-PENN AT CORNELL (Ivy League) – Penn is eliminated with a loss.
-MANHATTAN AT CANISIUS (MAAC) – Canisius is eliminated if they lose this game, Fairfield defeats Mount St. Mary’s, and Rider wins at Merrimack.
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NEWS AND NOTES
-I read several posts saying there were no good games yesterday. These are the people you should NOT be listening to.
-Michigan’s season of being escape artists continues. They had to come form behind yesterday, at home, and then hit a last second shot that was contested from deep as time was expiring to get by Rutgers 84-82. Still, a win is a win, and they remain in the protected seed range, but they haven’t exactly been winning without having to sweat games out lately.
-Saint Mary’s got a scare at LMU, but escaped 58-55 to avoid having their resume take a hit. They struggled offensively, but got it done.
-UC San Diego did not struggle. They went on the road and beat a Cal State Northridge team that had been playing really well and that was way up for this one 77-71. I think I’ve seen enough. If UCSD wins out they definitely belong in the field regardless of what happens in the Big West Tournament.
-Bryant has clinched 1st place in the America East, and they did so in an exciting and controversial ending to a really exciting game. They were fouled as time expired and hit two freethrows to tie the game, and then win the game, 79-78. Bryant has clinched home court advantage for the AEast Tournament.
-Chattanooga knocked off UNC Greensboro on the road 75-63, who was the second best team in the conference, to clinch 1st place in the SoCon.
-Liberty got a battle from Jacksonsville State, but held on to win 59-55 and move themselves back into 1st place in Conference USA with just three games to go
-Central Connecticut has clinched 1st place and home court advantage in the NEC Conference Tournament. They knocked off Le Moyne 84-75.
-SEMO won their 10th straight as they went on the road to SIUE, who was the 2nd place team, and won handily 83-68. This clinches 1st place outright for them in the OVC, which is their first outright first place finish since 2000.
-IDAHO STATE WENT ON THE ROAD AND WON THE KING SPUD TROPHY!!! They knocked off rivals Idaho 59-55.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-YALE AT DARTMOUTH (Ivy League) – Yale clinches 1st place outright with a win tonight. They are a perfect 11-0 in conference play so far
-DAVIDSON AT VCU (Atlantic 10). VCU has been playing really well lately and appears to be squarely on the bubble. If they win out and avoid an early loss in the A10 Tournament then they have a solid chance.
-UCLA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Purdue has been struggling lately with four straight losses, including one to rivals Indiana in their last game, but should still end up as a protected seed so long as they can get things turned around. UCLA is a team that will likely squarely land in the top half of the bubble and who has won some pretty big games this season, so despite being at home this is not a cakewalk for the Boilers.
-JAMES MADISON AT TEXAS STATE (Sun Belt). JMU has clinched at least a share of 1st place and can clinch it outright, along with the quintuple bye in the conference tournament that comes along with it, with a win tonight.
-KENT STATE AT AKRON (MAC). The Wagon Wheel!!!! This version of it seems to be a little mismatched, though. Akron has been on a roll, and while they suffered a recent loss they still appear to be running away with the MAC and should get it done at home tonight.