MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM EARNS ECAC BID

March 3, 2008

The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team (17-10) was selected one of eight teams in the New England region to earn a bid to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament. The Saints are seeded second in the upcoming tournament and will host 7th-seeded Western Connecticut State University (14-11) on Wednesday night (3/5) at 7pm. The tournament is an eight-team field with quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds.

This is Emmanuel's second ECAC bid. The Saints' last appearance was in 2006, when they were defeated, 82-65, at Wheaton College. This is Western Connecticut State's 9th ECAC appearance. The Colonials are coming out of the Little East Conference and have won two ECAC Championships (1994 & 2004). The Saints and the Colonials have just one prior meeting, when the Colonials defeated the Saints, 82-75, in Emmanuel's 2005 Tip-Off Tournament.

The winner of Wednesday's first-round game will play the winner of the 3rd-seeded Nighthawks of Newbury College vs. the 6th-seeded Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in Saturday's semifinal game.

After finishing the season with a 24-4 record, Emerson College was selected as the number one seed in the ECAC tournament. On Wednesday, \#1 Emerson (24-4) will play host to \#8 University of New England (15-11). Other quarterfinal action will feature \#4 Fitchburg State College (16-9) hosting \#5 Husson College (17-10). The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals to be played on Saturday (3/8) at the sites of the two highest remaining seeds.

The championship game, scheduled for Sunday, March 9th will feature the semifinal winners at 1:00 pm at the home of the highest remaining seed.