In a thrilling night of NCAA Tournament action on Friday, several top teams battled fiercely to secure their spots in the Elite Eight, setting up highly anticipated regional finals scheduled for Sunday. Among the highlights was Duke's remarkable comeback victory over St. John's, fueled by the return of Caleb Foster from injury, as well as key wins by UConn, Michigan, and Tennessee.
**Duke Overcomes St. John's in Nail-Biter**
The marquee game featured top-seeded Duke facing a resilient St. John's squad in the East Region semifinal. Duke trailed by as much as 10 points in the second half, but the Blue Devils rallied late to claim an 80-75 victory and extend their winning streak to 14 games-the longest active streak in the nation.
Central to Duke's comeback was Caleb Foster, who had missed nearly three weeks recovering from surgery on a broken left foot. Foster made a dramatic return to the court and delivered all 11 of his points in the second half, providing a crucial spark to steady the Blue Devils' offense. Isaiah Evans led all scorers with 25 points, while Cameron Boozer contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with St. John's, coached by Rick Pitino, pushing Duke to the limit. The Red Storm, who entered the game with a 30-7 record, displayed impressive shooting and tenacity, especially in the first half where they hit 9 of 18 three-pointers, including key shots by Ruben Prey and Bryce Hopkins. Prey, a 6-foot-11 forward, notably drained four three-pointers in just four attempts, a surprising performance given his season scoring average of 4.1 points per game.
St. John's took a halftime lead at 40-39 and maintained momentum early in the second half. Turnovers plagued Duke, particularly Cameron Boozer, whose mistakes led directly to easy dunks by St. John's standout Zuby Ejiofor. At one point, the Red Storm extended their lead to 53-44, appearing poised to pull off an upset.
However, Duke shifted tactics by inserting Foster in place of Cayden Boozer and switching to a zone defense, which helped stabilize their play. The Blue Devils slowly chipped away at the deficit, with Evans hitting a critical three-pointer to give Duke the lead at 63-62. The lead exchanged hands multiple times, and both teams displayed high-pressure defense in the closing minutes.
With under a minute remaining, Duke led 77-74 after Foster's driving layup, forcing St. John's into desperation mode. Despite drawing a foul, Ejiofor made only one of two free throws, and a final three-point attempt by Dylan Darling-who had previously scored a buzzer-beater against Kansas-missed badly. Cameron Boozer iced the game by sinking two free throws with 1.5 seconds left, securing Duke's advancement to the East Region final against second-seeded UConn.
This game marked only the second time Rick Pitino's St. John's team has lost in 14 Sweet 16 appearances, underscoring the toughness of the contest.
**UConn Holds Off Michigan State**
In the other East Region semifinal, second-seeded UConn edged third-seeded Michigan State 67-63 in a tightly fought battle. The Huskies were led by Tarris Reed Jr., who scored 20 points, and Alex Karaban, who added 17 and made crucial free throws in the final moments to preserve the win.
The game's climax saw UConn clinging to a narrow 63-62 lead. Karaban was fouled with 22.5 seconds left and calmly sank both free throws in a one-and-one situation, putting the Huskies up by three. Michigan State's Kur Teng missed a potential game-tying three-pointer on the ensuing possession. A late foul gave Michigan State's Carson Cooper two free throws; he made the first but missed the second, which was rebounded by Reed, who then sank two free throws to effectively seal the victory.
Michigan State had mounted an impressive comeback after falling behind by 19 points early but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 4 of 16 on three-pointers. The Spartans end their season at 27-8, while UConn improves to 32-5 and will face Duke in a highly anticipated East Region final showdown.
**Michigan Cruises Past Alabama**
In the Midwest Region semifinal, top-seeded Michigan defeated fourth-seeded Alabama 90-77, advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time in five years. Michigan's victory was propelled by a balanced offensive attack and a standout performance from Yaxel Lendeborg, who posted 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
Lendeborg's all-around excellence helped Michigan gain control in the second half after a competitive first half. Trey McKenney and Elliot Cadeau each contributed 17 points, while Roddy Gayle Jr. added 16. Michigan also dominated the bench scoring with a 33-6 advantage, which proved pivotal in maintaining their lead.
Alabama's offense was led by Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 35 points, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who added 15. Despite their efforts, the Crimson Tide were unable to keep pace with Michigan's depth and efficiency.
Michigan will next face sixth-seeded Tennessee in the Midwest Region final.
**Tennessee Upsets Iowa State**
In the other Midwest semifinal, Tennessee upset second-seeded Iowa State 76-62. The Volunteers' balanced scoring was led by Nate Ament with 18 points and Ja'Kobi Gillespie with 16.
Iowa State struggled offensively, shooting only 38.9% overall and a poor 5-for-23 (21.7%) from three-point range. The Cyclones were without their second-team All-America forward Joshua Jefferson, who missed the game due to a sprained left ankle sustained earlier in the tournament.
Tennessee's defense and efficient shooting helped them build and maintain a lead throughout the game. The Volunteers improved their record to 25-11 and set up a challenging matchup against top-seeded Michigan in Sunday's Midwest Region final.
**Looking Ahead**
Friday's results have set up two compelling regional finals on Sunday. In the East Region, Duke will face UConn in a clash of top seeds, both teams boasting strong offensive weapons and experience. Duke's ability to rally without one of their key players for much of the season demonstrates their resilience, while UConn's tightly contested win over Michigan State highlights their defensive tenacity.
In the Midwest Region, Michigan's balanced attack and depth will be tested by Tennessee's physical defense and momentum from their upset win. Both matchups promise intense competition and high stakes as the teams vie for a spot in the Final Four.
Overall, Friday's games underscored the drama and excitement of March Madness, with individual heroics, strategic adjustments, and clutch performances shaping the path forward in the NCAA Tournament. Fans can look forward to compelling showdowns on Sunday as the Elite Eight rounds continue.