MEN - PLAY-IN
Morehead State 58, Alabama State 43

The SWAC men's champion Hornets, showing the ill effects of playing less than 72 hours after capturing their league tournament crown, had their worst shooting performance of the season and scored a season-low 43 points in falling to Morehead State in the NCAA Play-in game in Dayton, Tuesday.

The Hornets (22-10) shot 31% (18 of 58) from the field, 13.3% (2 of 15) from 3-point range and 45.5% (5 of 11) from the free throw line, all season-long worsts, in absorbing their second biggest point differential of the season. Only Nebraska's 80-51 win over ASU on Dec. 3 was by a wider margin. SWAC Tourney MVP Andrew Hayles shot 5 of 17 from the field and led ASU with 14 points. SWAC Player of the Year Brandon Brooks, also struggled, canning just 5 of 13 shots, finishing with 10 points.

SOUTH REGION - MEN
Oklahoma 82, Morgan State 54

MEAC champion Morgan State stayed within striking distance for much of the game but could not mount a serious challenge to second-seed Oklahoma in falling in the South Region in Kansas City.

The Bears (23-12) were on the short end of 9-0 and 8-0 first half runs that left them trailing 40-21 at the break. They stayed less than 20 points down until the Sooners (28-5) stretched out the lead in the last six minutes of the game.

MSU point guard Jermaine "Itchy" Bolden was held scoreless in 34 minutes and never really was a factor despite handing out four assists. The Bears, who were led by Reggie Holmes' 14 points and Marquise Kately's 11, shot just 28.6% (22 of 77) from the field.

TRENTON REGION - WOMEN
Florida State 83, N. C. A&T 71

The MEAC champion Lady Aggies battled third-seed Florida State on near even terms for much of the game before the Seminoles pulled away in the final minutes.

A&T trailed 40-31 at the half and got within 51-48 on Lamona Smalley's layup with 13:31 to play. The Lady Aggies (26-7) stayed within single digits despite a nearly three-minute scoring drought and only trailed 63-56 after Tawuana Cook's 3-pointer at the 7:02 mark. But FSU scored the next three baskets producing a 7-0 run that stretched the lead to double-digits where it stayed the rest of the contest.

Cook led four Lady Aggies in double figures with 19 points. Smalley had 14 while Amber Bland and Jaleesa Sams tallied 13 each. Bland added 8 rebounds and six assists. MEAC Player of the Year Brittanie Taylor-James shot just 2 of 11 from the field and finished with 6 points.

OKLAHOMA CITY REGION - WOMEN
Oklahoma 76, Prairie View A&M 47

Top seeded Oklahoma held SWAC champion Prairie View A&M to four field goals in the final 17 minutes to pull away to victory in a first round game in Iowa City, Iowa.

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's squad (23-11) trailed by only 10 (38-38) at the half and were even closer at 42-34 on Shondria Combs jumper with 17:18 left. But the Sooners ran off 12 unanswered points over the next four minutes to effectively gain control of the game.

The Lady Panthers, who shot just 28.6% (17 of 60) from the field, were led by 15 points each from Werema and Dominique Smith.

NIT OPENING ROUND GAMES

Women
New Mexico 72, Southern 44

The Lady Jaguars (16-14) had no players in double figures and and shot 28.8% (19 of 66) from the field in falling to New Mexico.

UNM finished the first half on a 9-0 run to lead 38-15 at the break. The lead never dipped below 16 in the second half.

Deidra Jackson and Tiffany Foster both had 8 points to pace Southern.

West Virginia 70, Coppin State 40

Coppin State (14-15) was held to 28.6% shooting (17 of 59) and fell to West Virginia Thursday.

The Lady Eagles trailed 10-0 early, didn't score their first field goal until the 16:01 mark, went on to trail 17-2 before being down 38-21 at the break. The second half was much of the same with the lead swelling to as much as 34 points.

Whitney Cunningham was the lone Coppin State player in double figures with 15 points.

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