Morehead State First Team to Punch NCAA Tournament Ticket

The Commonwealth of Kentucky will have at least two participants in this year’s Big Dance. Morehead State became the first automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament when they took home the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title on Saturday night.

Morehead State, the No. 3 seed in the OVC Tournament, put top-seeded Little Rock on its heels right away. The Trojans trailed 21-4 more than nine minutes into the action at the Ford Center in Evansville. Despite a few late pushes, the Golden Eagles held on for a 69-55 victory.

It’s the second trip to the NCAA Tournament for Morehead State in the last four years. Coached by Preston Spradlin, who spent five years working for John Calipari at Kentucky, the Golden Eagles finished the year with a 26-8 record. It’s a school record fourth-straight 20-win season for Morehead State.

“It’s been so rewarding on a number of different levels. This one’s different because you talk about these three guys …,” Spradlin said of players seated beside him. “I’m so thankful for all of these guys for believing in our staff and in our program and what they’ve done to get us to this moment.”

The three guys who joined Spradlin for the postgame press conference had big nights. Riley Minix, a 6-foot-7 wing and former NAIA All-American, played like the OVC Player of the Year in the championship game, netting 26 points for Morehead State. Drew Thelwell, the school’s all-time wins leader, scored 21 points. Kalil Thomas chipped in 13 points and three steals in the win.

This will be the ninth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance for Morehead State. The last time they won a game in the Big Dance, the Louisville Cardinals were on the wrong side of history. The Manimal, Kenneth Faried, had 12 points and 17 rebounds, but it was DeMonte Harper who brought the onions and buried the Cards with a three from the top of the key in the closing seconds.

Three More NCAA Tournament Berths

In a result that will disappoint the internet, Indiana State fell to Drake 84-80 in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final. The Sycamores became a sensation thanks to the play of goggled center Robbie Avila. Indiana State won the MVC regular season championship, but Drake conquered Arch Madness in St. Louis. After giving up an 18-point lead in the second half, Drake finished the game on a 10-5 run. Tucker DeVries was terrific, leading the Bulldogs with 27 points.

It’s Drake’s second straight MVC Tournament Championship and the Bulldogs’ third NCAA Tournament berth in the last four years. Indiana State will finish somewhere in the 30s of the NET rankings with only one Quad 1 win. They’ll be sweating for an at-large bid on Selection Sunday.

Longwood did not have to break a sweat in the Big South title. Despite a 6-10 record in league play, the Lancers completely dominated UNC-Asheville. Four players scored in double figures in Longwood’s 85-59 victory.

The ASUN’s chaotic conference tournament ended with a historic victory. A three at the buzzer bounced off the rim as Stetson survived 94-91, defeating Austin Peay to earn the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Jalen Blackmon, the son of former Kentucky Wildcat James Blackmon Sr., was incredible. The guard made 5 of 9 three-point attempts en route to scoring a career-high 43 points.

March Madness is here and it’s beautiful.