March Madness live bracket scores: Updated results, highlights from today’s 2026 NCAA Tournament games (March 19)

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The madness is here.

The NCAA Tournament is getting underway with first-round action, and every team believes the impossible is possible.

Will the first round be heavy on upsets? All indications are that it won’t. Every 1-4 seed is favored by double digits for the first time under the current format, and double-digit upsets are fairly rare in the NCAA Tournament, averaging out to about one per year over the last decade.

STREAM: Watch NCAA Tournament games live with DIRECTV

That doesn’t mean there won’t be chaos. From games that could be considered tossups to the chance for one shining moment from an unheralded teams, the first round will set the stage for what could be a thrilling tournament.

The Sporting News is tracking live scores, results and highlights from first-round games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Follow along with Thursday’s games below.

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March Madness live bracket scores

Round 1: Thursday, March 19

(8) Ohio State vs. (9) TCU

(4) Nebraska vs. (13) Troy

(6) Louisville vs. (11) USF

(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) High Point

(1) Duke vs. (16) Siena

(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) McNeese

(3) Michigan State vs. (14) North Dakota State

(4) Arkansas vs. (13) Hawaii

(6) North Carolina vs. (11) VCU

(1) Michigan vs. Howard

(6) BYU vs. (11) Texas

(7) St. Mary’s vs. (10) Texas A&M

(3) Illinois vs. (14) Penn

(8) Georgia vs. (9) Saint Louis

(3) Gonzaga vs. (14) Kennesaw State

(2) Houston vs. (15) Idaho

NCAA Tournament results, highlights from today’s games

All times ET.

(8) Ohio State vs. (9) TCU

2:27 p.m. — The TCU Horned Frogs are moving on, edging out the Buckeyes 66-64.

Xavier Edmonds hit the go-ahead layup with 4.4 seconds left. OSU’s Bruce Thornton had a chance to win the game with a half-court heave, but his effort was off the mark.

BUZZER SOUNDS. TCU GETS THE FIRST WIN OF #MarchMadness 🙌 @TCUBasketball pic.twitter.com/q7zFXi6HNd

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

1:52 p.m. — With 8:40 left in the game, Ohio State has cut the lead to two. TCU currently leads 49-47.

1:01 p.m. — TCU finished the first half lava hot. The Horned Frogs used an 11-0 run to take a 39-24 lead into halftime.

FROGS ARE UP BIG AT THE HALF 🐸#MarchMadness @TCUBasketball pic.twitter.com/9a65LeOOjY

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

12:41 p.m. — Halfway through the first half, the 8-9 matchup is standing up to the billing as TCU is up 14-13 over Ohio State in a close game so far.

12:18 p.m. — The Round of 64 is officially underway.

IT’S TIME TO DANCE 🕺#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/xSKCeX166N

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

(4) Nebraska vs. (13) Troy

2:38 p.m. — After 40 minutes, the Cornhuskers have officially won their first NCAA tournament game! They take care of the Troy Trojans 76-47.

Pryce Sandfort led the way with 23 points (seven three-pointers), five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

HUSKER HISTORY IN OKC 💪#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yIHi8PYLbb

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

2:09 p.m. — The Cornhuskers are well in control at Paycom Center. They lead 56-37 and look to be well on their way to their first NCAA Tournament win.

1:39 p.m. — Nebraska heads into halftime up 41-25.

1:19 p.m. — Nebraska settled in and started running away with the game. After the 10-minute mark, the Cornhuskers went on a 17-2 run in the next five minutes of game time.

Pryce Sandfort AGAIN ‼️#MarchMadness @HuskerMBB pic.twitter.com/moWzAWPBHh

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

1:03 p.m. — It is hard to imagine that the Cornhuskers are still looking for their first NCAA Tournament win. Even though they matched up with No. 13 Troy in the first round, Nebraska may be feeling the pressure. With 10 minutes to go in the first quarter, Troy has the game tied 15-15.

(6) Louisville vs. (11) USF

3:55 p.m. — Louisville survives against a great second-half effort from USF. They hold on 83-79 and are moving on to the Round of 32.

(6) LOUISVILLE MOVES ON 💨

The Cards hold off (11) South Florida 83-79 to advance to the second round 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/1P6HxgtNn5

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

3:08 p.m. — Halfway through the second 20 minutes, and the Cardinals are well in control over the Bulls 66-44.

Louisville is shooting 50% from downtown (12/24), while USF is at a mere 9.1% (2/22).

