The Lamb County Leader-News’ Big Bracket Challenge is underway with the first two rounds in the books and plenty of upsets throughout.
Joe Lopez leads the field of 34 contestants with 50 points, followed close behind by Tammy McDaniel, who had 48 points.
In the East Region in the first round, UConn took down Stetson, 91, 52, while Northwestern took down FAU, 77-65. San Diego State survived a scare from UAB, 69-65, while 13-seed Yale upset 4-seed Auburn, 78-76. 11 seed Duquesne upset 6 seed BYU, 71-67, while Illinois took care of Morehead State, 85-69, and Washington State took down Drake, 66-61. Iowa State handled business against South Dakota State, 82-65.
In the West Region, North Carolina took down Wagner, 90-62, while Michigan State defeated Mississippi State, 69-51, and 12 seed Grand Canyon upset 5 seed Saint Mary’s, 75-66. Alabama rolled past Charleston, 109-96, while Clemson defeated New Mexico, 77-56, and Baylor took down Colgate, 92-67.
Dayton held off Nevada, 63-60, while Arizona took care of Long Beach State, 85-65.
In the South Region, Houston cruised past Longwood, 86-46, while Texas A&M advanced over Nebraska, 98-83, and 12 seed James Madison upset 5 seed Wisconsin, 72-61. Duke handled Vermont, 64-47, while 11 seed NC State upset 6 seed Texas Tech, 8067. 14 seed Oakland stunned 3 seed Kentucky, 80-76, while Colorado upset Florida, 102-100, and Marquette took care of Western Kentucky, 87-69.
In the Midwest Region, Purdue cruised past Grambling, 78-50, while Utah State took down TCU, 88- 72, and Gonzaga handled McNeese, 86-65. Kansas survived a scare from Samford, 93-89, while Oregon upset South Carolina, 8773, and Creighton took down Akron, 77-60. Texas defeated Colorado State, 56-44, while Tennessee took down Sain Peter’s, 8349.
In the second round in the Eat Region, UConn cruised past Northwestern, 75-58, while San Diego State took down Yale, 8557, and Illinois defeated Duquesne, 89-63. Iowa State took down Washington State, 67-56.
In the West Region, North Carolina ran away from Michigan State, 85-69, while Alabama held off Grand Canyon, 72-61, and Clemson upset Baylor, 72-64. Arizona held off Dayton, 78-68.
In the South Region, Houston surived a scare from Texas A&M, 100-95, while Duke defeated James Madison, 93-55, and NC State held off Oakland, 79-73. Marquette took care of Colorado, 81-77.
In the Midwest Region, Purdue blasted Utah State, 106-67, while Gonzaga upset Kansas, 89-68, and Creighton won a 2OT thriller over Oregon, 86-73. Tennessee held off Texas, 62-58.
The rest of the field is as follows: Brian Conkin, Martin Duran, Oscar Sanchez, Robin Neinast, Jennifer Wilson- Conkin and Patricia Lopez are tied with 47 points, while Brenden Carter and JC Orozco are tied with 46 points, and Ed Dabrowski, Larry Ashley and Lauren Petty are tied with 45 points.
Mark Grace, Hannah Conkin, Teresa Dabrowski and Shaun Lewallen are tied with 44 points, while Ben Diaz, Kara Silvas, Johnny Rosemond, Richard Carter and Sheryl Lewallen are tied with 43 points.
Brooke Boeckmed has 42 points, while Richard Orozco, Zeb Petty and Stacy Guy are tied with 41 points and Brett Neinast and Dwight Lewallan are tied with 40 points. Derek Lopez, Janet Conkin and Lonnie Neinast are tied with 39 points, while Elisardo Cueto and Kristina Robinson are tied with 37 points and Ben Eastepp rounds out the field with 36 points.
The contest will be updated again after the Elite 8.
We want to thank our sponsors, whom without, this contest would not be possible. They are: Wellington State Bank, Littlefield I.S.D. Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Best Western, Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc., Rowe Abstract and Title Company and BASF.