Those watching this one early on might’ve felt there was a chance.

When Longwood’s Johnathan Massie hit a 3-pointer about nine minutes into the game, it cut his team’s deficit to seven points and maybe offered it a glimmer of hope.

But the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars (31-4) took that away quickly in an 86-46 win over the No. 16 seed Lancers (21-14) in a first-round matchup in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at FedExForum. 

NCAA box score: Houston 86, Longwood 46

“It felt great to go back and work on our fundamentals, get back to doing the things that made us a good defensive team,” said Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, whose team got blown out by Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game less than a week ago.

Percentages: FG .341, FT .938.

3-Point Goals: 3-13, .231 (Massie 2-2, Houston 1-3, Granlund 0-1, Richards 0-1, Christmas 0-3, Napper 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 6.

Team Turnovers: None.

As the chants rang through FedExForum, it became clear that the stage was set for Nebraska.

There was the majority red crowd. There was the soon-to-be national sensation Keisei Tominaga. There was history to be made.

Texas A&M wouldn’t allow it.

NCAA box score: Texas A&M 98, Nebraska 83

The No. 9 seed Aggies (21-14) knocked off the No. 8 seed Cornhuskers (23-11) 98-83 in a first-round matchup in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in Memphis.

Percentages: FG .493, FT .750.

3-Point Goals: 13-24, .542 (Taylor 7-10, Obaseki 3-5, Radford 1-1, Carter 1-3, Washington 1-3, Garcia 0-1, Hefner 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 5.

Team Turnovers: None.

What at once appeared to be a special season for Clemson has new life.

The No. 6 seed Tigers (22-11) toppled the No. 11 seed New Mexico Lobos (26-10) 77-56 in a first-round matchup in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon at FedExForum.

Coach Brad Brownell’s team had jumped out to a 9-0 start to its 2023-24 campaign and was ranked as high as No. 13 in the AP Top 25 poll in mid-December. Then, it went 12-11 and took a blowout loss to Boston College in the second round of the ACC Tournament ahead of Selection Sunday.

NCAA box score: Clemson 77, New Mexico 56

But the Tigers look to be rejuvenated. Their performance against the Mountain West’s Lobos — in which they won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2018 — certainly suggested so.

~ The Associated Press

~ Frank Bonner II

Percentages: FG .456, FT .714.

3-Point Goals: 5-18, .278 (Smith 2-5, Jones 1-2, Moffatt 1-2, Baker 1-6, Records 0-1, Louis-Jacques 0-2).

Team Rebounds: 4.

Team Turnovers: None.