Wright State Raiders Set to Face Virginia Cavaliers in NCAA Tournament The Wright State Raiders will compete in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2022, facing the University of Virginia Cavaliers in a first-round matchup on Friday, March 20. This game marks the first meeting between the two programs, with Virginia entering as a No. 3 seed and Wright State as a No. 14 seed. The winner will advance to the second round, where they will face either No. 6 seed Tennessee or No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, March 22. Virginia, ranked No. 3 in the tournament, boasts a 29-5 overall record (15-3 in the ACC), while Wright State, the No. 14 seed, has a 23-11 record (15-5 in the Horizon League). This is Wright State’s fifth appearance in the NCAA tournament, though they have not advanced past the first round since 2022. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are making their first tournament appearance since 2023, though they have a storied history in the event. The University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, is situated in the central part of the state, southwest of Washington, D.C., and northwest of Richmond. The school enrolls over 26,000 students as of fall 2025. Virginia’s basketball program has reached the tournament multiple times, including a historic 2019 championship win. The Cavaliers also made waves in 2018 by becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose a first-round game to a No. 16 seed, a feat achieved under current coach Ryan Odom, who previously coached the University of Maryland-Baltimore County team that pulled off the upset. Wright State, based in Dayton, Ohio, is located northeast of downtown near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The university enrolls just under 12,000 students.#dayton #wright_state_raidrs #university_of_virginia #charlottesville #clint_sargent
Miami Ohio Proves Doubters Wrong with March Madness Victory PHILADELPHIA – Miami (Ohio) men’s basketball made a strong statement in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, defeating SMU 89-79 at UD Arena in Dayton. The win silenced critics who questioned the Mid-American Conference team’s place in the 68-team field, as the RedHawks entered the tournament with a 31-0 regular-season record and a first-ever at-large bid in program history. Coach Travis Steele emphasized that the team’s focus remains on proving their worth to themselves rather than external skeptics. “We know how good we are. We know we deserve this opportunity,” Steele said. “We’re going to go showcase that.” The RedHawks, who are the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid since 1999, face No. 6 Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday. Despite the challenge, players like guard Peter Suder and sophomore Luke Skaljac stressed that the team’s confidence stems from internal belief rather than external validation. Suder, reflecting on the win over SMU, said, “We showed that last night, especially, but just don’t count us out.” Skaljac added, “We’re not really trying to prove it to the media, fans, or whatever. We all know inside the locker room who we are as a team.” The RedHawks’ offensive firepower was evident, as Eian Elmer, Skaljac, and Brant Byers combined for 59 points, showcasing their ability to dominate in high-stakes games. The victory also marked a historic milestone for the program, which made its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and its first since 2007. The win came amid a season of overcoming skepticism, with some analysts questioning whether the team should have been included in the field after failing to secure an automatic bid.#travis_steele #miami_ohio #smu #dayton #ud_arena
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First Four Schedule and Results Dayton hosted the First Four games on March 17 and 18, 2026, as part of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The opening day featured two tightly contested matchups, with No. 16 seed Howard defeating No. 16 seed UMBC 86-83 and No. 11 seed Texas narrowly edging No. 11 seed NC State 68-66. These results set the stage for the second day of action, which included additional games to determine which teams would advance to the 64-team bracket. The First Four, introduced in 2011 when the tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams, serves as a qualifier for the lowest-ranked teams. It features four games: two on the first day and two on the second, with the winners advancing to the main tournament. The 2026 edition saw No. 16 seeds Prairie View A&M and Lehigh face off, while No. 11 seeds Miami (Ohio) and SMU competed for a spot in the next round. The tournament’s structure ensures that the four lowest-ranked teams—typically No. 16 seeds and at-large inclusions—compete in a mini-tournament to secure a place in the 64-team bracket. The games are held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, a venue that has hosted the First Four since 2011, except for 2021, when the event was moved to Indiana due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The First Four games on March 17 included Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. The winners of these matchups would join the previously victorious teams from the first day, completing the selection process for the main tournament. The event concluded on March 18, with the final results determining which teams would advance to the next round. The tournament’s scheduling and format highlight the competitive nature of college basketball, as teams with lower seeds face off in a bid to secure a spot in the larger tournament.#ncaa_men_s_basketball_tournament #dayton #tru_tv #ud_arena #sling_tv
