OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Kansas, Michigan State and Xavier are today’s early winners in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

Brandon Rush scored 18 points, and top-seeded Kansas romped to an 85-61 victory over a Portland State team that got quite a hazing in its first NCAA tournament appearance Thursday. And Raymar Morgan led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points and Michigan State ousted Temple from the NCAA tournament with a 72-61 victory in the first round of the South Regional.

Derrick Brown’s 19 points and 11 rebounds led a balanced-as-usual offense, and No. 3-seeded Xavier avoided a big upset by rallying to overcome fading Georgia 73-61 in a first-round West Regional game. Super-sub Josh Duncan scored 20 for the Musketeers (28-6), who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half but conjured up a 22-6 run to come back.

The Jayhawks’ five seniors and Rush, a junior star who might be headed to the NBA, are determined to go out in style after some bitter disappointments in the tournament.

Darrell Arthur got free in the lane and rocked the basket with a thunderous dunk. Darnell Jackson went flying down the court and slammed one through. Then it was Arthur’s turn again - yes, he soared above the rim for another jam.

Just over 3 minutes into the game, it was quite clear Kansas wasn’t in the mood for another first-round stunner.

Dunking on the inside and swishing 3s from beyond the arc, the top-seeded Jayhawks romped to victory.

The Jayhawks still remember being knocked off two straight years in the opening round, losing stunners to Bucknell in 2005 and Bradley in ‘06. Last year, they were within one victory of the Final Four but lost in the regional finals. This season, they won’t be satisfied unless they’re cutting down the nets in San Antonio.

Well, Kansas (32-3) is off to a good start. No 16th-seeded team has ever beaten a No. 1, and Portland State never had a chance in this one.