Three more NCAA Tournament bids on line

Mar 6, 2007 - 7:11 PM By PA SportsTicker

Another victory by Wright State over No. 17 Butler would have much more significance than the first.

In a matchup of the top teams in the Horizon League, Wright State could secure its first NCAA Tournament bid in 14 years with a victory over Butler on Tuesday.

There are two other conference title games on tab Tuesday. Oral Roberts (22-10) faces Oakland in the Mid-Continent title game and Arkansas State (18-14) takes on North Texas (22-10) for the Sun Belt championship.

However, the marquee game among the trio will be the matchup between Wright State and Butler.

While Butler won the Preseason NIT has garnered more the national attention, it is Wright State that is the top seed and will play on its home court in Dayton, Ohio.

The Bulldogs (27-5) and Raiders (22-9) both finished 13-3 in league play. Wright State won the regular-season title and the tournament's top seed via a tiebreaker.

The teams split their regular-season meetings, each winning on its home court. After Butler rolled to a 72-43 victory January 6, Wright State exacted a measure of revenge with a 77-65 triumph February 10.

If the Raiders win, they would secure a automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993. Even if the Bulldogs lose, they are headed back to the "Big Dance" for the first time since 2003.

With a win, Butler would set a school single-season record and exorcise some postseason demons. The Bulldogs have lost in the conference title game twice over the last four years, falling to Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2003 and last season.

Making its third straight appearance in the conference championship game, Oral Roberts also will have the comforts of home when it takes on Oakland in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Led by Caleb Green, a three-time conference player of the year, top-seeded Old Dominion advanced to the title game Monday night with an 83-79 victory over IUPUI. Green scored 25 points for the Golden Eagles, who built a 37-16 halftime lead.

Derick Nelson scored a career-high 23 points as second-seeded Oakland rallied for an 83-79 victory over Missouri-Kansas City in the semifinals.

It is the second time in three years that Oakland and Oral Roberts will meet in the championship.

In 2005, the Golden Grizzlies upset the Golden Eagles in the title game for their only NCAA Tournament berth. Oral Roberts won the conference title game last season.

The teams split two regular-season meetings, with Oakland capturing an 85-84 triumph February 24.

There will be no home-court advantage in the Sun Belt as second-seeded Arkansas State and fifth-seeded North Texas meet on a neutral floor in Lafayette, Louisiana. Arkansas State won both regular-season meetings.

On Monday, Adrian Banks scored 29 points to lead Arkansas State to an 80-73 victory over Western Kentucky. The Indians are seeking their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1999.

Ben Bell scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as North Texas posted a 59-52 victory over Middle Tennessee. The Mean Green have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1998.

Nine automatic bids have been awarded. The entire 65-team field will be announced Sunday.