2013 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Interactive Bracket
TICKETS: There is no plan for selling advance tickets in Bloomington, only at the door on the night of the game. For the first-round, ticket prices are $7 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. Children under 2 will be admitted free. There will be no free admission for season passholders or student IDs for NCAA tournament games.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team will host the Pioneers of Transylvania University at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, in the first round of the 62-team 2013 NCAA Division III basketball championships.
IWU students and fans are being asked to wear white for the "White Out" effect in the NCAA first-round game.
The Titans (21-5) are making their fourth straight and 22nd overall NCAA tournament appearance in the 29 years of NCAA affiliation and have a 47-21 record in tournament play, including a national championship in 1997, third place finishes in 1996, 2001 and 2006 and a semifinal appearance in 2012. IWU advanced to the round of eight in 2010.
This is the first NCAA postseason game hosted by Illinois Wesleyan since 2005.
Go here for listing of IWU games in postseason tournaments
Located in Lexington, Ky., the Pioneers (20-7) play in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and lost in the semifinals of that conference tourney to Hanover, 87-82, on Feb. 22. Transylvania is making its second straight NCAA appearance and their fifth since 2006.
TRANSYLVANIA "PIONEERS":
Team Page |
Roster |
Statistics
The Pioneers are coached by Brian Lane (211-111 record in 11 seasons) and have three players, all seniors, scoring in double figures, led by 6-4 forward Ethan Spurlin at 16.5 points. Barrett Meyer, a 6-2 guard, and 6-3 forward Brandon Rash both average 14.5 points. Spurlin gets 7.6 rebounds a game while Rash corrals 5.7 and both are accurate from the field as Spurlin shoots .538 and Rash has a .563 accuracy.
All three are over 1,000-points in their careers. Rash enters the tournament with 1,370 points, while Meyer has 1,301, and Spurlin checks in at 1,205.
The winner of the IWU/Transylvania game will face the winner of the first round game in St. Louis between Washington U. (20-5) and Spalding (20-7). The second round will be on Saturday, March 9, with the third round on Saturday, March 16. The final eight teams will advance to play in Salem, Va., on Friday and Saturday (March 22-23) to determine the two finalists.
The Division III championship game will be played on Sunday, April 6, in Atlanta, Ga., as part of a weekend celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NCAA men's championship. The Division II title game will also be on Sunday with the Division I game on Monday night (April 7).
