COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Fordham Wins to Earn First NCAA Berth in 21 Years

Fordham earned its first trip to the NCAA tournament in 21 years on Tuesday night with a 70-65 victory over Bucknell at Bethlehem, Pa. for the Patriot League championship.

The Rams (18-12) advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1971, when they went 26-3 under Digger Phelps, and for only the fourth time in the school’s history. The other years were 1953 and 1954.

Bucknell (21-9) trailed, 61-53, with 5:41 remaining after a pair of baskets by Sanford Jenkins enabled Fordham to match its largest margin of the game. Chris Simpson, who led Bucknell with 17, made a three-point play to spark a rally that got it to 61-60.

But Fred Herzog sank a pair of free throws and scored a basket, and Jenkins added three points down the stretch to lift the Rams, who beat Bucknell for the second time in three meetings.

NAIA DISTRICT III

Biola 90, Westmont 75--Biola (31-3) won its 24th consecutive game to win the title and advance to the NAIA national tournament at Kansas City on March 17. Six players scored 10 or more points for Biola, which avenged a loss to Westmont in last year’s final.

Westmont (20-11) took an 11-3 lead with 16:46 remaining in the first half, but Biola pulled to within 13-9, and then went on an 11-0 run in the next six minutes to take control of the game.

MID-CONTINENT

Eastern Illinois 83, Illinois Chicago 68--Steve Rowe scored 22 points and Curtis Lieb hit a series of crucial baskets as Eastern Illinois won the Mid-Continent Conference tournament championship.