Tulsa's final year in the Missouri Valley Conference brought it a championship. Virginia Commonwealth's first year in the Colonial Athletic Association brought it a title, too.
The Golden Hurricane, headed for the WAC next year, finally took the MVC crown. It was the fourth time in the 1990s that Tulsa made it to the championship game, but Monday night's 60-46 win over Bradley gave the Hurricane its first conference championship since 1986.With it, of course, comes a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"I told our crowd I couldn't think of a better way to leave than to go out as champions," first-year coach Steve Robinson said. "We felt we could play with anybody in the tournament. It was just a matter of putting it together, and we did it for three straight nights."
So did VCU, which also finished first in the regular season after moving over from the Metro. VCU hasn't been to the NCAAs since 1985, but it's going after a 46-43 defeat of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Ivan Chappell made four free throws in the final 37.8 seconds, capping a 7-for-8 night from the line for him; the rest of the team was 3-for-12.
Missouri Valley
Tulsa 60, Bradley 46
At St. Louis, Cordell Love had 18 points, freshman Michael Ruffin added 15 points and 13 rebounds and Shea Seals, named tourney MVP, had 14 points for Tulsa (22-7). Bradley, also 22-7, shot 28 percent from the field.
VCU, NC-Wilmington 43
At Richmond, conference player of the year Bernard Hopkins struggled in the opening half. But he gave himself a pep talk and came through with 10 points and nine rebounds after the break.
Canisius 52, Fairfield 46
At Albany, N.Y., the Golden Griffins (19-10), who lost Darrell Barley, the league's best player, four days before the tournament started with a broken thumb; they shot well under 50 percent from the field throughout; and struggled from the foul line, still earned their first NCAA bid in 39 years.
Portland 76, Gonzaga 68
At Santa Clara, Calif., the Pilots qualified for their first NCAA tourney in 37 years. Kweemada King scored 26 points, including seven in the last two minutes for Portland (19-10).
As time ran out, Portland's fans streamed onto the court and joined the celebration of the school's first trip to the NCAA tournament since a first-round loss to DePaul in 1959.