AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Bradley was all business after knocking out Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Now it's party time.

The 13th-seeded Braves are on their way to the third round for the first time in 51 years after their latest stunner — a 72-66 victory over fifth-seeded Pittsburgh yesterday in the Oakland Regional.

"Being part of this program spanning 30 years ... to see the jubilation on the faces of those people, and getting the calls and text messages from people enjoying this run, that gives me tremendous pleasure," said coach Jim Les, a former BU point guard. "Bradley basketball is back on the map in a big way."

Patrick O'Bryant had 28 points and seven rebounds and Marcellus Sommerville added 18 points and six rebounds for the Braves (22-10), who join fellow Missouri Valley Conference member Wichita State in the round of 16. They will play top-seeded Memphis on Thursday.

Playing in their first NCAA tournament in 10 years, the Braves have looked like seasoned veterans with surprising wins over fourth-seeded Kansas and now the Panthers (25-8), becoming the first No. 13 seed in the regional semifinals since Oklahoma in 1999.

They didn't wait to make the six-hour trip back home to Peoria, Ill., to start celebrating.

As the horn sounded, the Bradley players leaped over the scorer's table and joined thousands of red-clad Braves faithful in the stands.

O'Bryant, a sophomore from Blaine, Minn., led the way after rendering Pitt's 7-footer a non-factor, getting Aaron Gray in early foul trouble with his quickness and then simply outplaying him in the second half.

"It was a great feeling, because those fans have been with us all year," O'Bryant said.

After dominating the smaller Kent State in the first round with 17 points and 13 rebounds, Gray had to look eye-to-eye with O'Bryant in this one and couldn't measure up, scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds.

There were only 24 teams in the tournament the last time Bradley advanced to the third round in 1955. It lost to Colorado that year, ending the school's bid for three title-game appearances in five years.

The Braves raced out to a 16-4 lead behind O'Bryant's inside presence and Pitt's 1-for-10 start from the field.

O'Bryant and Sommerville combined for all 13 of Bradley's points during a 13-2 run in the first six minutes of the second half that put the Braves in control.

MEMPHIS 72, BUCKNELL 56

DALLAS — Once its best player went out early with foul trouble, Bucknell didn't have a chance against mighty Memphis Tigers.

The top-seeded Tigers took full advantage of the absence of Charles Lee, outscoring the Bison 15-2 for a cushion they rode to a victory yesterday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Antonio Anderson scored 13 points and Joey Dorsey added 12, helping Memphis (32-3) win for the 21st time in 22 games. This one set the school record for victories in a season, topping the mark set by its 1985 Final Four team, and it sends the Tigers into the regional semifinals for the first time since '95.

Bucknell (27-5) was trying to become the fourth No. 9 seed to take down a No. 1. The Bison became the first-ever NCAA winners from the Patriot League last year when they beat Kansas in the first round.

Lee, Bucknell's leading scorer, got his second foul with 14:11 left. Bucknell led by six early.

When he returned less than six minutes later, the Bison were down by nine.