USA TODAY International Edition
23- 1 Winthrop among men’s First Four in
D. J. Burns scored 22 points and Winthrop took off in the second half to an 80- 53 victory over Campbell on Sunday for its second consecutive Big South men’s basketball tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid.
The 6- foot- 9 sophomore finished the first half with consecutive baskets for a six- point lead and the Eagles ( 23- 1) made their first eight shots of the second half in running away from Campbell ( 17- 10) in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for their 13th championship in 17 title- game appearances. The Eagles, who will be making their 11th NCAA appearance, are 43- 4 in their last 47 games.
“Oh man, it’s so great to be back here, knowing the opportunity we had last year and unfortunately events took it away from us,” said Burns, who transferred from Tennessee two years ago. “It feels good to back here and have a second shot to do it again.”
Also earning NCAA automatic bids:
Missouri Valley: Cameron Krutwig and Braden Norris scored 20 points apiece to lead Loyola Chicago ( 24- 4) to a 75- 65 win over Drake ( 25- 4) in the championship game Sunday in St. Louis. The Ramblers, who have won 17 of their last 18 games, will be making their first NCAA appearance since the 2018 team reached the Final Four as a No. 11 seed. Tremell Murphy and D. J. Wilkins scored 20 points each for Drake, a bubble team.
h Atlantic Sun: Darius McGhee scored 21 points and eight rebounds and top- seeded Liberty held on for a 79- 75 win over North Alabama on Sunday in the championship game in Jacksonville, Florida. Liberty ( 23- 5), which has won 12 games in a row, has won each of the last three ASUN regularseason and tournament titles. Liberty went into the game assured of a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Lions are ineligible until they complete their four- year transition to D- I.
Ohio Valley: Johni Broome scored a career- high 27 points on 12- of- 19 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds as Morehead State ( 23- 7) cruised to an 86- 71 win over top- seeded Belmont in the tournament final Saturday in Evansville, Indiana. The Eagles clinched their first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2011 and won their fifth OVC tournament title. Nick Muszynski led Belmont ( 26- 4) with 23 points.