Bucknell at Monmouth

Bucknell struggled early in the season with a brutal schedule, but that toughened the team up for conference play. Bucknell captured the outright Patriot League regular-season title for the fifth time in the last six years with a 14-4 ledger. This will be Bucknell's third NIT appearance, all coming in the last five years. In 2012 the Bison knocked off top seeded Arizona 65-54 in Tucson. This season Bucknell was first in the Patriot league in points scored and shooting, plus second in field goal shooting defense allowing .425%. Monmouth probably should have made the Big Dance, but dropped to Iona in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tourney play, so playing in the NIT is a disappointment and a step down. The talented visitors have shown that they get up for these NIT games, even on the road. Play Bucknell.