LIU Becomes 1st Team to Clinch Spot in 2026 March Madness Bracket After Beating Wagner

Long Island University became the first team to officially clinch a spot in the 2026 NCAA tournament on Saturday.

LIU was able to punch its ticket to March Madness by advancing to the Northeast Conference Tournament championship game with a 64-56 win over Wagner, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

The Sharks will face Mercyhurst in the title game, although their opponent isn't eligible for a tournament spot since the school is still transitioning from Division II to Division I.

Regardless of the result in the title game, LIU will be making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018 as the highest-finishing eligible team in the conference.

It marks an impressive turnaround for a Sharks squad coached by former NBA guard Rod Strickland. LIU owns a 23-10 record, including a 13-1 mark at home, after finishing at 3-26 during Strickland's first season as head coach in 2023.

The Sharks only sat at 6-7 through 13 games to open this year, but have gone 17-3 since.

They're led by senior forward Jamal Fuller, who averaged 16.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game on 52.9/44.4/77.0 shooting splits heading into Saturday's action.

Senior guard Malachi Davis has also been a key piece for Strickland's squad, recording 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals on a nightly basis prior to the matchup with Wagner.

While LIU is confirmed for March Madness, the school will still look to emerge victorious in the NEC title game.

Tip-off against Mercyhurst is on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.