WKU Rallies To Beat MVSU 59-58 In NCAA Opener
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- T.J. Price's three-point play with 16 seconds left completed Western Kentucky's furious comeback Tuesday night for a 59-58 victory over Mississippi Valley State in an NCAA tournament opener featuring a presidential audience.
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron had front-row seats to see the tournament open with a classic March comeback.
The Hilltoppers (16-18) are the longest of long shots, the only squad in the 68-team field with a losing record. They overcame a 16-point deficit in the final 5 minutes to thrill underdogs everywhere.
Western Kentucky moves on to play Kentucky - the top seed in the South Regional - on Thursday in Louisville, an all-Bluegrass game for the second round.
MVSU (21-13) caught the president's eye while pulling ahead, but couldn't close it out. Western Kentucky won despite shooting 30 percent from the field and turning the ball over 28 times.
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