American, McNeese Punch NCAA Tournament Tickets with Championship Wins
Two teams secured automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday night, as American University claimed the Patriot League title, while McNeese locked up its second straight Southland Conference championship.
American Dominates Navy, Returns to March Madness for First Time in 11 Years
Matt Rogers led the way with 25 points and eight rebounds, powering No. 2 seed American (22-12) to a 74-52 victory over No. 5 seed Navy (15-19) in the Patriot League championship game in Washington, D.C.
How American Sealed the Win:
- Opened the game on a 9-0 run and never trailed.
- Led by nine at halftime and pulled away in the second half.
- Colin Smalls contributed 11 points, while Matt Mayock and Geoff Sprouse added nine each off the bench.
- Dominant defense held Navy in check as the Midshipmen never got within single digits after halftime.
Navy’s Effort Falls Short:
- Austin Benigni led with 18 points.
- Donovan Draper posted a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds).
With the win, American clinched its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013, returning to March Madness after an 11-year absence.
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McNeese Defeats Lamar for Back-to-Back Southland Titles
Quadir Copeland scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, leading No. 1 seed McNeese (27-6) to a 63-54 win over No. 2 seed Lamar (20-13) in Lake Charles, Louisiana to capture its second straight Southland Conference championship.
McNeese’s Keys to Victory:
- Limited Lamar to 30.8 percent shooting from the field.
- Forced 11 turnovers while committing just eight.
- Balanced attack:
- Javohn Garcia and DJ Richards Jr. each added 10 points.
- McNeese shot 41.7 percent from the field.
Lamar’s Top Performers:
- Alexis Marmolejos scored 18 points, with nine rebounds.
- Andrew Holifield added 15 points and nine rebounds.
- Adam Hamilton finished with 11 points.
With the win, McNeese heads back to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, proving its dominance in the Southland Conference.
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What’s Next?
Both American and McNeese now await their NCAA Tournament seeding, which will be determined on Selection Sunday.
- Can American make noise in March after an 11-year absence?
- Will McNeese’s defense carry them past the first round?
The brackets are set to be unveiled soon, and both teams will look to pull off upsets in the Big Dance.
