DAYTON — Neither Alabama State nor Morehead State has been to the NCAA Tournament recently. But Alabama State’s five-year drought pales to that of Morehead State, which hasn’t played in the tourney for a quarter century.

The two teams knock heads Tuesday in the opening round of the tournament in Dayton for the right to take on top-seeded Louisville on Friday.

Morehead State, from Morehead, Ky., is making its first tournament appearance since 1984, when it defeated North Carolina A&T only to lose to Louisville in the second round.

Alabama State, from Montgomery, Ala., made the tournament in 2004, losing in the first round to Duke.

The Hornets, 22-9, are the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions.

Morehead State, 19-15, qualified by winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.