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Central Florida picked a good time to go on its only three-game winning streak of the season.
The Golden Knights (11-18) became the first team to qualify for the 1996 NCAA basketball tournament with an 86-77 victory over Mercer Saturday in the championship game of the Trans America Athletic Conference at Deland, Fla.
Central Florida is the 10th team to make the NCAA tournament with a losing record and the second 11-18 team in a row that the TAAC has sent to the round of 64. Florida International beat Mercer in the conference final last year and was beaten in the first round by UCLA.
Central Florida, the TAAC tournament's No. 6 seed, beat Campbell (16-11) and Southeastern Louisiana (15-12) to reach the final, where it made a school-record 12 three-point baskets...