Selection Sunday is less than one week away and five teams have punched their ticket to March Madness.
Aggies Clinch on Buzzer Beater
It started with Utah State stunning No. 5 San Diego State 59-56 Saturday to win the Mountain West. After falling the first two tries, the Aggies got the Aztecs the third time around.
With the game tied at 56, Sam Merril drains a three with 2.5 seconds left to give the Aggies the lead.
UTAH STATE'S SAM MERRILL WITH THE GAME-WINNER TO UPSET NO. 5 SDSU 😱❄️
(via @ChristianWinn)pic.twitter.com/aJ7icqKhhz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2020
The Aggies only had two players with double-digit points with Merrill having 27 and Neemias Queta with 15.
Merrill, who grew up in Logan, Utah, won the tournament MVP for the second year in a row and finished with 83 points in three games in the tournament.
Utah State is a team that has shown they can beat top teams as they have already beaten LSU and Flordia earlier this season.
Belmont Booked
Then, Belmont survived Murray State 76-75 in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
Ticket Punched!#ItsBruinTime | #BruWIN | #OVCTourney pic.twitter.com/B6LtdoftYi
— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) March 8, 2020
Belmont under first-year head coach Casey Alexander finishes the season with a 26-8 record after taking over for Rick Bryd.
Winthrop is Dancing
Also on Sunday, Winthrop won their matchup against Hampton in the Big South Conference after trailing the entire first half.
Winthrop took the lead in the second half for the first time since early in the second half with 12:11 left to play and ran it away with it.
Rock Hill, WE'VE DONE IT. pic.twitter.com/OSXA12JWZB
— Winthrop Basketball (@Winthrop_MBB) March 8, 2020
Bradley Clinches Tournament Berth
In the Missouri Valley Conference, Bradley eased past Valparaiso 80-66 to win their second consecutive conference title. Darrell Brown finished with 21 points and nine assists as five players for Winthrop had double-digits in points.
DANCING ONCE AGAIN 🕺
Bradley is dancing in back-to-back years after cruising past Valparaiso 80-66 in the MVC Championship! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/xF8Hb7PpoK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 8, 2020
Liberty is Tournament Bound
The fifth team to clinch a bid to the big dance is the Liberty Flames. They won 73-57 against Lipscomb in the Atlantic Sun title game. It is their first time making the tournament in back-to-back seasons (fifth overall).
A night we will never forget! #RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/QBYHsluZ5t
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) March 8, 2020
The Flames have allowed 57 points and entered the game allowing 53.7 points a game this season, second-lowest in D-1 behind Virginia.
Who’s Next
Another team will clinch a spot to play in March Madness with East Tennessee State and Wofford playing for the Southern Conference Championship tonight. The game will start at 7 p.m. in Asheville, North Carolina.