Eastern Kentucky erases 16-year drought

Zach Ingles scored 15 points, and Eastern Kentucky earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1979 by holding off Austin Peay 52-46 Saturday in the Ohio Valley Conference championship in Nashville, Tenn.

The Colonels set a school record for victories in a season by winning their seventh straight and improving to 22-8. This will be Eastern Kentucky’s sixth NCAA Tournament berth overall and first under coach Travis Ford.

Austin Peay (13-19) was trying to earn its second NCAA berth in three years despite entering the OVC tournament as the No. 5 seed.

Winthrop 68, Charleston Southern 46: Torrell Martin had 13 points and nine rebounds, and the Eagles (27-5) are on their way back to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence thanks to a win over the Buccaneers (13-17) in Rock Hill, S.C., for the Big South Conference title.

The Eagles have never won a game in the tournament. They hope this year’s team, which has the nation’s third-longest winning streak at 18 games, will be the one to pull off the feat. Only top-ranked Illinois and No. 17 Pacific have longer winning streaks.

Central Florida 63, Gardner-Webb 54: Gary Johnson scored 19 points to help the Golden Knights (24-8) clinch their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth overall with a victory over the Runnin’ Bulldogs (18-12) in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament final in Nashville, Tenn.

Chattanooga 66, UNC Greensboro 62: The Mocs (20-10) won the Southern Conference tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, beating the Spartans (18-12) in Chattanooga, Tenn., behind Charles Anderson’s 13 points.