After finishing the 2019-20 season with an overall record of 26-2, the fourth-ranked Wittenberg University Men’s Basketball Team earned one of the 20 at-large selections into the 64-team field of the 2020 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Tigers were also one of 16 teams selected to host first and second round games on campus this weekend, March 6-7, at Pam Evans Smith Arena.
Wittenberg will square off against the Redhawks of La Roche University (21-6,19-1) out of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, March 6th. The other two teams in the Springfield four-team pod are the Eagles from Benedictine University (IL), out of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, and Susquehanna University out of the Landmark Conference. The Eagles and the Riverhawks will play before Wittenberg and La Roche on Friday at 3:30 P.M., with the two Friday winners set to meet in the second round at 6:00 P.M. on Saturday at Wittenberg.
The winner of Saturday’s second round game will advance to one of eight third-round sites Friday or Saturday, March 13 or 14. Winners of the eight third-round games will advance to the quarterfinals and semifinals March 20 and 21 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Finally, the two semifinal winners will then advance to the National Championship Game on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
With its at-large selection into the Division II National Tournament, Wittenberg now leads the nation with 30 total appearances in the NCAA Div. III Tournament. The Tigers, who are also appearing in the national tournament for the third year in a row, hold an overall record of 53-29 in NCAA Div. III postseason play, highlighted by winning the 1977 National Championship game over SUNY-Oneonta by a final score of 79-66. The Tigers have also appeared in the Div. III National Title Game on three other occasions, the latest coming in 2006 when Wittenberg dropped a heartbreaking 59-56 decision against Virginia Wesleyan in Salem, Virginia.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Pre-sale tickets will be available at Wittenberg University on Thursday, March 5th, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Hall of Honor Room located off of the Legends Lobby in the HWA Complex. Additionally, ticket sales for Friday’s first round games will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Hall of Honor Room, with one ticket good for both games. Tickets for Saturday’s second round game will go on sale at 4:00 p.m., also in the Hall of Honor Room. Cash and/or credit sales will be available during all ticket sale opportunities.
TICKET PRICES:
$12 – Adults
$7 – Seniors, Students and Children
Free – Infant Children Two and Under