(1) Western Kentucky 66, (9) Florida International 48
Defending Sun Belt champion No. 1 Western Kentucky moved a step closer to repeating as conference champion by beating No. 9 Florida International 66-48 in the quarterfinals. Senior guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez scored 18 points to lead the Hilltoppers past the Golden Panthers.
(4) North Texas 88, (5) Middle Tennessee State 79
Sophomore guard Josh White led No. 4 North Texas with 27 points, including six free throws late in the game that helped the Mean Green hold off No. 5 Middle Tennessee State 88-79. North Texas built a double-digit lead in the second half that the Blue Raiders couldn’t cut into until the final minutes, the Mean Green’s strong free throw shooting denied the upset bid. North Texas will play Western Kentucky in the semifinals. The Mean Green lost by four points at the Hilltoppers in January.
(2) Arkansas-Little Rock 58, (7) Denver 55
No. 2 Arkansas-Little Rock erased a 14-point hole in the second half, with senior forward John Fowler making his only two baskets in the game from three-point range with less than two minutes remaining to help the Trojans complete the comeback. Arkansas-Little Rock moved into the semifinals with the 58-55 win against No. 7 Denver, which spoiled a 27-point outburst from sophomore forward Rob Lewis. Senior forward Shane Edwards led the Trojans with 21 points.
(6) South Alabama 78, (30 Troy 75
No. 6 South Alabama slipped past No. 3 Troy 78-75 in a tight game in which neither team led by more than eight. Senior guard Dominic Tilford led the Jaguars with 20 points. South Alabama nearly blew a late lead by missing five of its last six free throws.
