Final automatic bids grabbed

More news about: Howard Payne | Keuka | MIT | Wells
Feb 27, 2011
Will Wabash squeeze into the NCAA tournament after Sunday's results?

MIT upended WPI 63-51 in the NEWMAC final to clinch its third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament and dash someone else's hopes for an at-large bid.

  • Hoopsville, 6-9 (or later) ET
  • Monday, 1 ET: Men's selection show
  • Monday, 3 ET: Women's selection show
  • Monday, 4 ET: Hoopsville bracket reaction show  

Plus, keep track of the last bids and last games of the regular season.

The Engineers of MIT entered the season ranked in the Top 25, but they lost their top player to injury early in the season, dropped out of the national rankings and aren't in the New England regional rankings. The Engineers of WPI are in good shape for an at-large bid, which means someone else's bubble will burst.

North Carolina Wesleyan pulled away from Ferrum 74-70 in overtime for the USA South Athletic Conference title. With Ferrum trailing by three and eight seconds left in regulation, Derek Mitchell converted a three-point play to pull the Panthers even. In overtime Domarius Thomas scored a layup to give North Carolina Wesleyan a 70-68 lead with a minute left. The Battling Bishops made enough free throws the rest of the way to knock the Panthers off and onto the NCAA tournament bubble. Mitchell scored 22 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the loss.

Williams and Middlebury are both locks to make the NCAA men's tournament, but their game did have implications for who may have hosting privileges on the road to Salem. Middlebury knocked off national No. 1 Williams 63-54 in Williamston, Mass. to claim the NESCAC title. The Panthers and Ephs only losses are to each other.

Franklin and Marshall is headed back to the NCAA tournament after an up-and-down season. The Diplomats took care of Dickinson 65-55 to win their sixth Centennial Conference title. St. Thomas took care of business at home with a 83-77 victory over Gustavus Adolphus in the MIAC final.

Wells is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. The Express edged Penn State-Harrisburg 75-72 in overtime to win the NEAC's automatic bid. Manchester wrapped up the Heartland title with a 79-69 win over Hanover.

Women's action

Amherst and Bowdoin are locks to make the NCAA women's tournament, but the Lord Jeffs will do so as conference champions. Amherst blasted the Polar Bears 72-37 in the title game and enters the Big Dance 26-1. Babson will be the third team in the NCAA tournament without a loss, joining Thomas More and Denison. The Beavers rolled past Smith 72-49 in the NEWMAC final.

Gallaudet and Ithaca will have a nervous night waiting to see if they get at-large bids. The Bison were upended at home by Keuka 50-46 in the NEAC final. The Bombers were beaten by Stevens for the second time in eight days, this time 57-48 in the Empire 8 title game.

DePauw beat Hendrix to clinch its final SCAC title. The Tigers will join the NCAC next season. Randolph-Macon outlasted Roanoke 77-68 in overtime to win the ODAC. Christopher Newport topped Greensboro 53-47 in the USA South Athletic Conference final and took two of three from the Pride this season.

Two former national champions grabbed the last two automatic bids into this year's tournament. Howard Payne beat Louisiana College 83-69 for its fourth ASC title in five years. UW-Stevens Point beat UW-Whitewater 73-53 behind Ashley Averkamp's 23 points and 10 rebounds. Dana Thompson had a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) for the Warhawks.