Jason Cowans, a financial planner in Phoenix, leads the 14th annual Living Room Times men's NCAA pool at the end of the first round with a 28-4 prediction record.

Cowans took sole possession of the lead -- becoming the first contestant this year to do so -- when Siena completed its dramatic double-overtime victory over Ohio State. Previous co-leaders Michael Walsh and Tyler Condon had picked the Buckeyes.

Cowans' four incorrect picks in the first round were Wake Forest over Cleveland State, Florida State over Wisconsin, Butler over LSU and Illinois over Western Kentucky. Unfortunately for him, he had three of those teams -- Wake, FSU and Illinois -- going to the Sweet 16.

Still, for now, Cowans has 140 points out of a possible 160 to lead the pack. Condon, Walsh, Ryan Dalidowitz, Jennifer Elam, Greg Kagan, Brian Kiolbasa and Scott Schmidt are tied for second place with 135 points apiece. 18 contestants are tied just behind them, with 130 points. Standings here.

So far, each game has been worth 5 points. Starting tomorrow, however, the point totals will increase: the pool is scored on a 5-7-10-15-20-25 basis.

As a personal aside, congrats to Becky, who is among the 18 conestants with 130 points after a 26-6 first round. She's doing really well. I think I'm going to start rooting for her bracket (with the exception of Western Kentucky over Gonzaga tomorrow, of course), given how miserable mine is. I'm tied for 192nd place (and also tied with Barack Obama!), and only two contestants in the pool are doing worse than me: Allyson Perlini Teel and Todd Newton. I'm now tied with my cat Sasha, and behind my cats Toby and Butter. My prediction record is a miserable 19-13. Ugh.