Huskies by 11 at the half

Despite the two fouls that limited Jon Brockman's time in the first half, the Washington Huskies -- led by forward Quincy Pondexter, with 15 points -- lead Mississippi State, 38-27, at intermission.

This was one of those games, like VCU-UCLA later tonight, that had become a popular choice to pick the (seed) underdog.

But the Huskies would have to really come apart in the second half to lose this one.

Twenty more minutes of action and half of the day's 16 first-round games would be completed.

So far . . . there hasn't been a lot of sparks flying.