NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Liberty Flames didn’t talk about missing the NCAA Tournament a year ago on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Instead, playing again for an automatic berth, junior guard Caleb Homesley wouldn’t let them forget.
Scottie James’ layup with 55.8 seconds left put Liberty ahead to stay and the Flames capped their first season in a new conference by topping Lipscomb 74-68 Sunday for the ASUN Tournament championship and their first NCAA Tournament trip since 2013.
The win was sweet redemption a year after losing the Big South Conference tournament final at the last second. Homesley insisted that loss to Radford wasn’t mentioned before this final.
“But there were times in this game where I kind of rallied the guys together when they would go on a run and just say, ‘Let’s finish the game. Let’s do the hard little things,’” Homesley said. “And I think that it really caught on to do the stretch that we had through the end of the game,”
Liberty pulled off a big win at the biggest crowd ever to see a game at Allen Arena, and this thriller featured 18 lead changes in the second half. The Flames won for the second time this season on Lipscomb’s home court.
“I’m so proud of our guys the way we weathered the storm,” Liberty coach Ritchie James said. “I think this is just one of those games that you needed a break or two down the stretch, and we were fortunate to get one.”
Liberty (28-6) switched to the ASUN Conference for this season and split the regular season title with Lipscomb. The Flames earned their fourth NCAA Tournament bid overall and first since playing in the Big South.
Lipscomb (25-7) was trying to seal its second NCAA Tournament berth. The Bisons beat Florida Gulf Coast on the road last year in the ASUN Tournament championship game.
Bradley rallies big, beats Northern Iowa for MVC title
ST. LOUIS — A huge rally by Bradley resulted in quite a reward — its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006.
Down by 18 points with 17 minutes left, Elijah Childs and the Braves surged past Northern Iowa 57-54 Sunday in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game.
“You can’t make this up,” Childs said. “We rode the wave and did the course.”
Childs scored 16 points and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye added 13 for fifth-seeded Bradley (20-14).
The Braves advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time overall — in their last appearance, as a 13th seed, they beat Kansas and Pittsburgh before losing to Memphis.
Bradley trailed 35-17 before breaking loose. The Braves used a 12-0 run to get close.
Bradley claimed its third MVC crown to go with titles in 1980 and 1988. The Braves hit the 20-win mark for the 27th time in school history and second in a row.
Northern Iowa was well on the way to its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance when it took a 38-28 lead midway through the final half.
Gardner-Webb beats Radford 76-65, makes NCAA Tournament
RADFORD, Va. — DJ Laster’s best game ensured it wouldn’t be his last.
Laster scored a career-high 32 points and Gardner-Webb took command with a first-half run and beat Radford 76-65 on Sunday to win the Big South Tournament championship and earn its first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Laster was dominant throughout, making 14 of 17 shots and grabbing six rebounds.
“I just knew I had to play hard, needed to play hard,” he said, a piece of the championship net stuck inside the adjustable strap on his championship cap. “I just wanted to leave my legacy on the court, leave it all out there, so I just came with that mindset from the jump ball.”
Laster had 30 of the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ first 44 points, including the last five during a 12-0 first-half run and seven during a 13-5 second-half run that gave them a 46-33 lead. He kept the offense humming as the Bulldogs’ top scorer, David Efianayi, struggled.
“I just felt I couldn’t miss,” Laster said.
Murray State beats Belmont in OVC for NCAA Tournament spot
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Murray State guard Ja Morant was determined to finish the job Saturday night.
With the Racers’ NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, the sophomore standout came through in the second half in front of more than 10,000 fans at Ford Center.
Morant scored 22 of his 36 points after the break and made all nine of his free throws to give Murray State a 77-65 victory over Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game.
The Racers (27-4) earned the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament — the first spot to be taken this year and the team’s second consecutive berth under head coach Matt McMahon.
During Friday’s semifinal win over Austin Peay, Morant missed five of his 15 free throws. That stuck with the 6-foot-3 point guard.
“I was a little frustrated with myself last night … I mean, they’re free,” Morant said. “Tonight, I was just locked in and just followed through with all my shots and was able to make them.”
Morant, the OVC Player of the Year, played the entire 40 minutes. He was 13-for-25 shooting and added seven rebounds and three assists.