The top two No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament both went down Thursday night in the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, the final ride for Coach K will roll into the weekend.
Arkansas 74, Gonzaga 68
For 40 frenzied minutes, JD Notae, Jaylin Williams and Arkansas played a maddening, muscular style on both ends that took Gonzaga out of its game — and right out of the NCAA Tournament far earlier than these Zags expected.
Notae scored 21 points despite missing 20 shots and the determined, fourth-seeded Razorbacks dashed the No. 1 overall seed Bulldogs' title hopes with a 74-68 win.
Duke 78, Texas Tech 73
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski moved within one win of his record-setting 13th trip to the Final Four in his farewell season thanks to two late baskets by Jeremy Roach that helped seal the Blue Devils' 78-73 win over Texas Tech on Thursday night.
Duke and Arkansas will face each other Saturday for the West Regional title.
Houston 72, Arizona 60
Jamal Shead scored a career-high 21 points and Houston led throughout in a 72-60 victory over top-seeded Arizona on Thursday night, moving the Cougars within one win of a second straight Final Four.
Villanova 63, Michigan 55
Jermaine Samuels scored 22 points, Collin Gillespie scored 12 and made a key 3-pointer late, and Villanova controlled Michigan in a 63-55 victory. Both were freshmen in Villanova's 2018 title run.
Villanova and Houston will face off Saturday for the South Regional title in what may be a home game for the Cougars. It's being played about 200 miles from the UH campus.
The lone remaining No. 1 seed is Kansas, which plays Providence Friday in the Sweet 16.
Travis Pittman contributed to this report.