TRAFFIC ALERT: All Lanes Reopened After Two Crashes on I-75 Traffic disruptions caused by two crashes on Interstate 75 in Sidney and Dayton were resolved by 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with all lanes fully reopened. The incidents, which occurred in both locations, led to temporary delays but did not result in significant long-term congestion. Authorities confirmed that no major incidents were reported beyond the initial crashes, and traffic conditions have since stabilized. Drivers are encouraged to report traffic issues by contacting the WHIO TV 7 newsroom at 937-259-2237 or tweeting @WHIOTraffic for real-time updates. The station also provides a free mobile app for breaking news alerts, ensuring commuters stay informed about road conditions. Additional traffic information, including live updates and incident tracking, is available through the station’s traffic map. While the focus remains on the I-75 incidents, other regional updates include weather-related school delays, a vehicle accident investigation on I-70, and a discovery of a decomposed body during a home inspection. Law enforcement is also reviewing a case involving an armed individual who was shot by Dayton police and has since pleaded guilty. The article also highlights potential road hazards, such as slick and icy conditions expected to impact St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, urging drivers to exercise caution. Gas prices in the Dayton area, according to GasBuddy.com, remain a point of interest for motorists, though the station notes that some locations may report prices even when closed or under construction. Visitors are advised to confirm business hours before planning travel.#st_patrick_s_day #dayton #i_75 #whio_tv_7 #sidney
Did Auburn basketball blow its chance at the NCAA tournament? The 2026 SEC basketball tournament saw Auburn’s potential NCAA tournament bid slip away as the Tigers fell to Tennessee in a dramatic second-round matchup. The loss marked a pivotal moment for the program, leaving them with a 17-16 record and a 7-11 SEC mark despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. With a win over the Volunteers, Auburn would have secured its place in the tournament, potentially bypassing Dayton in the bracket. Instead, the Tigers’ collapse in the final minutes of the game left them in a precarious position, raising questions about whether their season had already been derailed. The tournament’s chaos began earlier in the day as Miami (OH)’s undefeated streak came to an end in the MAC tournament. The Red Hawks’ 31-game winning streak was broken by UMass, sending shockwaves through the college basketball landscape. While the MAC upset had little direct impact on the SEC, it indirectly affected the tournament’s bubble teams. Auburn, Missouri, and Texas had relied on Miami’s success to bolster their NCAA chances, but the loss left them scrambling. Missouri, which had already lost to Kentucky in the SEC’s second round, now joined Texas as a team that failed to secure its bid. Auburn’s collapse against Tennessee was emblematic of the Tigers’ struggles this season. Up by double digits early in the game, the Tigers allowed a 22-2 run by the Volunteers, which proved insurmountable. The final score of 72-62 underscored the gap in execution, with Auburn’s defense unable to contain Tennessee’s offense. The loss left the Tigers with a slim chance of making the NCAA tournament, as their record and schedule would need to impress the selection committee. Meanwhile, Ole Miss and Oklahoma emerged as standout performers in the tournament.#ole_miss #tennessee #dayton #auburn #sec_basketball_tournament
Fordham Softball Opens 2026 Season at Bahoshy Field Fordham University Softball will host its 2026 home opener this weekend at Bahoshy Field, facing Dayton in a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. The Rams, with a record of 7-11 overall and 1-2 in conference play, will look to build on their recent midweek victory over Army, a 3-2 win fueled by strong pitching from Olivia Simcoe and Sydney May. The Flyers, meanwhile, enter the series with an 8-8 record and 0-3 mark in the A-10 conference after being swept in their opening series against Loyola Chicago. The matchup marks the third meeting between the teams in 2026, with Fordham holding a 34-32 all-time advantage. Last season’s regular-season series saw Dayton take the first two games in Ohio before Fordham claimed the finale, while the A-10 Tournament clash a year earlier ended with a 3-0 Rams victory. The Rams’ pitching staff, led by Simcoe, has been a key strength, with Simcoe recording six complete games this season—ranking her first in the A-10 and 27th nationally. Defensively, Fordham ranks second in the Atlantic 10 with a .981 fielding percentage, committing just eight errors on the year. The team also leads the league in double plays turned, with 10 recorded so far, averaging 0.56 per game. Holly Beeman, a sophomore pitcher, has been dominant, allowing just three walks in 24.1 innings while averaging less than one walk per seven innings. Elizabeth Gaisior, ranked fifth in the A-10 for walks allowed, has complemented Beeman’s efforts. Neleh Nogay, the team’s top base stealer, has 11 stolen bases this season, placing her second in the A-10 and 52nd nationally. The Rams’ upcoming schedule includes a Wednesday matchup against St. John’s at Bahoshy Field, broadcast on ESPN+.#dayton #fordham_university #bahoshy_field #olivia_simcoe #sydney_may
Local Resident Passes Away Age 83, of Dayton, OH, passed away on February 25, 2026. Funeral arrangements are pending with Routsong Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Kettering, OH. The obituary can be viewed on Legacy.com. For more information, visit https://www.routsong.com/.#[local_resident](tag:0xd8e60) #dayton #oh #routsong_funeral_home #legacy_com
