ERIE, Pa. –The Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team earned its fifth NCAA Division III tournament selection announced on Monday and will travel to Oswego State on March 4 for first-round action.
The Lions (23-4) return to the 61-team tournament for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Behrend received an at-large bid after falling to La Roche in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship game on Saturday. The Lions will face Rhode Island College. The other first round game will be Oswego St. (23-4) against Wells (17-11).
Friday’s winners will meet in the second round on Saturday.
The Anchormen (19-7) won the Little Eastern Conference Championship to advance to their fifth NCAA tournament after a 62-49 victory over Eastern Connecticut.
Oswego St. is making their first-ever trip to the tournament. The Lakers are coming off a 23-4 season but failed to reach their conference championship losing in the SUNYAC semifinals to SUNY-Brockport, 74-70.
Wells enters the tourney after beating Penn State Harrisburg in overtime, 75-72 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championship game.
In their previous four trips to the dance, the Lions advanced to the second round in 2007-08 and the Elite Eight in 1999-00. Behrend looks to capture its 24th win against Rhode Island, Friday. Game times will be announced Tuesday.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students with valid ID. The Campus Center Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Friday and may be reached at (315) 312-3073. Online tickets may be purchased at tickets.oswego.edu beginning Tuesday, March 1 at 10 a.m. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
