Villanova’s NCAA Tournament dream ended Wednesday night as Lehigh’s dance just began.
Nova lost 56-47 to South Florida in the Big East tournament. The loss dropped Jay Wright’s Wildcats to 13-19 and out of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004.
Mouphtaou Yarou dropped 20 points in the loss.
This was the second straight year South Florida beat Villanova in the Big East tournament. The Bulls won 70-69 in the opening round last year.
Lehigh beat Bucknell 82-77 in the Patriot League final Wednesday night. The win puts Lehigh back in the tourney for the second time in three years.
Juniors C.J. McCollum (29 points) and Gabe Knutson (23 points) led the way for the Mountain Hawks as they beat top-seeded Bucknell on the Bison’s home court.
Lehigh will now have to wait to see where they play in March Madness but just being in the Dance is sure to make Bethlehem, Pa. proud.
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