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Golden Gophers Upset Iowa; Ducks Rally Past USC

1/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Minnesota Golden Gophers upset No. 19 Iowa 70-67 as Langston Reynolds scored 22 points and emerged as a lead guard.
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, initially scoreless in the first half, finished with 21 points but could not secure the win.
The Oregon Ducks overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 21 USC 71-66, aided by alumna Sabrina Ionescu's halftime speech and outscored USC 50-29 in the second half.

History

Historical Context

In 1985, Villanova, an eighth seed, achieved a historic upset by defeating the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 in the NCAA Championship game, held at Rupp Arena. This victory marked Villanova's first national title and remains the lowest seed to win the tournament. The game showcased Villanova's remarkable shooting performance, with a record 78.6% field goal accuracy, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of college basketball.

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Story summary

Minnesota Golden Gophers upset No. 19 Iowa 70-67 as Langston Reynolds scored 22 points and emerged as a lead guard.
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, initially scoreless in the first half, finished with 21 points but could not secure the win.
The Oregon Ducks overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 21 USC 71-66, aided by alumna Sabrina Ionescu's halftime speech and outscored USC 50-29 in the second half.

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