Kansas Advances to NCAA Tournament Second Round

Jayhawks defeat California Baptist to reach next round

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:04am

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The No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks defeated the No. 13 seed California Baptist Lancers 68-60 in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Kansas built a 20-point halftime lead and held on to advance to the second round.

Why it matters

Kansas is one of the most successful and recognizable programs in college basketball, having won 3 national championships. Their tournament run is closely followed by fans across the country.

The details

The Jayhawks jumped out to a big first-half lead, taking a 20-point advantage into halftime. California Baptist mounted a comeback in the second half, but Kansas was able to hold on for the 68-60 victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Kansas Jayhawks

The No. 4 seed men's basketball team from the University of Kansas, a perennial NCAA Tournament contender.

California Baptist Lancers

The No. 13 seed men's basketball team from California Baptist University, making their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

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What’s next

Kansas will face the winner of the first-round matchup between the No. 5 seed and the No. 12 seed in the second round on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

Kansas' victory sets up a second-round showdown as they continue their quest for a fourth national championship.