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Gray's scoring explosion leads list of top performers from Thursday's action

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The first 16 games of the 2018 NCAA tournament have come and gone, and the result was a remarkable day of college basketball action.

From Buffalo's stunning upset of Arizona to Rob Gray putting Houston on his back with an all-world performance, it will be tough for Friday's schedule to match the drama of Thursday's slate.

Here are the best performances from the opening day of play.

Rob Gray, Houston

Gray turned in the best individual showing, pouring in an absurd 39 points versus San Diego State. He saved the best for last, driving for the game-winning bucket with 1.1 seconds to play. With 39 points, he outscored the rest of the Houston roster by 11 and made sure the Cougars would advance.

Wes Clark and Jeremy Harris, Buffalo

If Gray turned in the best individual performance, Buffalo takes Thursday's title for best team showing. The 13th-ranked Bulls stunned No. 4 Arizona in a 21-point blowout, getting up early and pulling away with a dominant second half. The duo of Wes Clark and Jeremy Harris led the way with a combined 48 points, including six 3-pointers. The pair also combined for eight assists and 11 rebounds in the Bulls' shocking victory.

Devonte' Graham, Kansas

For a while, it looked as though Penn had a decent chance to become the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1. The Quakers built an early lead over Kansas before Devonte' Graham took over and pushed the Jayhawks to a comfortable win. The senior guard poured in 29 points while adding six rebounds and six assists to set up a second-round meeting with Seton Hall.

Kam Williams, Ohio State

After Ohio State built a double-digit lead on South Dakota State with four minutes to play, the Jackrabbits roared back with a 10-0 run that tied the contest with 1:53 left. Williams then took matters into his own hands, ripping off a personal 7-0 run beginning with a stunning four-point play. The Buckeyes sharpshooter finished with 22 points in the win, and showed he can be counted on down the stretch.

Allerik Freeman, NC State

NC State may have fallen to Seton Hall, but Allerik Freeman didn't walk off the court as a loser. The electric guard connected on a sparkling 6-of-8 triples en route to a whopping 36 points. Freeman came into the contest averaging 15.4 points per game, so his explosive outing definitely surprised his opponent. Sadly, that's the end of the line for the Baylor transfer, but his career culminates with a exceptional performance in the tournament.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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