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2019 NCAA Tournament: First Four, Night Two; Wednesday, March 20, 2019

At the end of the night, we’ll have an even bracket of 64.

By ChrisDobbertean
NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-First Four Practice
LeVelle Moton’s North Carolina Central Eagles are playing in the First Four for the third straight season.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA Tournament‘s final First Four doubleheader of 2019 will air on TruTV. They have a channel finder in the upper-right corner of their schedule page. You can also stream the action on the NCAA’s March Madness Live.

All times are Eastern.

Graphic by Chris Dobbertean using logos from SportsLogos.net.

East Region (6:40 p.m. tip)

March Madness Live link

No. 16 North Carolina Central Eagles (18-15, MEAC automatic bid) vs.
No. 16 North Dakota State Bison (18-15, Summit League automatic bid)

KenPom predicted result: NDSU 70, NCCU 65

N.C. Central is making its fourth NCAA appearance and third in succession. LeVelle Moton’s Eagles’ are looking for their first win, however. They’ve only been placed in the main draw once, a 93-73 loss to Iowa State in 2014. In other words, this is their third straight trip to Dayton and they’re 0-2. As for North Dakota State, this is also their fourth NCAA trip, but only their first opening round experience. The Bison made back-to-back trips in 2014 and 2015, with the first of those teams earning a 12 seed and upset win over Oklahoma. Tonight’s winner takes on the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket, the Duke Blue Devils, on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. on CBS.

West Region (approx. 9:10 p.m. tip)

March Madness Live link

No. 11 St. John’s Red Storm (21-12, Big East at-large) vs.
No. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils (22-10, Pac-12 at-large)

KenPom predicted result: ASU 77, St. John’s 75

Bobby Hurley’s Sun Devils have now made consecutive NCAA Tournaments — and consecutive trips to Southwestern Ohio. Arizona State last played in the round of 64 in 2014, a two-point loss to Texas. As for St. John’s, this will be the Red Storm’s 30th NCAA appearance, but first in Chris Mullin’s four seasons in charge. Tonight’s winner will end a sizable NCAA victory drought. The Sun Devils last claimed an NCAA win a decade ago (2009), while the Red Storm have been waiting since 2000, though that result was vacated. The winner of this one will take on the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bulls, Hurley’s previous employer, on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Tulsa on TNT.

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