NIT ROUNDUP : Providence States Its Case, 75-58
Providence may have missed out on the NCAA tournament, but the Friars are making the most of the NIT.
They advanced to the semifinals Monday at Madison Square Garden by defeating Boston College, 75-58, Wednesday night at Boston.
The Friars (20-11) felt they belonged in the NCAA tournament after winning seven of their last nine games before selections were made.
“We felt that we should have been in,” said Dickey Simpkins, who matched his career high with 23 points. “Other people felt that, too. We feel like we’ve got to go out and we’ve got to prove it.”
Boston College (18-13) lost for the third time in three games this season against its taller Big East rival and was dominated on the boards and ineffective shooting from outside.
“They showed again why everybody feels they got snubbed,” Eagle Coach Jim O’Brien said. “Their strength combined with our weakness makes for a lopsided game.”
Alabama Birmingham 61, Southwest Missouri State 52--Flu-stricken Robert Shannon scored 18 points at Birmingham and the Blazers (20-13) finally had a tournament game that wasn’t decided in the final seconds.
The Blazers (20-13) won their first two tournament games this year by a total of three points. Southwest Missouri State is 20-11.
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