After junior guard Ike Smith finished dribbling out for the final time in Hanner this season, head coach Mark Byington breathed a sigh of relief.
The Eagles did everything they had to do to earn the 3-seed and clinch a first round bye in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
“Our guys held on until the final minute,” Byington said following Saturday’s win.
Now the team will get to rest for almost a full week as they won’t return to action until Friday night.
With a first round bye, the Eagles don’t know who they’ll play yet, but have to feel good about playing either victor in ULM or Arkansas State.