Big South Tournament 2012 Bracket Update: VMI, High Point Advance

The Big South Tournament's first round kicked off Monday night with four underdogs playing. The Virginia Military Keydets took on their in-state rival Radford Highlanders and the High Point Panthers faced Gardner-Webb Bulldogs for spots in the second round against the upper-echelon teams in the conference.

VMI was leading Radford all game long and by as much as eight points late in the second half, but the Highlanders charged back to tie the game at 48. The Keydets, the No. 7 seed, were just too much down the stretch, however, and they downed the 10th-seeded Highlanders 55-53. Stan Okoye led the Keydets with 16 points and R.J. Price led all scorers with 17 for Radford. VMI will go on to face the second-seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

In the other opening-round game, the Panthers and the Runnin' Bulldogs played a back-and-forth first half before the Panthers, the home team and eighth seed, pulled away in the second half, ultimately winning, 70-58. High Point's Nick Barbour led all scorers with 22 points, and Gardner-Webb was led in points, rebounds and assists by junior Tashan Newsome. The Panthers will go on to face No. 1 seed UNC Asheville in the next round.