UNC-Asheville wins in OT

Associated Press

DAYTON

Matt Dickey and the Bulldogs were quite an opening act on the NCAA tournament’s expanded stage, one that has more teams in the brackets and — so far — the same March drama on the court.

Dickey led a late run that brought overtime, and J.P. Primm hit five free throws and had a decisive steal in the closing seconds, sending UNC Asheville to an 81-77 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock in a dramatic “First Four” opener on Tuesday night.

“I’ll tell you what, I couldn’t be happier with the city of Dayton,” coach Eddie Biedenbach said.

There wasn’t time for a curtain call. The Bulldogs (20-13) quickly headed to the airport for a charter flight to Washington, D.C., where they’ll play Pittsburgh — the Southeast’s top seed — on Thursday. The Bulldogs had never flown a charter before this week, and joked they felt “presidential” on their trip to Dayton.

“We’re going to feel presidential again, and we’re going to D.C.,” Primm said. “So it’s going to feel even better.”

UNC Asheville pulled it out with a tournament-worthy performance by its best player. The Bulldogs led for only 51 seconds in regulation, before Dickey asserted himself. He scored 14 of the Bulldogs’ last 18 points in regulation, including a 3 with 10.5 seconds to go that tied it.

Dickey, who was the Big South tournament’s MVP, took only two shots in the first half.

“I came in at halftime and they kept telling me to keep being aggressive, my shots will start falling,” Dickey said. “I started getting open looks, my shot started falling and it felt good.”

Primm and Dickey had 22 points apiece.

Alex Garcia-Mendoza matched his career high with 21 points for Arkansas-Little Rock (19-17). The Trojans played overtime without Solomon Bozeman, the Sun Belt’s player of the year who fouled out with 55 seconds to go in regulation. He finished with 18 points.

CLEMSON 70, uab 52

Jerai Grant scored 22 points on 10 of 16 shooting to advance Clemson (22-11) to a Thursday game against West Virginia. Milton Jennings added 11 points for the Tigers.

Jamarr Sanders scored 19 points for UAB (22-9).