The No. 12 seed Colorado State Rams were actually a slight favorite against No. 5 seed Memphis in most sportsbooks after Tigers guard Tyrese Hunter was ruled out. The Rams entered March Madness hot after rolling through the Mountain West Conference tournament, and they kept their positive momentum going in a complete performance to knock off Memphis.
Colorado State earned a 78-70 victory behind Kyan Evans’ 23 points and a solid all-around game from star forward Nique Clifford. Memphis led at the half but they couldn’t get a stop after they came out of the locker room, with Colorado State putting up 47 points in the final 20 minutes. Colorado State will now play No. 4 seed Maryland. The ‘Crab Five’ decimated No. 13 seed Grand Canyon from the opening tip, and should be a sizable favorite to reach the Sweet 16.
Elsewhere in the bracket on Friday, No. 2 seed Alabama survived a scare from No. 15 seed Robert Morris, Duke rolled as Cooper Flagg returned to the lineup from an ankle injury, and Baylor outlasted Mississippi State.