Monday night was filled with mid-major upset bids that fell just short.
Most notably, Boise State built a 14-point first half lead in Eugene before falling to the Ducks. Northwestern State, behind 28 points from Zeek Woodley, led Mississippi State by as many as 10 in the first half but couldn’t finish the deal. And Kennesaw State didn’t run out to a lead, but nearly erased a 21-point half time deficit at South Florida.
Don’t fret, it wasn’t all bad news.
North Carolina Central, which won at N.C. State three years ago, did the same at Mizzou last night. The Eagles, behind Patrick Cole (17 points) and Pablo Rivas (16 points), held the Tigers to their worst shooting night in Mizzou Arena history.
LeVelle Moton’s team hung with Ohio State earlier this month, and is now 100 spots higher than the next closest MEAC team in the KenPom ratings. Do we have a new MEAC favorite?
Here are those games and more in today’s links:
Boise State fights, comes up just short against #23 Oregon | Mountain West Connection
Last year, Boise State held off a double-digit comeback effort by Oregon on the final possession for a 74-72 victory over the 24th-ranked Ducks. On Monday night, Oregon was able to make the final push.
The Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge: More Harm Than Help | Mountain West Connection
An old piece, but worth reading ahead of the MWC/MVC challenge this coming weekend, which Wichita State traveling to Colorado State, UNI traveling to Wyoming and Illinois State hosting New Mexico, among other games.
North Carolina Central stuns Mizzou at home | St . Louis Post-Dispatch
Not North Carolina. Not North Carolina State. Not any of the Atlantic Coast Conference powers along Tobacco Road. These were the Eagles of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
GCU goes ice-cold in home loss to SIU-Edwardsville | AZCentral.com
Grand Canyon quickly fell into a 12-0 hole during a Monday malaise. And just when it appeared they would snap out of it, the Antelopes fell deeper.
USF Basketball Does USF Basketball Things In 71-69 Win Over Kennesaw State | The Daily Stampede
The Bulls tried VERY, VERY HARD to give away a 21-point halftime lead, but got out of the Sun Dome with a win.
Miss. State slips past Northwestern State | Shreveport Times
I.J. Ready had 14 and Aric Holman added 13 to lead Mississippi State to a 65-59 win over Northwestern State on Monday night.
WATCH: Bryant player mistakenly runs out clock to assist in Brown win | CBSSports.com
Thanks to a temporary lapse in thinking, Brown took home a 91-90 win over Bryant on Monday night.