DAYTON, Ohio — Clif Brown's career night made the NCAA play-in game feel less like a consolation prize. For Niagara, it felt like history.

The senior forward with the gentle touch scored 32 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers last night, leading the Purple Eagles to a 77-69 victory over Florida A&M in the play-in game.

Niagara (23-11) hadn't won an NCAA tournament game since 1970. Even though this one fell under the heading of play-in, it felt like a breakthrough.

"Our first NCAA tournament win in 37 years," coach Joe Mihalich said. "It's a little mark in the history book. No asterisk, as far as I'm concerned."

It was a start. The Purple Eagles will head to Chicago for a game Friday against Kansas, the top seed in the West Regional. No play-in winner has gone on to knock off a No. 1 team. In fact, no 16 seed has beaten a No. 1.

Florida A&M (21-14) didn't bring a pep band or cheerleaders, and didn't have a way to stop Brown, who scored 24 points while the Purple Eagles pulled away in the second half. His big game — one shy of his career high for points — made up for Charron Fisher's rough night. Niagara's leading scorer spent much of the second half on the bench in foul trouble and finished with 13 points.

"Our team never knows who's going to be the guy," said Brown, who finished 10-of-18 from the field and 6-of-11 from behind the arc. "I hit a few shots in the first half and I was still feeling pretty good, so I took a few more and it turned out good."