2:26 p.m. — The Louisville Cardinals head into the half up 37-27 on the USF Bulls.

Isaac McKneely is currently the game’s leading scorer with 11 points, shooting 4/5 from the field.

1:48 p.m. — USF was one of the most popular underdog picks in the first round. Through the first 10 minutes of the game, Louisville is up 17-11.

(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) High Point

3:54 p.m. — The Panthers are moving on! They narrowly beat out the Badgers 83-82.

Chase Johnston hit his first two-pointer of the year on the game-winning layup with 11 seconds to go.

FIRST 2-POINTER OF THE YEAR FOR CHASE JOHNSTON 😱

HIGH POINT LEADS!!! pic.twitter.com/N2ZWYSb9Dz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

3:15 p.m. — With 11 minutes to go in the second half, High Point has been battling. The Panthers and Badgers are tied at 58 apiece.

Four Panthers are in double digits (Martin, Aquino, Fletcher, Anderson). Can they close out the upset?

2:32 p.m. — At half, Wisconsin leads by two, 41-39, over High Point.

Blackwell is now up to 20 points, shooting 7/9 (77.8% FG) from the field.

2:07 p.m. — Nearly halfway through the first half from Moda Center and the Badgers are up 22-16 on the Panthers.

Wisconsin’s John Blackwell leads the way with 10 points, five rebounds, and an assist.

(1) Duke vs. (16) Siena

5:27 p.m. — Duke was able to fend off Siena 71-65. The 16-seeded Saints but a scare into the Blue Devils, but the Boozer brothers’ 31 points were huge down the stretch.

(1) DUKE SURVIVES 😱

The Blue Devils hang on late to down (16) Siena 71-65 and move on to the second round 😈 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/wO28fccUFY

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

3:50 p.m. — 20 minutes are in the books, and the Saints take a 43-32 lead into the break.

Gavin Doty leads all scorers with 16 points.

The No. 1 overall seed is down DOUBLE DIGITS at the half to Siena 😱#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/z1S79S7X62

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

3:27 p.m. — Halfway through the first half and Siena still leads 28-18 over the Blue Devils.

A lot of brackets will be nervous watching this game so far.

3:10 p.m. — Duke and Siena have kicked off. After five minutes, the Saints currently lead 12-10.

Francis Folefac already has seven points for Siena.

(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) McNeese

5:30 p.m. — Vandy takes care of McNeese 78-68 after the full 40 minutes are up.

The Commodores were down by as many as 11 early in the game.

ANCHOR DOWN ⚓️

(5) Vanderbilt defeats (12) McNeese 78-68 to advance to Round Two 😤#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/haKJCCfH9F

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

3:47 p.m. — With seven minutes to go in the first half, McNeese leads 26-20.

McNeese’s Garwey Dual and Larry Johnson lead the way with seven points.

3:19 p.m. — The Commodores and Cowboys have begun their battle at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Will McNeese pick up where they left off last tournament and get the upset win, or will Vanderbilt spoil their dance?

(3) Michigan State vs. (14) North Dakota State

6:34 p.m. — Tom Izzo and the Spartans are moving on after a 25-point victory over North Dakota State. They win 92-67.

SPARTY CRUISES 🚢

(3) Michigan State routs (14) North Dakota State 92-67 to move to the second round 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yjW7b9o36i

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

6:02 p.m. — With 10 minutes to go, MSU is still in control. They’re up 72-49 on the Bison.

Cooper now has 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists, with Fears at 11 assists.

5:30 p.m — At halftime, the Spartans are up big on the Bison 45-25.

Carson Cooper leads all scorers with 14 points, while Jeremy Fears has nine assists.

(4) Arkansas vs. (13) Hawaii

6:33 p.m. — Arkansas dominates Hawaii 97-78 in the Round of 64.

Five Razorbacks finished in double digits (Acuff, Thomas, Brazile, Ewin, Richmond)

(4) ARKANSAS DOMINATES IN ROUND ONE 🐗

Razorbacks put on a complete display and defeat (13) Hawaii 97-78 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/82ADdn2zd7

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

6:03 p.m. — The Razorbacks are still up big on the Rainbow Warriors. They lead 75-60 with 10 minutes to go.

Acuff is now the game’s leading scorer with 22 points.

5:32 p.m. — Arkansas takes an 18-point lead into the break at the Moda Center, as they’re up 54-36 on the Rainbow Warriors.

Meleek Thomas tops the scoring charts, with 14 points at half, with Darius Acuff right behind him with 13.