After 15th-seeded St. Peter’s stunned No. 2 Kentucky in Thursday’s slate of games, it briefly looked as if the run of March upsets might extend into a Friday afternoon matchup between No. 2-seeded Auburn and No. 15-seeded Jacksonville State.
But the Tigers held off the Gamecocks, 80-61, in the first round to advance to face the winner of a game between Southern California and Miami.
The Gamecocks earned a trip to the N.C.A.A. tournament despite losing to Bellarmine in the Atlantic Sun tournament, because Bellarmine is not eligible for the national tournament as its athletic program transitions to Division I.