Michigan forced Colorado State, which entered Thursday’s game averaging 10 turnovers, into committing 11 of them, and outscored the Rams 15-11 in fast-break points.
Michigan became only the fourth team this season to beat Colorado State (25-6), which also fell to San Diego State, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Wyoming. Under coach Niko Medved, the Rams have won 20 or more games in three straight seasons.
Providence shuts down South Dakota State, a popular upset pick.
No. 13 South Dakota State entered its matchup with fourth-seeded Providence in Buffalo riding one of the most potent offenses in college basketball.
It was averaging 86.7 points per game, second only to Gonzaga, while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.
But then the Jackrabbits ran into the Friars and some old-fashioned Big East physicality and toughness. Providence contained South Dakota State, 66-57, while holding it to 39 percent shooting and 30 percent from behind the arc. The Friars (26-5) also kept the Jackrabbits off the foul line, limiting them to 6 for 9 shooting on free throws.
“I thought our players were determined, I thought our players were focused, I thought our guys had incredible understanding of what they were trying to do and our will to win,” Providence coach Ed Cooley, the Big East coach of the year, said in a television interview. “We always heard about how good they were. Our players feel that they’re a good basketball team as well.”
Providence, which won the Big East regular-season title, rebounded from a blowout loss to Creighton in the Big East tournament semifinals last Friday at Madison Square Garden to win its first N.C.A.A. tournament game since 2016.