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Normally, a team with 20 losses doesn’t have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament field.
Rarely does that same team win a conference title to earn an automatic bid.
But March 15, Coppin State senior Tywain McKee, of 13th and Bainbridge streets, and his teammates found themselves at center court holding up the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship banner. They are the first team in NCAA Tournament history to qualify with 20 losses. The squad opened the year 4-19.
It was McKee’s floater in the lane with three seconds left to play that gave his team the 62-60 victory over Morgan State in the championship game. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after chipping in a school tournament-record 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field.
"I was in the zone tonight and I knew I had to take over," McKee said in a story posted on the school’s athletic Web site. "I couldn’t let my teammates down."
To earn its automatic bid, his team defeated the No. 2 seeded Hampton, No. 3 seeded Norfolk State and No. 1 seeded Morgan State. They opened Mid-Eastern tournament play with a 55-54 victory over Howard. They won the four games by a combined total of six points. McKee came up big in all four victories, including a 16-point, 11-rebound effort against Hampton and 26 points in the Norfolk State match. McKee was a huge part of the latter win, as his two free throws with 1:32 to play tied the score at 65. The senior made two more foul shots with 57 seconds remaining to make the final score 67-65.
His Eagles took the court Tuesday night to face Northeast Conference champion Mount St. Mary’s (18-14) for the play-in game for the NCAA Tournament, which they lost 69-60.
This was the Eagles first tournament appearance since 1997 when they upset second-seeded South Carolina in opening round action.
To contact Staff Sports Writer Bill Gelman, e-mail bgelman@southphillyreview.com or call ext. 123.
