TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Derrik Jamerson Jr. dropped 25 points and four Spartans scored in double figures Wednesday night as Norfolk State upset No. 1 seed Alabama 80-79 in overtime in the first round of the NIT in Coleman Coliseum.
The Spartans (22-13) will face Colorado in the next round on Monday at 9 p.m.
Norfolk State is the first MEAC team to win an NIT game since Delaware State defeated Northern Arizona in 2006. In all, four MEAC programs have won NIT games; in addition to Norfolk State Delaware State, Coppin State defeated St. Joseph's in 1995 and Maryland Eastern Shore defeated Manhattan in 1974.
Nic Thomas added 15 points, while Steven Whitley chipped in 13 points and seven assists. Jordan Butler grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with 11 points, and Alex Long added 11 boards.
The Spartans led late, but Alabama's John Petty Jr. hit a three with 19 seconds left in regulation that ultimately forced overtime. Norfolk State led for much of the extra session, and a Jamerson three with 38 seconds left gave the Spartans a 78-73 lead.
But the Crimson Tide clawed back into it, and Herbert Jones cut the lead to one, 80-79, with six seconds left with a 3-pointer. Alabama got the ball back on a turnover, but Riley Norris' jumper missed the mark as time expired.
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DAYTON, Ohio -- North Carolina Central fought back in the second half to take the lead against North Dakota State in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, but the champions out of the Summit League had one last run in them, eliminating the Eagles 78-74 in UD Arena.
The MEAC champions ended their season at 18-16.
Larry McKnight Jr. and Raasean Davis both had 20 points for the Eagles, with Davis adding a team-high 16 rebounds. Randy Miller Jr. chipped in 18 points, while Zacarry Douglas added 14.
North Dakota State opened the second half with a 13-2 run to take a 49-36 lead with 16:06 to play. But the Eagles scored 25 of the next 35 points, taking a 61-59 lead with seven minutes left after a McKnight three.
Davis hit two free throws with just over four minutes left to put NCCU up 68-65.
But North Dakota State responded with a 10-2 tun, taking the lead for good and closing out the game to advance to the next round to face top seed Duke on Friday in Columbia, S.C.
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CONWAY, S.C. -- Howard led by 14 at one point in the second half Wednesday evening in the first round of the Roman CBI, but homestanding Coastal Carolina mounted the comeback and came away with the 81-72 win.
Howard's season ends at 17-17.
Charles Williams led the Bison with 17 points, while MEAC Player of the Year RJ Cole had 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Kyle Foster added 10 points.
A Zion Cousins free throw with 13:16 left to play put Howard up 53-39, and the Bison appeared to be in good shape to win in their first postseason tournament appearance since 1992. But the Chanticleers ended the game on a 42-19 run to seal the comeback and advance to the second round -- where West Virginia awaits.
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