General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 22, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NCAA Men's Basketball Second Round Shocks

The second round of the men's NCAA tournament delivered high drama, with Nebraska surviving a near miss after Vanderbilt's desperate half-court heave at the buzzer rimmed out, securing a tense 74-72 victory. The tournament's improbable narrative continued as Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 by upsetting No. 3 seed Gonzaga 74-68, becoming the first team in five years to emerge from the First Four to reach that stage, although Coach Sean Miller insisted his team was no Cinderella. Elsewhere, No. 1 seed Michigan powered past Saint Louis behind Yaxel Lendeborg's 25 points to earn a Sweet 16 berth, setting up a clash between coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz, who have a history of exchanging scouting notes prior to this high-stakes matchup.

NCAA Women's Tournament Upsets & Standouts

The women's bracket saw significant movement as the field narrowed to 32 teams, with No. 10 seed Virginia pulling off a first-round upset over No. 7 Georgia 82-73, marking the first major surprise of the tournament according to ESPN rankings of the remaining field. South Carolina dominated their first-round contest, with Joyce Edwards pouring in 27 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a massive 103-34 rout of Southern, though the team subsequently announced that baseball coach Paul Mainieri was dismissed midway through his second season following struggles to replicate his LSU success. In another tight contest, USC required a successful review to nullify a Clemson buzzer-beater in regulation before ultimately prevailing 71-67 in overtime to move forward. Concerns also emerged around UNC, as officials entered discussions with coach Hubert Davis regarding his future following another disappointing first-round exit.

UFC London Fallout & Fighter Aspirations

The recent UFC London event generated immediate discussion regarding fighter compensation, with the debate over pay levels being brought to the forefront following several career-defining performances on the undercard. Movsar Evloev dealt a major blow to Lerone Murphy’s featherweight title aspirations, securing a hard-fought majority decision victory in the main event that overshadowed other bouts. Meanwhile, Mason Jones celebrated a "fight of the night" bonus after his win at the same arena where he suffered his last professional defeat nearly four years prior, aiming for a top 15 ranking. On the recovery front, star Paddy Pimblett is already targeting a return to the Octagon in July during the UFC's international fight week, hoping to make his comeback swiftly.

Rugby & Football Updates

In European rugby, Warrington Wolves charged up the Super League standings to second place after Kelepi Tanginoa scored four tries in a comprehensive thrashing of the Castleford Tigers. The English Premiership saw Exeter secure a vital victory over Sale 26-14, which propelled them into the play-off qualification zone. On the international front, while Matt Grimes' former club Swansea City continued to boo him after a goal, manager Frank Lampard expressed hope that the midfielder's classy response would quell the abuse; meanwhile, Ryan Woodman is eager to impress for the Dragons after receiving his first call-up ahead of the Six Nations fixtures.

Global Athletics & Cycling Triumphs

The world of professional cycling witnessed Tadej Pogacar claim his inaugural Milan-San Remo title following a dramatic final sprint where he denied Britain's Tom Pidcock, though the women's race saw Italian rider Debora Silvestri report she had broken five ribs in a serious crash during the event that led to her withdrawal. Track star Josh Kerr completed a remarkable return from injury, reclaiming his world indoor 3,000m crown to take global gold after a challenging recovery period. In a historic feat for Rwandan cricket, 15-year-old Fanny Utagushimaninde smashed a century to become the youngest woman ever to score a T20 international hundred, describing the achievement as feeling like a dream at just 15 years and 223 days old. Great Britain’s Mia Brookes also found success, capturing her fifth career World Cup gold medal in the slopestyle event at Flachnau, Austria.

College Sports & Other News

Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey received the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, honoring her as the top player in college women's hockey for the current season. In college basketball, UConn survived a scare when Tarris Reed Jr. delivered a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance to help the favored No. 2 seed edge past Furman 82-71 avoiding a major upset. Separately, the legal situation surrounding the America's Cup intensified as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group initiated legal action to retrieve a specific boat previously utilized by Sir Ben Ainslie’s team.