DAYTON, Ohio — In 4 ½ minutes, Mississippi Valley State’s ticket to the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament went from certain to given away.
In that span, the SWAC champion blew a 16-point lead, and Western Kentucky continued its improbable late-season run with a 59-58 win over the Delta Devils on Tuesday. The Hilltoppers (16-18), who won the Sun Belt tournament championship a week earlier in Hot Springs, will play top-seeded Kentucky — Valley coach Sean Woods’ alma mater — at 5:50 p.m. Thursday in Louisville.
The Hilltoppers’ T.J. Price broke a 54-54 tie with 33.8 seconds to go on a three-point play. Valley (21-13) missed a three-point attempt for the tie but was still down 59-56 after Western Kentucky made 2 of 4 free throws and Valley’s Kevin Burwell converted a layup.
Burwell missed a three that would have tied the game, but Cor-J Cox tipped in the miss with 0.4 second remaining for the final score.
Burwell led all scorers with 20 points, William Pugh had 11 and Cox netted 10 for Valley, which went 17-1 in the SWAC. Derrick Gordon and Price scored 11 apiece to lead Western Kentucky.
Also Tuesday, Brigham Young beat Iona 78-72 and will play Marquette at 1:45 p.m. Friday in Louisville.
Today, the First Four round will conclude in Dayton with Lamar playing Vermont at 5:40 p.m., followed by California against South Florida, coached by former Arkansas head man Stan Heath. TruTV will televise the games.