The Washington Huskies and Massachusetts Minutemen became the first two semifinalists in the NIT on Tuesday. Both teams were pushed to the final seconds, but held on for their victories as their opponents -- the Oregon Ducks and the Drexel Dragons, respectively -- failed to make shots when it counted the most.
NIT Bracket 2012: Washington, UMass Advance
UMass defeated Drexel 72-70, and the box score for the game is one of the oddest you’ll ever see. Drexel outrebounded UMass 36-20 and grabbed an unbelievable 20 offensive rebounds, but still found a way to lose. Massachusetts shot 59 percent from the field, while Drexel could only manage 42 percent and 1-13 from three-point range.
Washington’s win was a bit more straightforward. They were the better team for most of the second half and built up a nine-point lead. The Ducks cut into that margin, but UW held on for a 90-86 win. C.J. Wilcox was 6-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to ice the game.
You can find a full NIT bracket here.
For more on the NIT, be sure to check out our NCAA basketball hub. A full bracket can be found here, and be sure to check out our 2012 NCAA Tournament hub for more on the Big Dance.
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