Three more NCAA Tournament bids on line

Mar 7, 2007 - 3:28 AM 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 tap Tuesday. In the first, Oral Roberts (23-10) captured the Mid-Continent title game with a 71-67 victory over Oakland (19-14). Arkansas State (18-14) takes on North Texas (22-10) for the Sun Belt championship in the later matchup.

However, the marquee game among the trio is 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 an 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 took advantage of the comforts of home in Tulsa, Oklahoma to notch back-to-back berths in the "Big Dance."

After battling back from an 11-point deficit at the half, the top-seeded Golden Eagles took the decisive lead when second-leading scorer Ken Tutt hit a bank shot with 31 seconds remaining for a 69-67 edge.

Tutt, who recorded his 2,000 career point on that play, finished with 20 points. Leading scorer Caleb Green had 28 points.

After Erik Kangas had a potential seventh 3-pointer spin out for Oakland, Adam Liberty converted two free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the win for Oral Roberts, which is coached by Scott Sutton - the son of legendary coach Eddie Sutton.

Prior to the 2005-06 season, the Golden Eagles had not been in the NCAA Tournament since 1984. Last year, Oral Roberts absorbed a 94-78 loss to No. 1 seed Memphis in the opening round.

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.

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