Belmont to play Austin Peay in NIT; Vols also get bid
Austin Peay’s perfect run through the Ohio Valley Conference fell short in the league tournament championship but was more than enough Sunday to help the Governors land their first bid to the National Invitation Tournament.
The Governors (21-9) will host Belmont at 7 p.m. CST Wednesday as one of three teams from the Volunteer State invited to play in the NIT. The Tennessee Vols will be making their second straight appearance in the tournament.
The NIT isn’t what the Governors wanted after becoming the first OVC team to go 16-0 in league play. They had their sights set on a second straight NCAA tournament berth until Murray State knocked them off with the automatic berth on the line.
Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said they are honored to represent the OVC in the NIT.
“I am grateful that our players will have a chance to continue playing. After the outstanding year they had, it would have been disappointing had they not had the opportunity to play in postseason,” he said.
The game will be a rematch of the second game of the season for both teams. Belmont (21-8) won that game 68-65 on Nov. 26 in Clarksville.
“We have developed a very good rivalry with Belmont and are looking forward to the competition again,” Loos said.
Belmont, a former NAIA power, had hoped to be playing in the NCAA tournament after hosting the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament on its home floor earlier this month. But the Bruins lost in the semifinals by a bucket.
They beat Air Force in Nashville and upset Missouri 71-67 on the road Dec. 30, and four losses came by two points each. This will be their first national tournament since reaching the semifinals of the NAIA tournament in 1995.
“It is a legendary tournament, and it is very meaningful to be asked,” Belmont coach Rick Byrd said. “We are particularly happy for our team and especially for our three seniors.”
Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson is looking at the NIT as a chance for his young Vols (15-13) to keep playing and practicing. They will visit the George Mason Patriots (21-9) at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday.
The Vols hosted an NIT game last season but lost to eventual runner-up Georgetown. George Mason lost out on an NCAA berth with a 55-54 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
“They are a team that is playing very well right now,” Peterson said of the Patriots.