A regular-season title comes with at least an invitation to the NIT, although Miller said that’s not set in stone under these circumstances.

“Since there’s a three-way tie for first place,” Miller said, “and even though we’re the first seed, I think the NIT berth goes to whoever of the three of us gets the farthest in the conference tournament but doesn’t win it to go to the NCAA.”

And so there’s work yet to be done for these Spartans, who get a first-round bye in Asheville and open in the SoCon quarterfinals against either Western Carolina or The Citadel at noon Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

“It would be great to have the NIT as a backup, but that’s not the goal,” White said. “The goal is one game at a time all the way to the NCAA tournament.”

White finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including maybe the biggest of the game, outmuscling two ETSU players for a defensive rebound on Desonta Bradford’s missed shot with 2:54 left and UNCG clinging to a 61-59 lead.

Alonso hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, and UNCG outscored the Buccaneers 12-4 over the final three minutes until A.J. Merriweather’s meaningless jumper before the buzzer.