Boston College, a No. 1 seed in the 2011 NIT Championship, advanced to the second round of the bracket with Tuesday night's win at McNeese St. The Eagles took an early 18-7 lead, were up 41-19 at the half and cruised to an 82-64 victory. The wins puts BC into the second round, where it will face with Northwestern/Milwaukee winner, in Boston (assuming there are no more hockey conflicts).
Harvard, meanwhile, did not fare so well. The No. 6 seeded Crimson were downed by Oklahoma State, 71-54. The Cowboys move on to play the winner of Washington State and Long Beach State.
The 2011 NIT Championship schedule continues Wednesday night, with the rest of the first round.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15 FIRST ROUND GAMES
NIT First Round: College of Charleston def. Dayton
NIT First Round: Alabama def. Coastal Carolina
NIT First Round: Cleveland State def. Vermont
NIT First Round: Oklahoma State def. Harvard
NIT First Round: Missouri Stat3 def. Murray State
NIT First Round: New Mexico def. UTEP
NIT First Round: Boston College def. McNeese State
NIT First Round: Fairfield def. Colorado State
NIT First Round: Kent State def. St. Mary's
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
7 p.m. NIT First Round: Nebraska at Wichita State - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (Mike Patrick & Dan Dakich)
7:30 p.m. NIT First Round: Florida Atlantic at Miami (Fla.) - ESPN3.com (Dan McLaughlin & Dereck Whittenburg)
8 p.m. NIT First Round: Bethune-Cookman at Virginia Tech - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com (Beth Mowins & Bob Valvano)
8 p.m. NIT First Round: Milwaukee at Northwestern - ESPN3.com (Mike Gleason & Mike Kelley)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Texas Southern at Colorado - ESPN3.com (Dave Armstrong & Bill Herenda)
9 p.m. NIT First Round: Mississippi at California - ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com (John Saunders & Miles Simon)
10 p.m. NIT First Round: Long Beach State at Washington State - ESPNU / ESPNU HD / ESPN3.com (Clay Matvick & Sean Farnham)
SECOND ROUND GAMES (March 18-21)
New Mexico at Alabama
Kent St. at Fairfield
College of Charleston at Cleveland State