{"id":415560,"date":"2025-03-18T10:45:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T14:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmoresports.com\/?p=415560"},"modified":"2025-03-26T04:54:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T08:54:40","slug":"march-madness-2025-first-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmoresports.com\/march-madness-2025-first-four\/","title":{"rendered":"March Madness 2025: First Four"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Four Recap \u2013 March 18, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 2025 NCAA Tournament officially tipped off<\/strong> with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio<\/strong>, featuring four high-stakes matchups that delivered excitement, drama, and the first eliminations of March Madness. Teams battled not just for pride but for a spot in the coveted Round of 64<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Game Results & Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Xavier 72, Texas 66<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Xavier overcame a slow start to beat Texas, led by Desmond Claude\u2019s 19 points and 7 rebounds<\/strong>. Texas struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 24%, while Xavier\u2019s defense forced 14 turnovers in a dominant second half.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Arizona State 80, Colorado State 77 (OT)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This overtime thriller saw ASU\u2019s Frankie Collins hit a deep three with 4 seconds left<\/strong> to seal the win. He finished with 24 points and 6 assists, while CSU\u2019s Isaiah Stevens had 21 points in the loss.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Indiana State 68, Virginia 61<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Sycamores stunned Virginia behind a 20-point performance from Robbie Avila<\/strong>, pulling away late as Virginia\u2019s offense stalled. Indiana State shot 50% from the field and out-rebounded the Cavaliers 34-27.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Drake 73, VCU 70<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Drake held off a late rally from VCU with Tucker DeVries scoring 22 points<\/strong> and going 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the final minutes. It was a tough, physical contest with both teams shooting under 40%.<\/p>\n

\n

Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • \n

    Arizona State and Drake advance as lower seeds<\/strong>, keeping Cinderella hopes alive.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Xavier showed poise and experience<\/strong>, coming back strong in the second half.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Indiana State\u2019s win over Virginia marks the first big surprise of the tournament<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Guard play and clutch shooting were decisive across the board.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \n

    Next Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    These winners advance to the Round of 64<\/strong>, where they\u2019ll face top seeds looking to avoid early upsets. With momentum on their side, keep an eye on Arizona State and Drake<\/strong> to cause further disruption in the bracket.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Call-to-Action (CTA):<\/strong>
    For full March Madness coverage, expert bracket picks, and daily game recaps, subscribe now<\/strong> and follow along every step of the tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    First Four Recap \u2013 March 18, 2025 The 2025 NCAA Tournament officially tipped off with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, featuring four high-stakes matchups that delivered excitement, drama, and the first eliminations of March Madness. Teams battled not just for pride but for a spot in the coveted Round of 64. Game Results & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":236,"featured_media":415562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-415560","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaab"},"yoast_head":"\nMarch Madness 2025: First Four | Get More Sports<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Recap the First Four games of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. 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