utah State's offense is still sputtering (3-of-24 on 3-pointers) and UCLA has its biggest lead of the night, with 14 points from Skyy Clark. The Bruins have assists on 19 of their 22 field goals tonight.
SOME ELITE BALL MOVEMENT FROM @UCLAMBB A 9-0 run for the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/gW3y3vYNQT
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
Utah State missed 18 straight 3-pointers before Isaac Johnson finally sank one with 15:25 left in the second half. UCLA still leads them 53-36.
After what was a nervous start for the No. 2 seed, the Red Storm have finally moved in front, 28 late in the first half after an 14-2 run.
8-0 run gives @StJohnsBBall their first lead of the game pic.twitter.com/VNNh708V38
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
If there was one underdog that the betting public seemed to be gravitating toward at sportsbooks this week, it was No. 11 Drake. The Bulldogs (+5.5) were the most-bet team on the moneyline at BetMGM among all of Thursday's games, and had upwards of 75% of wagers and 80% of handle at multiple sportsbooks to cover.
The Bulldogs not only ended up covering for all 40 minutes of the game, but held on to win outright, 67-57.
One Vegas bookmaker's succinct text to Yahoo Sports on the result: "Not good."
SJU answered Omaha's 7-0 with its own 7-0 barrage, but Omaha still leads 12-10 at the under-12 timeout.
Omaha stops the St. John's run with a triple of their own 🎯#MarchMadness @OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/OF14AYILuD
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
Utah State's offense, ranked 17th in the country by KenPom, is shooting 10-of-32 (2-of-17 from deep) with six turnovers. The Aggies' Mason Falslev leads all scorers with 13 points, but UCLA's offense is doing what it wants so far in Lexington.
"Hanging like Shaq on that rim." - Brian AndersonAday Mara having himself a 1st half @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/0AFcc6gUo3
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
Missouri's turnaround season ends in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Drake is now 31-3 after beating the Tigers and will play the winner of Texas Tech vs. UNC Wilmington on Saturday.
Utah State had pulled to within a single possession, but a 12-0 UCLA run has the Bruins up 14 late in the first half.
Aday Mara glides to the basket 💨#MarchMadness @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/cPHAXOpbFF
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Bulldogs lead 63-55 with 52.7 to go. The upset is getting closer and closer.
No. 15 Omaha is off to a surprisingly strong start against the Johnnies.
JJ White from LOGO RANGE 🎯Omaha comes out swinging up 7-0 against St. John's 👀#MarchMadness @OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/cKsxSx9Q9J
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Tigers got a steal and Marques Warrick had a wide-open 3-pointer to cut the lead to 1 but it didn't fall. A foul on the other end resulted in one free throw for Drake and a 60-55 lead with 1:26 to go/
Missouri went on a 10-0 run, almost all of which came from the free throw line, to cut the game to just a single point. Drake finally responded with a jumper from Stirtz and a Cam Manyawu layup to end the run and keep their lead.
The Bulldogs lead 56-51 with 2:47 left in Wichita.
Cam Manyawu gets to the cup 🥤#MarchMadness @DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/QG9BTaXW2b
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
Drake is 3-of-10 from the free throw line today, and Missouri is suddenly right back in this. Drake's lead is down to just four points with about six minutes left
After a close start, UCLA broke off a 7-0 run and holds an early lead in its 7-10 matchup. Utah State has a free throw coming off the timeout after a Karson Templin and-1, though.
The Aggies went nearly wire-to-wire against a Yale team that seemed equipped to at least annoy them, with Pharrel Payne posting a career-high 25 points off the bench. They'll get the winner of the next game between Michigan and UC San Diego.
Bennett Stirtz just hit a truly ridiculous 3-pointer off one foot before the shot clock expired for Drake, which still has Mizzou on the ropes in the second half.
A straightaway three off one leg. Bennett Stirtz remains PERFECT from deep @DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/2BS7V4VLgo
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
And it's over. Utah State's offense had nothing against UCLA and the result was a double-digit deficit for the entire second half. Seven different UCLA players scored between seven and 14 points, and they had assists on 22 of their 26 field goals. A great day on both sides of the ball for the Bruins.
They'll face No. 2 Tennessee in the second round.
Tyler Bilodeau from WAY back 😳#MarchMadness @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/4Xjiz6AZoE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Johnnies open the 2nd half on a 10-2 scoring spurt to open a 43-30 lead.
Suddenly, Omaha's early upset hopes are fading.
