![NCAA Men’s First Four Start Off Tonight in Dayton, Ohio](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2016/04/GettyImages-466914234.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
NCAA Men’s First Four Start Off Tonight in Dayton, Ohio
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — New Orleans (20-11) is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996, when it opens the tournament this evening in Dayton, Ohio, facing Mount St. Mary's (19-15), beginning at 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time.
New Orleans guard Christavious Gill says, "It's for everybody in New Orleans who has been in New Orleans since the devastation of Katrina." Mount St. Mary's Junior Robinson is the shortest player in Division I this season at 5-foot-5. He averages 14 points and 33 minutes per game. Coach Jamion Christian says. "You look at him, he's 5-foot-5, 165 pounds. He's worked really hard to get up to 165 pounds, really. He's a special player because he's got enormous heart."
The winner faces No. 1 Villanova on Thursday in Buffalo.
Kansas State (20-13) takes on comeback kids Wake Forest (19-13) with a scheduled start time of 9:10 p.m. EST in Dayton. Wake Forest overcame deficits of 19, 14 and 13 points to win its last three games in the regular season. The only other Division I team to win three straight games while overcoming double-digit deficits this season is Kentucky. And the term "kids" applies: eight of its 13 scholarship players are underclassmen.
More From 1460 ESPN
![The Kings Beat the Blazers 121-82 in Regular Season Finale to Earn at Least 1 more Home Game](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/04/attachment-GettyImages-2148637410.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘Pac-2′ members Oregon St, Washington St Cashing in but Could be More to Come from Women’s Tourney](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2022/10/attachment-GettyImages-930127020.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gonzaga Women’s Basketball Team’s Thrilling Win Earns Sweet 16 Berth In NCAA Tournament](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2113824642.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Washington Finalizing Deal to Hire Danny Sprinkle as new Head Coach](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2105668336.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![#2 seed Iowa St pulls Away Late from #7 seed Washington St for 67-56 win, spot in Sweet 16](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2107786377.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Washington State Survives Maddening 2nd half to Beat Drake 66-61 in March Madness](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2103112928-e1711122538350.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Ike’s Perfect Game Leads Hot-shooting Gonzaga to easy March Madness win over McNeese State](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2103066164.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Colorado and Grambling State Advance to Complete the NCAA’s First Four Bracket](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2097988283.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Penn State, James Madison, Villanova and Washington State top Seeds in new WBI Tournament](http://townsquare.media/site/432/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2079615606.jpg?w=980&q=75)