The first ticket to the 2026 NCAA tournament belongs to the LIU Sharks.
LIU officially secured the Northeast Conference’s automatic bid thanks to a unique situation involving the Northeast Conference tournament bracket. The Sharks will still play the Mercyhurst Lakers in the NEC championship game Monday, but their spot in March Madness is already guaranteed.
The Sharks improved to 23-10 after defeating Wagner Seahawks 64-56 in the semifinal round Saturday in Brooklyn. That win pushed LIU into the conference championship and ultimately locked up the NCAA tournament berth.
It will be the program’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2018.
Why LIU already clinched the bid
The unusual scenario comes down to NCAA eligibility rules.
Mercyhurst is currently transitioning from Division II to Division I, a process that takes four years. During that time, teams can compete in regular season games and conference tournaments but are not allowed to participate in the NCAA tournament.
Mercyhurst began its transition in 2024 and will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament until the 2027-28 season. That means the Lakers cannot receive the NEC’s automatic bid even if they win the conference tournament.
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The same transition rule also affects the Le Moyne Dolphins, another NEC program that is still completing its move to Division I.
Because Mercyhurst reached the NEC championship game, the conference’s automatic bid must go to the highest finishing eligible team. That team is LIU.
A big season for the Sharks
LIU earned the opportunity with a strong season that saw the program finish 15-3 in NEC play and build a 23-10 overall record.
In the semifinal win over Wagner, the Sharks leaned on a balanced effort. Greg Gordon scored 19 points while Jamal Fuller added 17 points and nine rebounds. Shadrak Lasu dominated the glass with 13 rebounds as LIU controlled the game defensively in the second half.
Now the Sharks will play for the NEC championship Monday night.
The outcome will not change the NCAA tournament bid, but it still gives LIU the chance to bring home the conference tournament title.
Back to March Madness
For the LIU program, the moment is significant.
The Sharks have not appeared in the NCAA tournament since 2018, when the program was still competing under the LIU Brooklyn name. Since the athletic department merged its Brooklyn and Post campuses, the Sharks have been trying to build the program back into a consistent contender in the NEC.
This season finally delivered the breakthrough.
While conference tournaments across the country will determine the rest of the field over the next week, one team already knows its fate.
The LIU Sharks are going dancing.
