EC Kansas News

GOING DANCING: Emporia State Men's Basketball Earns NCAA Tourney Berth

For the first time in over 15 years the Emporia State men's basketball team will be dancing in March. The Hornets have earned the seventh seed in the NCAA Central Regional and will face second seeded Northern State in the first round at Bearcat Arena in Marysville, Mo. at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. It is the first time since 2007 and the third time in school history that Emporia State has qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

This will be just the third time in school history the Hornets have played the Wolves and first since 1961.  All three meetings will have occurred in the postseason. Emporia State first defeated Northern State in the first round of the 1957 NAIA National Tournament 82-66 and then took a 77-72 win in the first round of the 1961 NAIA Tournament.

The Hornets are one of three MIAA teams to make the regional field.  In addition to Emporia State and host Northwest Missouri, Central Oklahoma will be in action in Maryville, Mo. this weekend.

Tickets for the 2023 NCAA Division II Central Region Men's Basketball Tournament event are general admission (with the exception of Section B) and are good for both games during a single session. Bearcat Arena will be cleared between the afternoon and evening session on Saturday only. Each team will be allotted a minimum of 150 general admission tickets per session. 

 

Tickets for all games will be available for purchase online at: www.bearcatsports.com/tickets

- Session 1 and 2 tickets will go on sale online beginning Wednesday, March 8 at 8:00am.

- Session 3 tickets (Sunday, Semifinal games) will go on sale online on Saturday, March 11 at 11:00pm.

- Session 4 tickets (Tuesday, Championship game) will go on sale online Sunday, March 12 at 11:00pm.

 

Fans who are at Bearcat Arena will have the option to buy their tickets at the box office at the conclusion of their game.

 

Ticket Pricing (all tickets sold as single session):

                                                                                       General Admission Single Session = $10

                                                                                       Children 2 & Under = Free

 

The box office and arena will be open 60 minutes prior to the start of the first game of each daily session.

Emporia State is 22-8 on the year and went 15-7 to finish third in the MIAA this season.

NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional

Hosted by the Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, Mo.

Sat., March 11 - Quarterfinal Games

Noon – No. 3 Central Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Minnesota Duluth

2:15 p.m. – No. 2 Northern State vs. No. 7 Emporia State

6 p.m. – No. 1 Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 8 Southern Arkansas

8:15 p.m. – No. 4 MSU Moorhead vs. No. 5 Southern Nazarene

Sun., March 12 - Semifinal Games

5 p.m. – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

7:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4

Tues., March 14 - Regional Final

7 p.m. – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6

Team Capsules

#1 Northwest Missouri Bearcats

30-2, 20-2 MIAA

MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Champions

#2 Northern State Wolves

24-6, 19-3 NSIC

NSIC North Division Champions; NSIC Tournament Semifinals

#3 Central Oklahoma Bronchos

26-4, 18-4 MIAA

MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Runners-up

#4 Minn. State-Moorhead Dragons

25-6, 17-5 NSIC

NSIC North Division Runners-Up; NSIC Tournament Champions

#5 Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm

25-4, 21-1 GAC

GAC Regular Season Champions and Tournament Quarterfinals

#6 Minn.-Duluth Bulldogs

23-9, 16-6 NSIC

Third in NSIC North Division; NSIC Tournament Runners-Up

#7 Emporia State Hornets

22-8, 15-7 MIAA

Third in MIAA Regular Season; MIAA Tournament Semifinals

#8 Southern Arkansas Muleriders

22-9, 15-7 GAC

GAC Regular Season Runners-Up; GAC Tournament Champions

Original source can be found here.