INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Coppin State, the first team to reach the NCAA tournament with 20 losses, will play Mount St. Mary's in the opening-round game Tuesday night.
The Division I men's basketball committee announced the pairing Sunday, about 90 minutes before the rest of the field of 65 was revealed. The teams will play in Dayton, Ohio with the winner advancing into one of the brackets as a No. 16 seed.
Coppin State (16-20), the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will be making its fourth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 1997. The Eagles have won 12 of their last 13 games since starting the season 4-19. They beat Morgan State 62-60 in the conference tournament championship game Saturday night.
Mount St. Mary's (18-14) won the Northeast Conference tournament last Wednesday, beating Sacred Heart 68-55. The Mountaineers are making their third NCAA tournament appearance and first since 1999.
