Thursday, March 18, 2004
Elite Eight
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The USI men's basketball team will appear in the NCAA Divison II Elite Eight for the third time in 11 seasons when it plays Northwest Missouri State University Wednesday, March 24, in Bakersfield, Calif. A fan send-off to the Elite Eight is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at 4 p.m. in the Physical Activities Center Varsity Club Room. The send-off will follow the men's basketball practice from 2 to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the send-off. The Screaming Eagles earned the right to advance with an exciting 69-68 NCAA II Great Lakes Regional Championship victory over Wayne State University March 16 in Romeoville, Ill. The Eagles also ended Kentucky Wesleyan College's streak of five straight regional championships with a tournament opening 96-83 victory last week in Romeoville. USI was led to the regional championship by the tournament Most Outstanding Player, Cris Brunson. Brunson, a junior guard from Evansville, had the game winning bucket in the regional final and averaged 17.3 ppg. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by senior guard Joe Gordon, who led the team with 19.7 ppg, and junior center Randy Holbrook, who averaged 13.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg. In addition to USI (26-6) and NWMS (29-4), the Elite Eight, Division II's version of the Final Four will feature Pfeiffer University (31-2); Kennesaw State University (32-4); University of Massachusetts-Lowell (28-5); Humbolt State University (27-5); Rollins College (27-5); and Metro State University (31-2). Metro State won the Elite Eight in 2002 when Evansville hosted. The last time USI appeared in the Elite Eight was 1995, when it won the national championship. The Eagles were the 1994 NCAA II Finalist. The Elite Eight games will take place at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield March 24-25 and 27. For ticket information, call 661/852-7777. |
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