Alabama, the first of three spurned NCAA Tournament bubble teams to play their 2011 NIT Tournament opener, took it out on Coastal Carolina, winning by a 68-44 score. Senario Hillman and JaMychal Green combined for 20 points and 17 rebounds. The Tide will move on to play the winner of Tuesday night's New Mexico-UTEP game.
Defending champs Dayton were knocked out by Charleston, 94-84, and the March Madness hopefuls of Harvard saw their season end at the hands of Oklahoma State, 71-54. No. 2 seed Vermont struggled to put away Cleveland State, 63-60.
No. 1 seed Boston College is set to take on McNeese State, and No. 1 seeds Virginia Tech and Colorado begrudgingly begin NIT play Wednesday.
Updated 2011 NIT Tournament bracket and schedule:
Left bracket:
- No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide def. No. 8 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 68-44
- No. 4 New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 5 UTEP Miners, Tuesday at 9 pm, ESPN2 (Bob Wischusen and Stephen Bardo)
- No. 3 Missouri State Bears vs. No. 6 Murray State Racers, Tuesday at 8 pm, ESPN3 (Justin Kutcher and Dickey Simpkins)
- No. 2 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 7 Florida Atlantic Owls, Wednesday at 7:30 pm, ESPN3 (Dan McLaughlin and Dereck Whittenburg)
- No. 1 Colorado Buffaloes vs. No. 8 Texas Southern, Wednesday at 7 pm, ESPN3 (Dave Armstrong and Bill Herenda)
- No. 4 California Golden Bears vs. No. 5 Mississippi Rebels, Wednesday at 9 pm, ESPN2 (John Saunders and Miles Simon)
- No. 3 Colorado St. Rams vs. No. 6 Fairfield Stags, Tuesday at 9 pm, ESPN3 (Dave Armstrong and Bill Herenda)
- No. 2 St. Mary's Gaels vs. No. 7 Kent St. Golden Flashes, Tuesday at 11 pm, ESPN2 (Dave Flemming and Sean Farnham)
Right bracket:
- No. 1 Boston College Eagles vs. 8 McNeese St. Cowboys, Tuesday at 9 pm, ESPNU (Mitch Holthus and Reid Gettys)
- No. 4 Northwestern Wildcats vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Panthers, Wednesday at 8 pm, ESPN3 (Mike Gleason and Mike Kelley)
- No. 3 Oklahoma St. Cowboys def. No. 6 Harvard Crimson, 71-54
- No. 2 Washington St. Cougars vs. No. 7 Long Beach St. 49ers, Wednesday at 10 pm, ESPNU (Clay Matvick and Sean Farnham)
- No. 1 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. No. 8 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Wednesday at 8 pm, ESPNU (Beth Mowins and Bob Valvano)
- No. 4 Wichita St. Shockers vs. No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers, Wednesday at 7 pm, ESPN2 (Mike Patrick and Dan Dakich)
- No. 6 Charleston Cougars def. No. 3 Dayton Flyers, 94-84
- No. 2 Cleveland St. Vikings def. No. 7 Vermont Catamounts, 63-60
For more college basketball, visit SB Nation's NCAA Basketball hub.


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