DAYTON, Ohio -- The math speaks for itself: North Carolina-Asheville is playing in the NCAA tournament with a losing record, the only team among the 65 to do so.

Coach Eddie Biedenbach, however, doesn't want to hear any talk about losers and undeserving teams. He thinks his Bulldogs can play.

"We are one of 17 losing teams that have been in the NCAA tournament, but we have a schedule that includes Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan State, Holy Cross, which is in the tournament, and East Tennessee State, which won its league," Biedenbach said. "Any mid-major is going to have a tough time with that schedule."

The Bulldogs, whose schedule is ranked the 17th hardest in the nation, take a 14-16 record into tonight's play-in game against Texas Southern (18-12). The winner gets a No. 16 seed and faces top-seeded Texas on Friday in Birmingham, Ala.

This is the biggest game in North Carolina-Asheville history. The university, a school of about 3,200 students in the Blue Ridge Mountains, has chartered buses to take fans to Dayton. The school was offering a ticket and round-trip transportation for $70, with financial assistance for those who can't afford the trip.

Asheville, the surprise winner of the Big South tournament, is making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Texas Southern made the NCAA field by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament. This is its third trip to the NCAA tournament, but first since 1995.