The finale for the Big South Tournament is set after both semifinals were played Saturday. No. 5 Liberty and No. 1 Charleston Southern each handled the No. 2 seeds in their respective divisions to advance for a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. The final bracket can be found here.
Big South Tournament results and bracket: Liberty continues dream run with win over Gardner-Webb
Liberty — a No. 5 seed entering the tournament — upset No. 2 Gardner-Webb, while Charleston Southern knocked off VMI to reach the tourney final.
Rafael Suanes-US PRESSWIRE
Liberty 65, Gardner-Webb 62
The surprise of the tournament, Liberty knocked off another highly ranked opponent in Garnder-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the regular season with an 11-5 conference record, good enough for the No. 2 seed in the South bracket. Joel Vander Pol and Davon Marshall combined to sink three of their four free throws in the final minute to knock off Gardner-Webb, which was unable to score a basket in the final three minutes of the game. John Caleb Sanders finished with 19 points to lead the way for the Flames, who are seeking their third tournament appearance in team history and first since 2004.
Charleston Southern 71, VMI 65
Top-seeded Charleston Southern overcame a first-half deficit to defeat VMI in the Big South semifinal, sending them to the BIg South Tournament championship game against Liberty. Guard Arlon Harper set career-highs with 33 points and nine rebounds on a stellar shooting day, moving the Buccaneers closer to their second-ever NCAA Tournament birth and first since 1997. Harper nailed free throws in the closing minute to ice the game for Charleston. VMI's Rodney Glasgow nearly matched Harper's output with 31 points on equally impressive shooting, but the Keydets' season will end in a loss.
The tournament final can be seen at noon ET on ESPN2 or streamed live at ESPN3.com.
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