LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP) - Falling a win short of earning an NCAA
tournament bid, Niagara was awarded a nice consolation prize: An
NIT invitation.
The Purple Eagles (26-8) will make their 13th NIT appearance on
Tuesday when they'll host Rhode Island (22-10). The schedule was
announced Sunday night, less than a week after Niagara was beaten
77-70 by Siena in the Metro Atlantic Conference tournament
championship game.
The Rams' NCAA tournament hopes were dashed when they lost 78-74
to Duquesne in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament quarterfinals
on Thursday. Rhode Island earned its second consecutive NIT berth,
following a first-round loss at Creighton last year, and 13th
overall.
The game will be the first between the two schools.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
