Bobby Braswell out as Cal State Northridge coach

Bobby Braswell, the basketball coach at Cal State Northridge since 1996, is out as coach. The school announced that it would not renew his contract.

Brandon Martin, the school’s new athletic director, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “I want to thank Coach Braswell for his 17 years of service and contributions to our men’s basketball program and the university community at large. I wish Coach Braswell and his family all the best moving forward.”

Braswell, a Northridge graduate, had been the coach for 17 seasons, compiling a 251-258 record. The Matadors were 14-17 this season.

On his Twitter account, Braswell said, “Extremely blessed by God for the opportunity He gave me over the past 17 years to touch the lives of so many great young men. Truly blessed.”

Martin, a former USC basketball player, will conduct a national search for a replacement.

—Eric Sondheimer

NCAA play-in games

Jeremy Underwood came off the bench to score 19 points, leading North Carolina A&T; past 21-loss Liberty, 73-72, at the First Four at Dayton, Ohio, ending an NCAA winless streak at nine games.

The Flames — only the second team to make the NCAA tournament with 20 losses — had a chance to win it. John Caleb Sanders drove coast to coast and flipped up a left-handed layup in heavy congestion that just missed. A&T; (20-16) rebounded and, while Sanders rolled in pain on the baseline, began to celebrate an end to more than 30 years of disappointment.

The victory advanced the Aggies to a showdown with top-seeded Louisville (29-5) in Lexington, Ky., Thursday. Davon Marshall had 22 points and Sanders 21 for Liberty (15-21).

St. Mary’s was facing Middle Tennessee in the second game of the night.

In two more play-in games Wednesday night at Dayton, Long Island Brooklyn (20-13) faces James Madison (20-14) for the 16th seeding in the East Regional and a game against Miami. Then La Salle (21-9) takes on Boise State (21-10) for the 13th seeding in the West and a matchup with Kansas State.

Kentucky loses in NIT

Mike McFadden made two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining and Robert Morris (24-10) shocked defending NCAA champion Kentucky, 59-57, in the opening round of the NIT at Moon, Pa.

The Wildcats (21-12) decided not to call timeout after the second free throw and Kyle Wiltjer’s three-pointer before the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the rim, sending hundreds of students onto the court as Robert Morris ruined Kentucky Coach John Calipari’s homecoming.

Westmont women win title

Tugce Canitez and Kelsie Sampson scored 25 points each to lead Westmont College of Santa Barbara to a 71-65 victory over Lee (Tenn.) in the championship game of the NAIA Division I women’s tournament at Frankfort, Ky. Canitez also had 20 rebounds for Westmont (30-4). Lee finished 34-3.

Also

Long Beach State (19-13) will play at Baylor (18-14) in Waco, Texas, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PDT in the first round of the NIT. The game will be televised live on ESPN2. ... UC Irvine (20-15) will play host to High Point (17-13) in the first round of the College Insider Tournament at 7:30. It’s the first postseason game since 2002 for the Anteaters.