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MAC Postseason Update: NIT, CIT & CIT Recaps

NIT First Round: Kent State 71, Saint Mary’s (CA) 70

The night’s biggest stunner came in the final NIT game on the slate. When all other games had been put to bed, this one continued on the West Coast and produced a very surprising result. The Kent State Golden Flashes trailed 57-45 with 12:54 left in Moraga, California, against the Saint Mary’s Gaels, who were trying to make a run after being left out of the NCAA Tournament. Saint Mary’s still led 67-61 with just over two minutes left and, in the final seconds, still owned a 70-67 edge. Then, however, the miracle happened. Kent State scored a layup with 10 seconds left to make the score 70-69. KSU stole the inbounds pass and produced a Justin Greene layup with four ticks left on the clock to finish off the amazing comeback. Saint Mary’s was the No. 2 seed in this NIT subregional, opening up the bracket for a darkhorse team.

CIT First Round: Buffalo 75, Quinnipiac 68

Zach Filzen scored 17 points to lead the Buffalo Bulls (19-13) to a victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats (21-10) in an opening round game of the CollegeInsider.Com Postseason Tournament played at TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Connecticut.  The win was just the Bulls’ second postseason victory ever and was their first-ever road win in the postseason.  Junior forward Mitchell Watt added 16 points for the Bulls, converting an efficient 5-of-9 field goal attempts and making 6-of-7 free throws.  Dave Barnett chipped in 15 points for the Bulls. 

The first was somewhat ragged, as both struggled to make shots, exchanging the lead eleven times.  The score was tied at 29 when Watt made two free throws with 35 seconds remaining in the half to give the Bulls a 31-29 lead.  Freshman Jarod Oldham hit a layup with one second remaining to stake the Bulls to a 33-29 halftime lead.  The Bulls opened the second half with a 17-9 run, taking a 48-38 lead on a three-pointer by Zach Filzen.  The Bobcats battled back, but were unable to get any closer than 56-51. 

James Johnson led the Bobcats with 17 points.  All-NEC First Team pick Justin Rutty had 13 points and 7 rebounds in his final game as a Bobcat.

Buffalo will travel to Kalamazoo to face fellow MAC member Western Michigan on Saturday night with the winner to face Iona in the CIT semifinals.

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CIT First Round: Ohio 65, Marshall 64

The Ohio Bobcats scored a road victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd in the opening round of the College Insider Tournament at the Henderson Center on Tuesday night. The Bobcats, who got behind 10-3 early in the first stanza, rallied in the second half to score the victory. Ohio’s D.J. Cooper gave the Bobcats the lead with 1:30 left. In a comedy of errors, missed free-throws, and lackluster play neither team scored again. The Thundering Herd finished the season at 22-12. Ohio (19-15), who shocked Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, will move on to the quarterfinals of the CIT as they have received a bye past the second round. Ohio will face East Tennessee State (23-11) in Athens on Tuesday night.

CIT First Round: Western Michigan 74, Tennessee Tech 66

Western Michigan defeated Tennessee Tech in the first round of the 2011 CIT tournament in a game played on WMU's home court, the in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Broncos led by 10 at the half after taking the lead with about seven minutes remaining in the first half, and although the Golden Eagles pulled within six points several times in the second half, they couldn’t get the win.

The Broncos were led by Demetrius Walker with 15 points and eight rebounds. Juwan Howard, Jr. chipped in with 13 points in the game. The Golden Eagles lost despite getting 28 points and eight rebounds from Kevin Murphy. Tennessee Tech finished the season with a 20-13 mark. WMU will host fellow MAC member Buffalo on Saturday night with the winner to face Iona in the CIT semifinals.

CBI First Round: Rhode Island 76, Miami 59

Delroy James had a triple double, the first in Rhode Island history, to lead the Rhode Island Rams to a victory over the Miami Redhawks in a College Basketball Invitational (CBI) first round contest.  James scored a game-high 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Rams.  Rhody went on a 16-5 run to blow open a 20-19 game and take a 36-24 halftime lead.  The Redhawks were unable to close the gap in the second half, as James scored 12 points in the second stanza.

Miami was led by Julian Mavunga, who scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.  The Redhawks finish the season with a 16-17 record.
Rhody will face UCF, a 69-54 winner over St. Bonaventure, in the second round of the CBI on Monday, March 21. 

By Zach Bloxham and Tim Coyne
DFN Sports Staff Writers