Amherst, Salem State earn Division 3 byes

Amherst College and Salem State are among five teams to receive a first-round bye in the Division 3 men's basketball tournament. The 59-team field was announced yesterday.

The Lord Jeffs (25-2) earned a No. 1 seed despite losing to rival Williams, 70-69, in Sunday's NESCAC championship game. They will host games through the round of eight as long as they remain in the tournament.

The Vikings (24-2), winners of the MASCAC regular-season and postseason titles, will host the winner of Thursday's first-round matchup between Keene State and Rivier College, two of the 12 New England teams in the tournament.

Other first-round matchups Friday include Brandeis vs. Trinity and Coast Guard vs. R.I. College at Providence, Williams vs. Brockport St. at Canton, N.Y., and Wentworth vs. St. John's Fisher at Rochester, N.Y.

In the women's bracket, which features 12 New England entrants, Bowdoin (26-1), ranked No. 1 in Division 3, will host Mt. Holyoke (21-7) Friday at Brunswick, Maine, in the nightcap to the Maine Maritime-Keene State matchup.

In other women's games Friday, host Emmanuel (27-1) will face Salve Regina after Brandeis (19-5) takes on Maine-Farmington (25-3).

For complete pairings, see scoreboard, D8.

CHAD FINN