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Gonzaga is showing no mercy to Florida State, a team that always seems on the cusp of big things late in the season, then doesn't deliver. The Seminoles trail 24-9 just over midway through the first half, and are 4 of 15 from the field with five turn...

Gonzaga is up early on Florida State, which should put coach Mark Few at ease. His team went 0-2 against teams from the ACC during the regular season, losing to Wake Forest and Duke, the latter in a 76-41 rout.

So what if Arkansas-Pine Bluff has to play Duke? It beat Winthrop 61-44 in the opening-round game and is brimming with confidence in its first NCAA tournament. Might as well try to knock off the top-seeded bluebloods.

Keep an eye on Oklahoma State's James Anderson, one of the best players in the country that nobody talks about. He averaged just 13 points two years ago, but has ramped that up to better than 22 a game for the Cowboys.

Texas A&M and Pittsburgh are the only teams with a first-round NCAA tournament win each of the last five seasons, after the Aggies knocked off Utah State 69-53. Pittsburgh easily beat Oakland earlier in the day.

Texas A&M strings together eight straight points, beginning with a pair of free throws from David Loubeau and ending with B.J. Holmes' 3-pointer, and the lead has swelled to 65-47 with under 4 minutes to go.

Closing in on the evening slate of games, which kicks off with Florida State-Gonzaga from Buffalo in about 30 minutes. Georgia Tech takes on Oklahoma State in an intriguing first-round matchup between evenly matched teams, and Michigan State takes on...

Tai Wesley and Brady Jardine are both wearing protective facemasks for Utah State. The intimidation factor isn't working as Utah State is trailing 57-45 with about 7 1/2 minutes left.

Halftime of the only game going on Friday at 6 p.m. allows time to relay a story to consider when the second round tips off on Saturday.

Texas A&M is getting the better of the battle of the Aggies. Donald Sloan and Khris Middleton are causing all sorts of problems for Utah State, which is shooting 40 percent and has only three turnovers but still trails 42-29 at the half.