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Unlikely qualifier Holy Cross plays Southern in First Four

FILE- In this March 9, 2016, file photo, Lehigh guard Kahron Ross, left, has the ball knocked away from him by Holy Cross forward Karl Charles (1) during the first half of the NCAA college basketball Patriot League Championship game at Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. Holy Cross is one of eight teams whose tournaments are starting a little bit before the first round of the college basketball NCAA Tournament officially opens Thursday, March 17. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) FILE- In this March 9, 2016, file photo, Lehigh guard Kahron Ross, left, has the ball knocked away from him by Holy Cross forward Karl Charles (1) during the first half of the NCAA college basketball Patriot League Championship game at Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa. Holy Cross is one of eight teams whose tournaments are starting a little bit before the first round of the college basketball NCAA Tournament officially opens Thursday, March 17. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

By Associated Press March 15, 2016 1 min read

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) – Holy Cross players say they intend to prove they belong in the NCAA Tournament, despite finishing the season with a 14-19 record.

The Crusaders will play Southern University (22-12) in a First Four game Wednesday night, by virtue of winning four games on the road and becoming the Patriot League tournament champs.

Holy Cross senior guard Robert Champion says his team lost some close games that weren’t reflective of how good it really is.

Junior forward Malachi Alexander says other teams looking down on the Crusaders added a toughness that helped them come together at the end of the season.

Southern, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was ineligible for post-season play the past two years. It earned an automatic bid when it beat Jackson State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.