THE RED STORM ARE FLYING ✈️#MarchMadness @StJohnsBBall pic.twitter.com/dBkknuxH6z
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Wolverines are in control of this one early. They opened the game on a 10-0 run and have led the entire way while the Tritons shot just 2-of-15 from deep.
The Red Storm weathered the Omaha ... storm early in the game to take a mild lead into the locker room. Neither team is shooting particularly well. Can St. John's pull away?
There might not be much more to say about this game. Utah State's offense is still sputtering (3-of-24 on 3-pointers) and UCLA has its biggest lead of the night, with 14 points from Skyy Clark. The Bruins have assists on 19 of their 22 field goals tonight.
SOME ELITE BALL MOVEMENT FROM @UCLAMBB A 9-0 run for the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/gW3y3vYNQT
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
Utah State missed 18 straight 3-pointers before Isaac Johnson finally sank one with 15:25 left in the second half. UCLA still leads them 53-36.
After what was a nervous start for the No. 2 seed, the Red Storm have finally moved in front, 28 late in the first half after an 14-2 run.
8-0 run gives @StJohnsBBall their first lead of the game pic.twitter.com/VNNh708V38
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
If there was one underdog that the betting public seemed to be gravitating toward at sportsbooks this week, it was No. 11 Drake. The Bulldogs (+5.5) were the most-bet team on the moneyline at BetMGM among all of Thursday's games, and had upwards of 75% of wagers and 80% of handle at multiple sportsbooks to cover.
The Bulldogs not only ended up covering for all 40 minutes of the game, but held on to win outright, 67-57.
One Vegas bookmaker's succinct text to Yahoo Sports on the result: "Not good."
SJU answered Omaha's 7-0 with its own 7-0 barrage, but Omaha still leads 12-10 at the under-12 timeout.
Omaha stops the St. John's run with a triple of their own 🎯#MarchMadness @OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/OF14AYILuD
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
Utah State's offense, ranked 17th in the country by KenPom, is shooting 10-of-32 (2-of-17 from deep) with six turnovers. The Aggies' Mason Falslev leads all scorers with 13 points, but UCLA's offense is doing what it wants so far in Lexington.
"Hanging like Shaq on that rim." - Brian AndersonAday Mara having himself a 1st half @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/0AFcc6gUo3
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025
Missouri's turnaround season ends in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Drake is now 31-3 after beating the Tigers and will play the winner of Texas Tech vs. UNC Wilmington on Saturday.
Utah State had pulled to within a single possession, but a 12-0 UCLA run has the Bruins up 14 late in the first half.
Aday Mara glides to the basket 💨#MarchMadness @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/cPHAXOpbFF
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Bulldogs lead 63-55 with 52.7 to go. The upset is getting closer and closer.
No. 15 Omaha is off to a surprisingly strong start against the Johnnies.
JJ White from LOGO RANGE 🎯Omaha comes out swinging up 7-0 against St. John's 👀#MarchMadness @OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/cKsxSx9Q9J
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Tigers got a steal and Marques Warrick had a wide-open 3-pointer to cut the lead to 1 but it didn't fall. A foul on the other end resulted in one free throw for Drake and a 60-55 lead with 1:26 to go/
Missouri went on a 10-0 run, almost all of which came from the free throw line, to cut the game to just a single point. Drake finally responded with a jumper from Stirtz and a Cam Manyawu layup to end the run and keep their lead.
The Bulldogs lead 56-51 with 2:47 left in Wichita.
Cam Manyawu gets to the cup 🥤#MarchMadness @DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/QG9BTaXW2b
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
Drake is 3-of-10 from the free throw line today, and Missouri is suddenly right back in this. Drake's lead is down to just four points with about six minutes left
After a close start, UCLA broke off a 7-0 run and holds an early lead in its 7-10 matchup. Utah State has a free throw coming off the timeout after a Karson Templin and-1, though.
The Aggies went nearly wire-to-wire against a Yale team that seemed equipped to at least annoy them, with Pharrel Payne posting a career-high 25 points off the bench. They'll get the winner of the next game between Michigan and UC San Diego.
Bennett Stirtz just hit a truly ridiculous 3-pointer off one foot before the shot clock expired for Drake, which still has Mizzou on the ropes in the second half.
A straightaway three off one leg. Bennett Stirtz remains PERFECT from deep @DrakeBulldogsMB pic.twitter.com/2BS7V4VLgo
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2025