WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Little Monmouth University earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament with strong defense and a big game from a point guard whose GPA is higher than his scoring average.
Sophomore Tyler Azzarelli scored a career-high 19, and the top-seeded Hawks held Central Connecticut State to 32.3 percent shooting in a 67-55 victory Wednesday night in the Northeast Conference championship game.
"He's had games where he only scored two points and he has been just as fabulous as he was tonight," Monmouth coach Dave Calloway said of Azzarelli, a Plant graduate. "Tonight we needed him to score and do some different things and he did that, too."
Azzarelli was 7-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line to help the Hawks (21-11) overcome a subpar night by star Blake Hamilton, who was held to 10 points.
"I have been struggling offensive as far as scoring all year," said Azzarelli, whose 3.4 scoring average is lower than his 3.8 grade-point average at the 3,500-student school.
"I just think tonight is a tribute to our firepower. They extended out and that created some lanes and gave me some open looks and I was able to convert them."
Atlantic 10
XAVIER 90, ST. BONAVENTURE 64: Anthony Myles led a scoring parade with 20 and the Musketeers took control early in Dayton, Ohio. Lionel Chalmers added 14 points, Brandon Cole had 12 and Justin Cage and Romain Sato each had 10 for Xavier (20-10), which meets top-seeded and top-ranked St. Joseph's this morning in the quarterfinals.
RHODE ISLAND 55, LA SALLE 42: Steve Mello hit two key first-half 3-pointers and the Rams defense held the Explorers to 25 percent shooting. Rhode Island (19-12) plays George Washington (17-10) in the quarterfinal. The Rams played most of the game without leading scorer Dawan Robinson. Midway through the first, Robinson flipped over a defender and landed hard on the floor. He sustained a severe back bruise and is questionable for the quarterfinal.
DUQUESNE 79, UMASS 76: Martin Osimani made four free throws in the final 8.6 seconds to lead the Dukes (12-16), who meets Dayton (22-7) in the quarterfinal.
RICHMOND 67, FORDHAM 47: Reggie Brown hit three consecutive 3-pointers in a 16-6 run to lead the Spiders (19-11). They meet Temple (15-12) in the quarterfinal.
Big East
BC 68, GEORGETOWN 57: Craig Smith had 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Eagles bounced the Hoyas, their earliest exit from the conference tournament. Fifth-seeded Boston College (22-8) won its sixth straight and ninth of 10 and advanced to today's quarterfinal against fourth-seeded and 19th-ranked Syracuse (21-6). Georgetown (13-15) ended its season with a nine-game losing streak, snapping its run of 24 straight quarterfinal appearances.
NOTRE DAME 65, W. VA. 64: Colin Falls hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds to go, wiping out a spirited Mountaineers comeback attempt. The victory moved the Irish (17-11) into tonight's quarterfinal against second-seeded Connecticut. Notre Dame opened a lead that stretched to 16 at 53-37 when the Mountaineers climbed back. Tyrone Sally's shot rolled around and in to put West Virginia on top with 45 seconds left. That's when Falls hit his 3-pointer.
VILLANOVA 61, SETON HALL 60: Randy Foye hit a jumper with 3.6 seconds to play for the Wildcats. It was the eighth lead change in the final 5:34. Andre Barrett's long 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. Villanova (15-15) advanced to the quarterfinals against third-seeded and 20th-ranked Providence.
VA. TECH 61, RUTGERS 58: Coleman Collins scored 12 to lead the Hokies in their first appearance in the conference tournament in New York. Virginia Tech plays top-seeded Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals.
Big Sky
E. WASH. 71, N. ARIZONA 59 Brendon Merritt scored 22 and Marc Axton added 19 as the Eagles earned their first trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference tournament. Eastern Washington (17-12), which moved to Division I in the 1983-84 season, lost the title game and automatic bid each of the previous three seasons.
Big West
UC RIVERSIDE 72, CAL POLY 63: Nate Carter scored 19 to lead the Highlanders in Anaheim, Calif. UC Riverside, which won its first tournament game as a member of Division I, plays fourth-seeded Idaho in tonight's quarterfinal.
COPPIN ST. 68, MORGAN ST. 65 (2OT): Raheem Scott scored 18, including seven in double overtime, for the Eagles in Richmond, Va. Scott, who shot 6-of-11 from the field, made a 3-pointer in the second overtime to take a 61-58 lead, and Morgan State never recovered. Scott followed with two free throws minutes later.
S.C. ST. 84, MD.-EASTERN SHORE 56: Shawn Wiggins scored 22 and Thurman Zimmerman added 19 as the top-seeded Bulldogs took command in the second half. They play the winner of the Hampton-Florida A&M quarterfinal Friday.
Southland
UT-SAN ANTONIO 87, SE LA. 85: Justin Harbert hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds as the visiting Roadrunners rallied in their semifinal. Texas-San Antonio (18-13) plays host to fourth seed Stephen F. Austin in today's championship.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 69, UT-ARLINGTON 68: Antonio Burks hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left for the visiting Lumberjacks. The Mavericks had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Derrick Obasohan's 3-point attempt fell short.
