Fri Mar 21 16:40:00 UTC 2025: ## March Madness Upsets Rock Opening Day of 2025 Tournament

**Providence, RI/Various Locations –** The 2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament kicked off with a bang Thursday, delivering several unexpected upsets on the opening day of first-round games. Mid-major programs stole the spotlight, defying expectations and securing their place in the history books.

One of the biggest surprises was McNeese State’s 69-67 victory over Clemson. The No. 12 seed dominated the first half and held on for a nail-biting win, marking the program’s first-ever March Madness victory. Drake followed suit, upsetting Missouri 67-57 in head coach Ben McCollum’s inaugural season. The upsets didn’t stop there; Arkansas handed Kansas a stunning 79-72 defeat, ending the Jayhawks’ first-round winning streak dating back to 2006. This win sets up a highly anticipated second-round clash between Arkansas’ John Calipari and St. John’s Rick Pitino, both former Kentucky national championship-winning coaches.

Other notable games included Texas Tech’s narrow escape against UNC Wilmington (82-72), fueled by Kerwin Walton’s 27 points, and St. John’s comfortable win over Omaha (83-53), setting up their clash with Calipari. Michigan edged out UC San Diego 68-65 in a hard-fought contest, while UCLA easily handled Utah State 72-47. Gonzaga also dominated Georgia 89-68, advancing to face Houston. BYU secured a win over VCU (80-71), ending a five-game losing streak in the Round of 64. Finally, Tennessee held off Wofford 77-62 and top seed Auburn defeated Alabama State 83-63, while top seed Houston comfortably defeated SIUE 78-40.

While some favored teams secured wins, the day was punctuated by the unexpected triumphs of underdog teams, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the tournament. The second round promises more excitement as these Cinderella stories continue to unfold.

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