WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The schedule has been set and ticket plans are now in place for this weekend's NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Atlantic Regional tournament at West Liberty University.
The 8-team event tips off Saturday with afternoon and evening quarterfinal sessions set for the University's Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC).
Action gets under way at noon when No. 3 seed Indiana, Pa. (26-6), the PSAC Tournament runner-up, takes on Mountain East Conference Tournament champion and No. 6 seed Glenville State (22-10). The second game of the afternoon session is a PSAC matchup between No. 2 seed Gannon (23-8), fresh off a win against Indiana in Sunday's PSAC Tournament final, and No. 7 seed Slippery Rock (20-10). That game is set for a 2:30 p.m. tipoff.
Four-time defending regional champion and tournament host West Liberty (26-3) opens the evening session with a 6 p.m. game against No. 8 seed Livingstone, N.C. (19-9), which upset its way to the CIAA Tournament crown for the second consecutive season. Fairmont State (21-10), the third MEC team in the field, is the No. 4 seed and wraps up quarterfinal play with an 8:30 p.m. tipoff against No. 5 seed Mercyhurst (20-8).
Saturday's winners return to the ASRC for regional semifinal action Sunday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Following an off day on Monday, the regional championship game is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday.
Tickets for each session are priced at $12 for adults and $6 for students with IDs. All tickets are for general admission with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beginning on Wednesday, discount packages priced at $20 for both Saturday sessions and $35 for all four tournament sessions will be available for purchase from Athletic Secretary Robin Brunner daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the WLU Athletic Department on the fourth floor of the ASRC. Cash transactions only will be accepted. A limited number of single-session tickets for Saturday's quarterfinal round will also go on sale Wednesday afternoon at TJ's Sports Garden and Restaurant on National Road in Wheeling and the Main Street Bank outlets in Wheeling, Moundsville, Wellsburg and Elm Grove. There will be no Will Call window at the event due to NCAA Tournament guidelines.
The Atlantic Region champion advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, which will be held March 25-28 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
NCAA Division II Men's Atlantic Region Tournament
(at West Liberty, W.Va.)
Saturday, March 14
Regional Quarterfinals
Afternoon Session
No. 3 Indiana, Pa. (26-6) vs. No. 6 Glenville State (22-10), Noon
No. 2 Gannon, Pa. (23-8) vs. No. 7 Slippery Rock, Pa. (20-10), 2:30 p.m.
Evening Session
No. 1 WEST LIBERTY (26-3) vs. No. 8 Livingstone, N.C. (19-9), 6 p.m.
No. 4 Fairmont State (21-10) vs. No. 5 Mercyhurst, Pa. (20-8), 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 15
Regional Semifinals
Indiana/Glenville winner vs. Gannon/Slippery Rock winner, 5:00 p.m.
WEST LIBERTY/Livingstone winner vs. Fairmont/Mercyhurst winner, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
Regional Championship
Sunday's winners, 7 p.m.
