ESPN Cleveland Sports Daily - March 18, 2026 - presented by Commonspirit Memorial
The madness has officially arrived! From a heart-stopping buzzer-beater in Dayton to history-making runs by the Howard Bison, the NCAA Tournament is off to an electric start. Plus, we have the latest on local high school action and a historic finish to the World Baseball Classic.
🏀 NCAA Men’s Basketball: First Four Thrillers
The "First Four" in Dayton delivered high-stakes drama as teams fought for their spot in the field of 64.
Texas Survives at the Horn
In an absolute nail-biter, Texas (68) edged out NC State (66). The Longhorns secured the victory with a clutch bucket with just one second remaining on the clock.
Up Next: Texas moves on to face BYU in the main bracket.
History for Howard
Howard (86) outlasted UMBC (83) in a high-scoring battle. This marks a monumental moment for the Bison program as they advance to the next round.
Up Next: Howard will take on Michigan in their tournament opener.
📺 Tonight’s Schedule: Wednesday, March 18
The action continues tonight with two more "First Four" matchups. You can catch the late-night coverage on ESPN Cleveland 101.3 and truTV.
Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh | 6:40 PM
Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU | 9:15 PM
🏆 Local Spotlight: Mix Madness
Stay connected with the tournament through our local partners and challenges:
Mix Madness: Presented by Kia of Cleveland. Visit Mymix1041.com for details.
Tournament Challenge: Presented by Two Brothers Tire and Auto. Join the fun at espncleveland1013.com.
TSSAA Boys State Tournament (Thursday)
Local fans, mark your calendars! Walker Valley takes on Farragut this Thursday.
Tip-off: Noon ET
How to Listen: Tune in to Mix 104.1 or use the Mix App.
Sponsor: Coverage is proudly presented by Cleveland Ford.
âšľ World Baseball Classic: Venezuela Reigns Supreme
The international stage saw a changing of the guard as Venezuela stunned the United States in the championship game. In a defensive battle that went down to the wire, Venezuela defeated the US 3-2 to claim the WBC title.