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After a couple of mild upsets and a slew of games that tested some of the top teams in the NCAA men's basketball tournament Thursday, the remaining teams in the draw took the court Friday in more first-round action.

Midwest Region

After a day off Thursday, the Midwest region opened tournament play Friday.

Defending champion Kansas kicked off action in the Midwest with a test against No. 14 North Dakota State, which was making its first appearance in the men's NCAA basketball tournament. The Jayhawks pulled away from the No. 14 seed late in the second half to secure an 84-74 victory.

No. 11 Dayton recorded the biggest upset of Friday's early games, knocking off No. 6 West Virginia 68-60. Dayton led by five at the half and held off WVU in the second period to secure the victory. The No. 11 seed will next face Kansas in Sunday's second round.

Later Friday, this year's No. 1 overall seed -- the Louisville Cardinals -- took the court against No. 16 Morehead State. The Eagles, who earned the first-round meeting with Louisville by topping Alabama State in Tuesday's play-in game, were no match for the top-seeded team, falling 74-54.

While the Cardinals got an expected victory, No. 12 Arizona recorded an upset win over No. 5 Utah. Arizona, which led by five at the half, captured an 84-71 victory to advance to the second round. The Wildcats became the second No. 12 seed in the tournament to advance out of the second round, joining Western Kentucky, which defeated Illinois on Thursday.

No. 10 USC also captured an upset victory when the Trojans defeated No. 7 Boston College 72-55. USC, which trailed BC at the half, out-scored the Eagles 42-21 in the second period to secure the win.

No. 13 Cleveland State kept the string of upsets going in the Midwest region when it eliminated No. 4 Wake Forest. Cleveland State led by nine at the half and increased its advantage en route to capturing an 84-69 victory.

No. 15 Robert Morris' quest for an upset was denied by No. 2 Michigan State. The Spartans eased into the second round with a 77-62 victory. MSU will next face USC on Sunday.

In arguably the most exciting game of the first round, No. 9 Siena recorded a mild upset over No. 8 Ohio State in a 74-72, double-overtime victory Friday night.

Friday's Games
No. 3 Kansas 84, No. 14 North Dakota St. 74
No. 11 Dayton 68, No. 6 West Virginia 60
No. 1 Louisville 74, No. 16 Morehead St. 54
No. 12 Arizona 84, No. 5 Utah 71
No. 10 USC 72, No. 7 Boston College 55
No. 9 Siena 74, No. 8 Ohio St. 72, 2OT
No. 13 Cleveland St. 84, No. 4 Wake Forest 69
No. 2 Michigan St. 77, No. 15 Robert Morris 62

Thursday's Results
No games scheduled.

West Region

The West region was slated for a quiet day Friday after most of the teams completed their first-round games Thursday.

In Friday's first game, No. 6 Marquette was tested by No. 11 Utah State. Marquette, which led by eight points at the half, withstood a Utah State comeback to hold on for a 58-57 victory.

Later, No. 3 Missouri eliminated No. 14 Cornell 78-59.

Thursday's slate saw the region's No. 1 and No. 2 teams in action.

No. 2 Memphis, which many thought could have been a No. 1 seed in this year's tournament, struggled to a 81-70 win over No. 15 Cal State Northridge in the opening round. The Tigers trailed at times early in the second half before eventually pulling away in the final minutes to secure the victory.

In other early action, No. 9 Texas A&M defeated No. 8 BYU 79-66 in a mild upset and No. 5 Purdue hung on to eliminate No. 12 Northern Iowa 61-56.

No. 10 Maryland knocked off No. 7 California 84-71. Maryland will next face top-seeded Memphis in Saturday's second round.

Later Thursday, the region's No. 1 seed, Connecticut made quick work of No. 16 Chattanooga. The Huskies -- who played without head coach Jim Calhoun, who was said to be ill -- posted a 103-47 victory to earn the right to face Texas A&M in the second round.

In the region's evening game, No. 4 Washington downed No. 13 Mississippi State 71-58 to advance to the second round, where it will meet Purdue.

Friday's Games
No. 6 Marquette 58, No. 11 Utah St. 57
No. 3 Missouri 78, No. 14 Cornell 59

Thursday's Results
No. 2 Memphis 80, No. 15 Cal St. Northridge 71
No. 9 Texas A&M 79, BYU 66
No. 5 Purdue 61, No. 12 Northern Iowa 56
No. 10 Maryland 84, No. 7 California 71
No. 1 Connecticut 103, No. 16 Chattanooga 47
No. 4 Washington 71, No. 13 Mississippi St. 58

East Region

First-round action in the East region was split between Thursday and Friday.

