16 North Carolina A&T (-3.5) vs. 16 Liberty
How they got here:
North Carolina A&T: MEAC Champions
Liberty: Big South Champions
Record vs. Tournament Teams
North Carolina A&T: 0-2
Liberty: 0-2
North Carolina A&T won the MEAC as a 7-seed. Liberty is just the second team to ever qualify for the tourney with 20 losses. Both teams defied odds to get here. One of them will get the chance to continue defying the odds. That team will be Liberty.
Prediction - Liberty 80 North Carolina A&T 75
11 St. Mary's (-3) vs. 11 Middle Tennessee
How they got here:
St. Mary's: WCC, At-Large
Middle Tennessee: Sun Belt, At-Large
Record vs. Tournament Teams
St. Mary's: 3-4
Middle Tennessee: 1-3
Saint Mary's suffered half of its losses to Gonzaga this year. They have been able to beat just about everyone else in their way. Middle Tennessee had the nation's longest winning streak until they lost in the Sun Belt Tournament. Something has to give here.
Prediction - St. Mary's 63 Middle Tennessee 59
16 LIU-Brooklyn (-2) vs. James Madison
How they got here:
LIU-Brooklyn: NEC Champions
James Madison: CAA Champions
Record vs. Tournament Teams
LIU-Brooklyn: 0-0
James Madison: 0-1
LIU-Brooklyn is appearing in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament. James Madison is playing in their first in 19 years. JMU will be without the services of their best player for a half, as Rayshawn Goins was arrested over the weekend.
Prediction - LIU-Brooklyn 75 James Madison 70
13 Boise St. (-2) vs. 13 LaSalle
How they got here:
Boise State: MWC, At-Large
LaSalle: Atlantic-10, At-Large
Record vs. Tournament Teams
Boise State: 4-7
LaSalle: 4-5
Receiving an at-large bid by the committee was a huge step for both of these programs. LaSalle was once a proud program, but has suffered through decades of futility. Boise is finally getting recognized for something other than the football team and their blue turf. One team will take another huge step with an NCAA Tournament win.
Prediction - LaSalle 71 Boise St. 67
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