Mike McFadden hit two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining and Robert Morris shocked defending national champion Kentucky, 59-57, in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament Tuesday night.

Although the Wildcats were the top seed in the tournament, they had to travel to Robert Morris because Rupp Arena is being used for NCAA Tournament games. The total attendance for all of Robert Morris’s home games was 15,692. The attendance for Kentucky’s final home game was 24,294.

Kyle Wiltjer’s tying 3-point attempt before the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the rim, sending hundreds of the sellout crowd of 3,444 onto the court.


Lucky Jones led the Colonials (24-10) with 15 points but was ejected for a flagrant foul on Archie Goodwin with 3:41 to play.

Alabama 62, Northeastern 43 — Playing without leading scorer Joel Smith who suffered an undisclosed injury in the Colonial Athletic tournament, the Huskies couldn’t keep pace with the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the first round of the NIT.

Tuscaloosa native Reggie Spencer had 10 points in his homecoming for Northeastern (20-13).

Alabama used a 22-0 run early in the second half to put the game away. Levi Randolph scored 13 points for Alabama (22-12) with 9 of them coming during that spurt.

CIT first round

Loyola (Md.) 70, BU 63 — Despite taking a lead into the second half against the host Greyhounds, the Terriers couldn’t hold it.

Dom Morris led the BU (17-13) offense with 17 points, and Maurice Watson Jr. added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Loyola (22-11) used an impressive second half display to grab the victory. The Greyhounds outscored BU by 13 points (43-30) in the second half thanks in large part to making 6 of 9 3-pointers.

Dylon Cormier and Robert Olson scored 16 points each for Loyola.

Rider 63, Hartford 54 — Behind Anthony Myles’s 23 points, the Broncs defeated the host Hawks. Rider (19-17) held Hartford to just 2-of-17 shooting (11.8 percent) from behind the arc. Mark Nwakamma led Hartford (17-14) with 17 points.


. . .

The Fairfield-Kent State first- round game was postponed because of the snow storm that struck the New England area on Monday night and Tuesday. Fairfield was unable to travel to Kent State. The game will be played on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

CBI first round

Santa Clara 77, Vermont 67 — Sandro Carissimo had 14 points, but the Catamounts couldn’t find a way past the Broncos.

In the final four minutes of the game, Santa Clara (22-11) outscored Vermont (21-12) 17-7.

Kevin Foster scored 23 points and had five steals for the Broncos and Marc Trasolini added 20 points and seven rebounds.

NCAA Div. 2 tourney

Franklin Pierce 57, Bridgeport 52 — In Manchester, N.H., the Ravens held off the Purple Knights in the East Regional final.

Ryen Vilmont scored 18 points, 15 in the second half, to lead Franklin Pierce (24-8). Darian David led Bridgeport (23-10) with 18 points.

Franklin Pierce will play Metro State (30-2) in the quarterfinals on March 28 in Louisville, Ky.