No. 4 Green Bay (16-14) vs. No. 9 Milwaukee (8-23)
Today, 7 p.m.
Resch Center, Green Bay
GREEN BAY WILL WIN IF: Alec Brown shows up. The junior center has set career-highs in both meetings against Milwaukee this season, including 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting last week.
MILWAUKEE WILL WIN IF: The Panthers can continue to build on their recent momentum. Milwaukee had won three of its last five regular-season games before falling 78-61 at the Resch Center in last week's finale. Guards Paris Gulley (14.7 ppg) and Jordan Aaron (14.6 ppg) have begun to click in the back court.
NOTES: The Phoenix won both regular-season match-ups against their in-state rival by an average of 18.5 points. ... Green Bay's Keifer Sykes was named to the All-League First Team on Monday afternoon while Alec Brown (Second Team) and Jordan Fouse (Newcomer Team) also were honored.
No. 5 UIC (16-14) vs. No. 8 Cleveland State (14-17)
Today, 7 p.m.
UIC Pavillion
UIC WILL WIN IF: It can recover from a late-season dive. The Flames have lost four of their last five games and haven't won back-to-back contests since January. Playing at home, where UIC is 10-4, should help Howard Moore's squad.
CLEVELAND STATE WILL WIN IF: The regular-season results hold up. The Vikings swept UIC this season, including a 77-66 win at the UIC Pavillion on Feb. 2. Charlie Lee averaged 6.5 assists and Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Bryn Forbes reached double figures in both meetings.
NOTES: Valparaiso native Hayden Humes has started every game for the Flames this season, averaging 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. ... UIC is hosting a first-round game for the first time since the 2008 season.
No. 6 Youngstown State (16-14) vs. No. 7 Loyola (15-15)
Today, 6:05 p.m.
Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN STATE WILL WIN IF: The Penguins can find a suitable replacement for Kendrick Perry. The two-time all-league selection has missed three consecutive games with a knee injury and his absence was felt when Youngstown lost 72-45 to Wright State in Saturday's regular-season finale.
LOYOLA WILL WIN IF: It can make a stop on the final possession of the game. The Ramblers lost both regular-season meetings to the Penguins by a combined three points off last-possession baskets from Youngstown. Had Loyola won both games, the Ramblers would've been hosting a first-round contest.
NOTES: Loyola lost six of its 11 Horizon League games by a single possession this season. ... Munster native Joe Crisman started 20 games for the Ramblers and averaged 5 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the floor. ... Bishop Noll graduate Ronnye Beamon is redshirting for Youngstown State this season. — Paul Oren
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