Friday's action opened with a nail-biter, as No. 8 Oklahoma State outlasted No. 9 Tennessee 77-75.

Later Friday, No. 1 Pittsburgh got an unexpected test from No. 16 East Tennessee State. ETSU, looking to become the first 16-seed to ever defeat a No. 1 seed in the current tournament format, trailed Pitt by three at the half. ETSU stayed close to Pitt throughout the second half before eventually falling 72-62.

No. 4 Xavier had no problem with No. 13 Portland State, building on a seven-point halftime lead to capture a 77-59 victory.

In the region's final game Friday, No. 12 Wisconsin fought back from a 12-point deficit against No. 5 Florida State at the half to even the game at 52-52 at the end of regulation. The teams traded points in overtime before the Badgers made a basket and a free throw at the end of the extra session to give UW the 61-59 victory.

On Thursday, No. 10 Minnesota held an early lead over No. 7 Texas before the Longhorns fought back to eventually capture a comfortable 76-62 victory.

No. 14 American gave No. 3 Villanova fits in the first half, taking a 10-point lead into the intermission. But Villanova clawed back in the second half and secured an 80-67 victory.

Later Thursday night, second-seeded Duke eased to an 86-62 victory over No. 15 Binghamton. The Blue Devils will take on Texas in Saturday's second round.

No. 6 UCLA closed out Thursday's play in the East region with a narrow 65-64 victory over No. 11 VCU. The Bruins led by 10 at the half before Virginia Commonwealth climbed back into contention in the second half. VCU had a chance to grab the victory but missed a last-second shot, giving UCLA the one-point win.

Friday's Games
No. 8 Oklahoma St. 77, No. 9 Tennessee 75
No. 1 Pittsburgh 72, No. 16 East Tennessee St. 62
No. 4 Xavier 77, No. 13 Portland St. 59
No. 12 Wisconsin 61, No. 5 Florida St 59, OT

Thursday's Results
No. 7 Texas 76, No. 10 Minnesota 62
No. 3 Villanova 80, No. 14 American 67
No. 2 Duke 86, No. 15 Binghamton 62
No. 6 UCLA 65, No. 11 VCU 64

South Region

After a busy opening day Thursday, there were just two games scheduled for Friday in the South region.

No. 3 Syracuse opened Friday's action with a 59-44 victory over Stephen F. Austin. Later, No. 6 Arizona State defeated No. 11 Temple 66-57.

On Thursday No. 8 LSU held off a comeback attempt by No. 9 Butler to secure a 75-71 victory in the day's early game.

Later, No. 1 North Carolina began its quest for an NCAA title Thursday afternoon with a 101-58 rout against No. 16 Radford. The Tar Heels didn't even need standout point guard Ty Lawson, who was hindered by a lingering toe injury. UNC will next face LSU in Saturday's second round.

In the evening session, No. 10 Michigan pulled an upset over No. 7 Clemson. The Wolverines, who are making their return to the NCAA tournament after years of struggling following violations in the late 1990s, downed Clemson 62-59 to advance to the second round.

No. 4 Gonzaga avoided an upset in their first-round game. No. 13 Akron led Gonzaga by three points at the half before the fourth-seeded squad out-scored Akron 42-26 in the second half to secure a 77-64 victory.

Later, No. 2 Oklahoma downed No. 15 Morgan State. The Sooners built on a 19-point lead at the half to secure an 82-54 victory. OU will next face Michigan in Saturday's second round.

In the region's last game of the night, No. 12 Western Kentucky recorded the biggest upset of the day, knocking off No. 5 Illinois 76-72. Western Kentucky led the Fighting Illini 37-28 at the half before Illinois came back late in the game.

Friday's Games
No. 3 Syracuse 59, No. 14 Stephen F. Austin 44
No. 6 Arizona St. 66, No. 11 Temple 57

Thursday's Results
No. 8 LSU 75, No. 9 Butler 71
No. 1 North Carolina 101, No. 16 Radford 58
No. 10 Michigan 62, No. 7 Clemson 59
No. 4 Gonzaga 77, No. 13 Akron 64
No. 2 Oklahoma 82, No. 15 Morgan St. 54
No. 12 Western Kentucky 76, No. 5 Illinois 72